By Richard Meek

Contributing Writer

RESERVE – Patricia Triche’s smile, contagious by its sincerity, was only interrupted by a brief word of encouragement to passing students as the East John High School principal guided Louisiana’s education chief on a tour of the makeshift facility now serving as the school’s learning base until the school flooded by Hurricane Isaac can be repaired.

Superintendent of Education John White continued his scheduled tour of Louisiana schools Tuesday with a visit to East St. John and Ascension of Our Lord School. Only this visit was unlike any other.

White was visiting a school still rising from the depths of Hurricane Isaac’s floodwaters, a student body adjusting to attending classes in a previously mostly mothballed campus that was remarkably refurbished in a matter of weeks.

A little more than two months ago waters from Hurricane Isaac flooded East St. John’s campus on Airline Highway, placing students on what would be an almost four-week reprise of summer vacation. But in a short period of time workers readied the former Leon Godchaux Junior High, a historic site framed by stoic oak trees where a grand, three-story high school once stood. In September the doors swung open to welcome the nearly 1,000 students that call ESJ home.

Triche’s pride was evident as she detailed to White the logistics officials faced in readying the school to accommodate students. Because of size restraints students are forced to attend in morning and afternoon shifts, but even that should be quickly resolved with the addition of more than 20 modular buildings to be soon added to the campus.

“It’s about getting (students) back to normalcy,” Triche said, adding that they all posses an attitude of resiliency.

“The biggest thing is pride, letting them know we’re going to be OK,” she added.

Triche told White that nearly all of the student population and all but one faculty member returned.

The tenor of the superintendent’s visit was quite different than that of other districts he has previously visited. In Bogalusa, for example, school district officials trotted out top teachers and students from the various schools to briefly introduce themselves to White and also added a short presentation.

While in St. John Parish, White learned of a story of hope and determination. By the end of his visit White was effusive in his praise of Triche and her staff.

At one point, he simply turned to the ESJ principal and with a smile that matched Triche’s, said, “I’m just happy to be here.”

Afterward, White visited Ascension of Our Lord because it is one of the schools participating in the state’s scholarship, or voucher, program. Between school visits White sandwiched in a private meeting with area legislators.