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Louisiana Teacher, Principal Awards Announce Semifinalists, Finalists

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The Louisiana Department of Education announced semifinalists for Teacher and Principal of the Year and finalists for Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year and New Teacher of the Year. The announcement names educators from parishes across Louisiana, with overall honorees to be announced in July at the 20th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Gala.

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The Louisiana Department of Education released its annual list of semifinalists and finalists for educator awards recognizing exceptional teachers, principals, and early childhood leaders across Louisiana's parishes. Teacher and Principal of the Year semifinalists total 24 each from schools across the state, while Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year finalists number 5 each, and New Teacher of the Year finalists include 10 educators across elementary, middle, and high school categories.

These awards are ceremonial recognitions with no compliance or regulatory obligations. The announcements serve to highlight exemplary educators and do not create any new requirements for educational institutions, teachers, or other parties. No action is required by schools, educators, or other stakeholders.

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Apr 17, 2026

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LOUISIANA ANNOUNCES SEMIFINALISTS AND FINALISTS FOR AWARDS RECOGNIZING TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, AND EARLY CHILDHOOD LEADERS

March 27, 2026

Share Share (BATON ROUGE, LA) - The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced the teachers, principals, and early childhood leaders who are one step closer to being named the state’s overall honorees. The LDOE named semifinalists for Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year and finalists for Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year and New Teacher of the Year.

“Congratulations to each of these exceptional educators,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “They are helping students succeed academically and demonstrating why Louisiana is becoming a national example of what works in the classroom.”

Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year

Each year, the LDOE, in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, recognizes Louisiana’s most exceptional teachers and principals through the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs. These programs celebrate educators who make extraordinary gains with students and serve as models of excellence in their communities.

Teacher of the Year Semifinalists

  • Kayla LeJeune,  Kinder Middle School, Allen Parish
  • Melanie Leigh Machen, Benton High School, Bossier Parish
  • Monica Speyrer, C.E. Byrd High School, Caddo Parish
  • Brilee Little, South Cameron High School, Cameron Parish
  • Jennifer Woodard, Central Intermediate School, Central Community School District
  • Macy Garner, Haynesville Jr./Sr. High School, Claiborne Parish
  • Hillary Severin, North DeSoto Upper Elementary School, DeSoto Parish
  • Huijing Yuan, B. R. Foreign Language Acad. Immersion Magnet, East Baton Rouge Parish
  • Lauren Thibodeaux, Vidrine Elementary School, Evangeline Parish
  • Samantha Lemoine, Verda Elementary School, Grant Parish
  • Brittany Delcambre, Delcambre High School, Iberia Parish
  • Bridget Zeringue, Iberville Math, Science, and Arts (MSA) Academy East, Iberville Parish
  • Alysa LeBlanc, Milton Elementary School, Lafayette Parish
  • Diana Price, Jena Junior High School, LaSalle Parish
  • Jonathan Parish, Natchitoches Magnet School, Natchitoches Parish
  • Hannah Smith, Belle Chasse Elementary School, Plaquemines Parish
  • Kathy "Michelle" Blaney, Buckeye High School, Rapides Parish
  • Alisha Butler, Louisiana School for the Visually Impaired, Special School District
  • Kenneth Brown, Chalmette High School, St. Bernard Parish
  • Sonya George, Union Parish Elementary School, Union Parish
  • Amanda King, Anacoco High School, Vernon Parish
  • Misleydis Almeida de la Cruz, Brusly Middle School, West Baton Rouge Parish
  • Corey Gilfoil, Bains Lower Elementary School, West Feliciana Parish
  • Haley Odom, Northwestern Middle School, Zachary Community School District

