By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although she does not officially take office until next week, new St. John the Baptist Parish Chief Administrative Officer Theresa Rodgers has been a fixture in the halls of the P.D. Hebert building for the past few weeks learning the ropes of her new position.

Rodgers, a native of Prairieville, was selected June 1 to replace departing CAO Marie Brown-Mercadel, who is moving to San Diego with her husband, an active duty member of the U.S. Marine Corps.

Robottom said she and Rodgers met in 1983 while both were attending the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and the two have stayed close ever since. Although the two have worked together on a variety of levels for more than 25 years, Rodgers said the job offer surprised her.

“It was unexpected, but exciting,” Rodgers said. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”

Robottom said she thought long and hard about a replacement but said she knew what she wanted in a new CAO. She said her experience as a CAO under former Parish President Nickie Monica helped her with the decision.

“I know what the job requires, and Theresa fits that role,” Robottom said. “She is the type of person who can draft and follow policies and manage department heads and employees. She understands how to help people who need support. Her work ethic is on par with what I expect.”

Rodgers has more than 30 years of experience in the Ascension Parish school system, with the last six years spent as supervisor for special education. She has also worked as the direct supervisor for Ascension Parish School Board employees and was responsible for annual evaluations, hundreds of formal observations and employee performance reviews, securing funding, federal and state reporting, compliance and data management, personnel-needs assessment and interviewing and workshop design and implementation.

“I’ve always been interested in policy regulations and legal issues,” Rodgers said. “Finance and personnel management is nothing new to me.”

Robottom said although it is not direct government experience, Rodgers’ duties in the school system mirror the responsibilities of a CAO.

“Management is management, and she has the skill set necessary to manage our long list of projects and personnel,” Robottom said of Rodgers. “Theresa wrote the book for policies and procedures in Ascension Parish regarding special education and has been involved in the development, writing and implementation of numerous policy documents and handbooks. She has the ability to seek information and become familiar with it.”

Robottom said in selecting a new CAO, she considered looking within and considered someone local but added she wanted someone who was not already involved in the politics of the parish.

“I wanted an administrator, not a politician,” Robottom said. “I think sometimes it is good to have someone not already involved in what has gone on. I think Theresa may be able to see things from a different angle and point out ways to change or improve what is in place. I looked at what would best benefit the parish rather than the place of residence of my selection.”