By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

L’Observateur recently held its annual Teacher Appreciation program to recognize some of the outstanding teachers in the River Parishes.

It was a very difficult task this year to select the honorees from the overwhlming number of nominations received this year. Although every teacher nominated was deserving of the honor, L’Observateur was finally able to whittle the group down to five who were ultimately selected as honorees for 2010.

This year’s group of honorees included Ann Buisson, an English teacher at the Gifted Center in St. James Parish, Nelann Taylor, a Spanish teacher at West St. John High School, Tamara Holland, a science teacher at John L. Ory Communications Magnet School, Irene Burl, at teacher with the Leon Godchaux Accelerated Program, and Hailey Levin, a chemistry teacher at St. Charles Catholic High School.

Besides being profiled in the Oct. 30 edition of L’Observateur, each honoree received a check from the paper in the amount of $250.

While there are no stipulations regarding how award money must be spent, L’Observateur made every effort to select those teachers it felt would put the money back into the classrooms.