Each Wednesday, L’Observateur recognizes individuals and businesses in the River Parishes who have gone “above and beyond” in their efforts to make this a better place to live, work, play and raise a family.

We believe an integral part of a community’s wellbeing is an attitude and arena where people who do good things … who work to improve life for others … who try to make a difference … are recognized and saluted.

This week we salute:

• St. John the Baptist Parish School System principals Kelli Joseph and Margaret Hastings for being named “Principals of the Year” for 2010. Joseph, of Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet, is the middle school principal of the year, while Hastings, of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary, is the elementary school principal of the year.

• The Rise Above BMX Riders for their recent visit to Lakewood Elementary School in St. Charles Parish. The group performed a series of stunts for the students as a reward for the school’s participation in a recent magazine fundraiser.

• St. John the Baptist Parish sheriff’s deputies Gilberto Castellanos and Brian Bertrand, who were honored by the LaPlace V.F.W. for their service over the past year. Castellanos received the Officer of the Year award from the V.F.W., while Bertrand was honored for his work in starting the Young Marines Program in St. John Parish.

• Bonnie Dinvaut-Irving, educational technology coordinator for the St. John the Baptist Parish School System, and Shayla Guidry, master technology teacher, for their presentation to the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators Conference. The duo from St. John showed nearly 200 educators how the St. John School system is using hand-held electronic devices like iPads or iPhones for daily classroom observations.