BATON ROUGE — St. John the Baptist Parish’s own Nettie Parquette was one of three dozen educators recently honored at the Governor’s Mansion in Baton Rouge for her work helping children.

Parquette was recognized as St. John the Baptist Parish’s Volunteer of the Year for her volunteer work at Our Lady of Grace School.

Parquette served as a teacher in the St. John Parish School System for 34 years before retiring and did not let her retirement keep her out of the classroom or from impacting children’s lives.

She contributes her time and talent to teaching first graders in the local parochial school.

Parquette, along with 37 other former educators, parents, grandparents and mentors, were recognized by the Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana during the group’s 2015 Volunteer of the Year Ceremony in June.

The A+PEL is a nonprofit professional education association committed to advancing teachers as career professionals. A+PEL officials said Parquette made an immediate difference in the lives of the children with whom she has taken charge. She displays a level of professionalism and dedication that has fostered the development of structure and competence within the child’s environment and academic growth.

Parquette was awarded a plaque of recognition and appreciation.