EDGARD — West St. John Elementary School principal Chantell Walker has been named a semi-finalist for 2017 Louisiana Principal of the Year.

“We are so excited that Mrs. Walker has been named a semi-finalist for state Principal of the Year,” Superintendent Kevin George said. “She is truly an exceptional leader, and her hard work and dedication show in the success of her teachers and students.”

This is Walker’s second year leading the Edgard school. She was previously an assistant principal at West St. John High School.

She joined the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District in 2008 as a high school and dual enrollment math teacher at West St. John High School, where she served as the math department chairwoman and school counselor.

Under her leadership, West St. John Elementary School increased its School Performance Score 16.6 points in 2015. Walker is one of 24 principals from across Louisiana chosen as semi-finalists for Louisiana Principal of the Year.

Each year, the Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, honors the state’s exceptional teachers and leaders through the Teacher and Principal of the Year award program.

All Teacher and Principal of the Year finalists and semi-finalists will be honored at the 10th Annual Cecil. J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration July 15, at which time the Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year will be named.

Walker is one of two semi-finalists from St. John the Baptist Parish.

Karen Dottolo, a teacher at John L. Ory Communication Arts Magnet School, was earlier named a semi-finalist for Louisiana Teacher of the Year.