When fourth graders at R.J. Vial Elementary see Julia Tastet in a lab coat and safety googles, they know it means a day of fun science experiments in class.
“The students get super excited when they see me walking down the hall in my scientist gear,” Tastet said. “I step out of my role as a teacher and into my role as a scientist.”
Tastet has been teaching math and science at R.J. Vial for four years now, but she was once a student at the school herself.
“I walked through these same halls and sat at these same desks many years ago as a student,” she said. “It’s surreal being able to give back to the school and community I grew up in. I believe the bond I have with my students grows deeper when they realize that I know what it is like to be a fourth grader at R.J. Vial.”
During her first year of teaching, Tastet worked alongside her former third grade math and science teacher, Donna Reyes. It was Reyes’ last year of teaching before her retirement.
“I will treasure the fact that I learned from her,” Tastet said. “I have made many memories at R.J. Vial both as a student and a teacher.”
Tastet has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Nicholls State University. She graduated with the presidential medal of honor for earning a 4.0 GPA all eight semesters of her college career. She completed her teaching residency at Allemands Elementary.
“Ms. Latanya Williams-Jenkins was my mentor teacher, and I can never thank her enough for the knowledge and strategies she taught me that year,” Tastet said.
At R.J. Vial, Tastet coaches the Jagettes, one of the clubs offered at school during Club Days, which is open to all students. Tastet teaches students some of the basic dance jumps and turns and a short dance combination. The fifth grade Jagettes march in the school’s Mardi Gras parade.
Tastet has also served as the fourth-grade math team leader. In that role, she met with math team leaders at each elementary school in the parish to create math assessments and discuss data. She is currently on the school’s Success Team and Guiding Coalition, and she also serves as the school’s science fair coordinator.
“As the coordinator, I guide students in the process of choosing a science phenomenon that interests them and help them create a science experiment that will test a solution to a problem,” Tastet said. “I love seeing how passionate our students become about their project and how proud they are of their hard work. Helping students grow their love of science is heartwarming.”
For Tastet, the most rewarding part of teaching is when former students give her a big, tight hug and share memories they have from her classroom.
“I had a student last year come back and visit my classroom just to tell me how excited he was that he used my favorite multiplication strategy in math class the previous day,” Tastet said. “Knowing that I have made a positive impact on my students’ education motivates me to continue giving it my all in the classroom each day.”
Tastet said she always knew she would be a teacher.
“I remember when I was in elementary school, I took over my mom’s home office and turned it into my own classroom decked out with a dry erase easel, workbooks from school that my teachers donated to me, and, of course, a red hand pointer,” she said. “I have loved school since I was a little girl, and I owe it all to some of the inspiring teachers I had growing up.”
Sharon Bonnaffons, a fourth-grade math and science teacher, is still a role model for Tastet.
“Not only did she believe every child deserves a chance to succeed, but she made sure each of her students knew she believed in them,” Tastet said. “I strive to ensure my students feel the same way in my classroom.”
In 2022, Tastet was nominated for the St. Charles Parish New Teacher of the Year award.
“As a first-year teacher, it meant so much to me to be nominated for this award,” Tastet said. “I was thrilled that all the hard work and love I was pouring into my classroom were recognized by my peers at R.J. Vial. Being nominated for this award helped me build confidence in myself and continue to grow and learn as a new teacher.”
Tastet was also selected by the school administration to lead a teacher training. Great Minds, the creators of the school’s math and science curriculum, filmed Tastet teaching several math and science lessons.
“Receiving direct feedback from the creators of the curriculum I teach daily was something I could only have dreamed of,” Tastet said. “My experience with Great Minds transformed my abilities as a teacher.”
This year, Tastet is looking forward to bringing her students new resources and materials that she collected while at Arkema’s 2025 Science Teacher Program this summer. The program brings together scientists and local teachers to spark an interest in science among elementary school students.
“I had a blast touring the facility, getting to know some of the operators, engineers, and managers and building relationships with other science teachers in surrounding parishes,” Tastet said. “Not only do I get to take back new learning about how to build my students’ understanding of science phenomena, but I can also provide my students with hands-on activities that will create a fun-filled learning environment in our classroom.”
Tastet always starts the year by telling her students that learning in the classroom should be fun.
“Whether it’s choral responses, partner talks or group discussions, every child’s voice will be heard in our classroom,” Tastet said. “Sometimes it might get loud, but that just means all students are actively engaged in their learning.”
She said she is looking forward to building relationships with her new students this year.
“I love getting to know their personalities and their hobbies outside of school,” she said. “Not only do I support my students in the classroom, but also by watching them shine on the sports field or stage. Seeing my students’ faces light up because I showed up to their game or performance is probably one of the most rewarding feelings.”