Principal of the Year Semifinalists

  • Shelley Strother, Galvez Middle School, Ascension Parish
  • Melanie Bellamy, Labadieville Elementary School, Assumption Parish
  • Chuck Normand, Bunkie Magnet High School, Avoyelles Parish
  • Douglas Salvaterra, Saline High School, Bienville Parish
  • Alyshia Coulson, Bellaire Elementary School, Bossier Parish
  • Shannon Wall, Northwood High School, Caddo Parish
  • Angela Guillory, Moss Bluff Middle School, Calcasieu Parish
  • Kalandra Loyd, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, Concordia Parish
  • Brian Anderson, Stanley High School, DeSoto Parish
  • Amy Gobert, Elton High School, Jefferson Davis Parish
  • Dr. Holly Boffy, W. D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center, Lafayette Parish
  • Casey Cheramie, Raceland Lower Elementary School, Lafourche Parish
  • Lacey Holcomb, Simsboro High School, Lincoln Parish
  • Wesley Howard, Denham Springs High School, Livingston Parish
  • Doll Ann Johnson, Sterlington High School, Ouachita Parish
  • Christy Dugas, Paradise Elementary School, Rapides Parish
  • Lisa Perrin, Allemands Elementary School, St. Charles Parish
  • April Guidry, Grand Prairie Elementary School, St. Landry Parish
  • Lauren Rentrop, Patterson Junior High School, St. Mary Parish
  • Gina Brown, Mandeville Junior High School, St. Tammany Parish
  • Sharess Baptiste, Kentwood High Magnet School, Tangipahoa Parish
  • Terez LeBlanc, Houma Junior High School, Terrebonne Parish
  • Kandice Broussard, North Vermilion Middle School, Vermilion Parish
  • Jacquelyn Bristow, Bains Lower Elementary School, West Feliciana Parish

Louisiana Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year

The LDOE, in collaboration with Dream Teachers, recognizes exemplary early childhood educators and leaders. These awards honor teachers and directors (leaders) in Type III Centers, CCAP Certified Family Child Care Sites, Head Start Centers, and Early Head Start Centers.

Early Childhood Teacher of the Year Finalists

  • Tangi Ambeau Flowers, Little Learner's Preparatory Academy, Ascension Parish
  • Vanessa Baltazar, LSU Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, East Baton Rouge Parish
  • Kristy Short, Thibodaux Head Start, Lafourche Parish
  • Jeannine Danos, South Plaquemines Children's Center, Plaquemines Parish
  • Jillian Graves, St. Louis Academy Head Start, St. James Parish

Early Childhood Leader of the Year Finalists

  • Jamalynn Lewis, New Horizon Learning Academy, Jefferson Parish
  • Sarah Corley, Louisiana State University at Alexandria Children's Center, Rapides Parish
  • Cheryl Morrison Champagne, Tender Years, St. Tammany Parish
  • Sarah Thibodeaux, Bright Beginnings Learning Center, Vermilion Parish
  • Niki Mills, St. Francisville United Methodist Early Learning Center, West Feliciana Parish

Louisiana New Teacher of the Year

The Louisiana New Teacher of the Year program, launched in partnership with Dream Teachers, highlights the remarkable contributions of first-year classroom teachers. This award celebrates new educators who are already demonstrating outstanding instructional skills and a commitment to student achievement.

New Teacher of the Year Finalists

Elementary

  • Morgan Vanicor, Welsh Elementary School,  Jefferson Davis Parish
  • Jayla Anderson, Cypress Point University Elementary School, City of Monroe School District
  • Jade Carroll, Riverbend Elementary School, Ouachita Parish

Middle

  • Jared Smith, Gonzales Middle School, Ascension Parish
  • Brittany Goss, Quitman High School, Jackson Parish
  • Chloe Wilbanks, Simpson High School/Hicks High School, Vernon Parish

High

  • Kesha Eymard, South Lafourche High School, Lafourche Parish
  • Grace Reynerson, Live Oak High School, Livingston Parish
  • Katie Weber, Fontainebleau High School, St. Tammany Parish Finalists for Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year will be announced in May. Overall honorees will be announced for all teacher, principal, and leader awards in July at the 20th Annual Cecil. J. Picard Educator Excellence Gala.

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March 27th, 2026
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