A South Polk Elementary School teacher, Jacqueline L. Prielipp, as been named a finalist in the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) Teacher of the Year award.
Prielipp is among 23 other teachers across the state who recently learned they are regional finalists for the award. The finalists will be honored during the 3rd Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration in July. At that time, LDOE will also reveal the state's overall Teacher of the Year, as well as Teachers of the Year at the elementary, middle and high school levels.
"We are extremely pleased to be able to recognize these 24 teachers," said State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek. "We have almost 47,000 classroom teachers in Louisiana's public school system, and these teachers are the best of the best.These teachers are being recognized not only for their dedication to their students and their profession, but also for their demonstrated ability to educate and inspire their students through meaningful and effective learning experiences. Their good work is helping to prepare our next generation to thrive in their future academic and career pursuits, and I want to congratulate them and thank them for their role in helping us to create a world-class education system for all students in Louisiana."
Teachers are selected based on criteria including teaching skills and dedication, plans to continue in the profession, respect of students, parents and colleagues, community and school leadership, affiliations with educational organizations, and possession of a superior talent to inspire students of all backgrounds and levels of abilities. Eight finalists represent each of the three school levels -- elementary, middle and high school.
"These teachers serve as models for their school communities and our state," said Keith Guice, president of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. "As we strive to improve the overall effectiveness of our classroom instruction, these accomplished professionals can help us improve our teaching methods by serving as leaders in best practices and by sharing their methods and strategies with other teachers."
Louisiana's teacher quality is highly ranked in most leading national studies as evidenced by a report issued in 2008 by Education Week and the Pew Center on the States which ranked Louisiana 6th in the nation.
The selection process for the state's Teacher of the Year program begins at the local level when teachers in area school districts compete for the district's Teacher of the Year award. Local winners then move on to one of eight regional competitions, based on the geographic location of the school district. Then each regional selection committee names an elementary, middle and high school teacher finalist, and the state selection committee interviews the 24 finalists to identify Louisiana's elementary, middle and high school winners and Louisiana's 2010 Teacher of the Year. Finally, Louisiana's overall winner advances to the National Teacher of the Year competition that culminates with the selection of the national winner in the spring of 2010.
Mercedes Benz of Baton Rouge will award the Teacher of the Year a one-year lease to a brand new car; the luxury car dealer has given the competition's overall winner this prize in previous years. Statewide winners and regional finalists will also be given cash awards along with other prizes donated by Louisiana businesses.
List of Regional Winners:
Elementary School Level
Lana Andrews-West, Bridgedale Elementary School, Metairie, Jefferson Parish; Denean M. Trigs-Keys, Mandeville Elementary School, Mandeville, St. Tammany Parish; Sandra K. Schneider, Dutchtown Primary School, Geismar, Ascension Parish; Shelly Ann Robin Dupre, Teche Elementary School, Cecilia, St. Martin Parish; Lydia Hollie McGee, T.S. Cooley Elementary School, Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish; Jacqueline L. Prielipp, South Polk Elementary School, Ft. Polk, Vernon Parish; Rachel Gifford, Carrie Martin Elementary School, Plain Dealing, Bossier Parish; Jenea Hargiss Buford, Drew Elementary School, West Monroe, Ouachita Parish.
Middle School Level
Stacy Harkreader Neighbors, J.B. Martin Middle School, Paradis, St. Charles Parish; Dana D. Morrison, Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish; Eric Kehn, St. Amant Middle School, St. Amant, Ascension Parish; Holly Franks Boffy, Paul Breaux Middle School, Lafayette, Lafayette Parish; Kimberly Ann Brannon, Beauregard Alternative School, DeRidder, Beauregard Parish; Tera Robinson-LaPrarie, Alexandria Middle Magnet School, Alexandria, Rapides Parish; Tricia White-Bratlie, Caddo Middle Magnet, Shreveport, Caddo Parish; Christopher T. Campbell, Simsboro High School, Simsboro, Lincoln Parish.
High School Level
August Bourgeois, Belle Chasse High School, Belle Chasse, Plaquemines Parish; Kimberlyn Denson, Tara High School, Baton Rouge, East Baton Rouge Parish; Donald R. Bailey, Donaldsonville High School, Donaldsonville, Ascension Parish; Kimberly M. Landry, Loreauville High School, Loreauville, Iberia Parish; Staycle Duplichan, Lacassine High School, Lacassine, Jefferson Davis Parish; Sarah Jean Mellon, Alexandria Senior High, Alexandria, Rapides Parish; Beth Warren, Castor High School, Castor, Bienville Parish; Emalie Dunn, Neville High School, Monroe, Monroe City Schools.
Baton Rouge, La. —
