Kinder Elementary Principal Jennifer Doucet has success on her side in education – something she credits to her staff and faculty.
Doucet uses the school’s slogan, “We’re better together,” to represent her school and to rally her faculty, staff and students.
This past year, Doucet was named the parish’s Principal of the Year. During the process, she said utilizing the slogan allowed her to represent Kinder Elementary “as they truly are.”
Her journey led her to being named one of 24 semi-finalists at the state level earlier this year. It also illustrated that they must be doing something right at Kinder Elementary.
“We have a great team,” she said. The process allowed her to share the school’s work they have been accomplishing to get elementary students ready for middle school.
“It just keeps proving we are better together,” she said. In terms of the slogan, she explained, “It just keeps proving itself over and over.”
Doucet said her win as a principal was a win for the whole school. “I was proud to make it that far.” She also found that talking about her school and promoting it was easy, because that is the slogan they use every day.
Now, it’s time to prepare and become ready for students to return to school. On August 7, she said they will be meeting with staff and faculty. She said there will be some new faces.
Over the last school year, Kinder Elementary saw many structural changes with a new pavilion, updated bathroom, etc. She said the campus looks great.
Issues regarding security were updated last year, and Doucet said parents have been extremely respectful of the changes.
Looking forward, Doucet said they are going to work with a new superintendent this school year. She said he will want to establish his vision, and they will work to make sure it works well in the school’s daily operations.
She’s got a busy year ahead, but she said it’s best to enter it with an open heart and an open mind. She knows her staff and faculty is ready to go and ready to work together. She said they are going to build on their slogan, incorporate new ideas and work to get their students ready for the next grade level.
Doucet has 25 years in education and 10 years in administration. A native of Moss Bluff, she married Kinder’s Jeff Doucet. The couple has been married for 30 years and are the parents of three children and two grandchildren. They will welcome a new grand-baby in December.
