Special to

L’Observateur

BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Education recently announced the overall 2015 Teacher and Principal of the Year at the 8th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium. 

The 2015 Teacher of the Year is Carla Jackson, a third grade teacher at Bains Elementary School in West Feliciana Parish.

Jackson has taught at Bains Elementary School since 2003, bringing more than two decades of experience to the classroom. She considers herself a data-driven teacher, and this past school year surpassed a goal she set for herself with 90 percent of her students performing at grade-level or better in English Language Arts.

As the 2015 Teacher of the Year, Jackson drove away with a one-year lease on a new Mercedes, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz of Baton Rouge.

The 2015 Principal of the Year is Denise Rehm, principal at Joshua Butler Elementary School in Jefferson Parish.

Rehm has served as principal at Joshua Butler Elementary School for the past six years and started her career in education as a first grade teacher 17 years ago. Under Rehm, Joshua Butler has transitioned into Common Core, pushing academic rigor and high standards and monitoring their students’ data as they went.

It was because of this data monitoring and school culture, Joshua Butler was able to grow from a “D” school in 2012 to a “B” school in 2013. 

“This is an extraordinary opportunity to say thanks to our educators for their service and celebrate their accomplishments,” State Superintendent John White said.

“Our educators are making exceptional gains with students, pushing them to achieve new, higher expectations. They are relentless in their efforts to improve their instructional practices so students can achieve such success.”

 Additionally, recognized during the evening were the 2015 Elementary, Middle, and High School Teacher and Principal of the Year winners.

The 2015 Elementary School Teacher of the Year is Tammy Schales of Ruston Elementary School in Lincoln Parish; the 2015 Middle School Teacher of the Year is Justin Burkhardt, Andrew Jackson Middle School in St. Bernard Parish and the 2015 High School Teacher of the Year is Anita Szombathelyi of Airline High School in Bossier Parish.

 The 2015 Elementary School Principal of the Year is Marjorie Meyers, Pecan Grove Elementary School in Ascension Parish; the 2015 Middle School Principal of the Year is Patrick Mackin, Slidell Junior High School in St. Tammany Parish and the 2015 High School Principal of the Year Ken Oertling, Hahnville High School in St. Charles Parish.

“Louisiana’s teachers and principals work very hard to help our students develop the skills and knowledge they need to achieve their goals and succeed in life,” said Holly Boffy, secretary-treasurer of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and 2010 Louisiana Teacher of the Year.

“On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our state’s educators for their dedication and leadership, and congratulate this year’s finalists on a job well done.”