Hailing the role of the American teacher as one ready to “engage students and destroy the obstacles standing between my students and learning,” St. Charles Parish Public Schools Superintendent Felecia Gomez-Walker recognized the 2015-16 Teachers of the Year.
“Tonight we celebrate you – our heroes, our teachers,” Gomez-Walker said at the March 10 ceremony at Ormond Plantation. “On behalf of the citizens of St. Charles Parish, I thank you and your families for the many daily sacrifices you have made to put our students’ futures first.”
Latanya Williams Jenkins, teacher with Allemands Elementary School, was named Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Stacy Yarbrough, teacher with R.K. Smith Middle School, was named the school system’s Middle School Teacher of the Year. Melanie Blackmon Seal with Hahnville High School, was named the system’s High School Teacher of the Year.
Jenkins, a resident of Luling, previously taught at Rosenwald Elementary School from August of 2006 to July of 2010, and then went to Allemands Elementary School in August of 2010 where she is today. She earned a bachelor of science at Southern University at New Orleans in 2006, and is pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership, also at Southern University.
Jenkins is a member of the Allemands Elementary School Improvement Team, and St. Charles Parish Schools Math Study Group.
Her honors include being nominated as the school’s Teacher of Year in 2014-15 and in 2010-11 school years. She was chosen as Elementary Teacher of the Year for Pointe Coupee Parish Schools in 2008-09, and represented Rosenwald Elementary School as Teacher of the Year in 2008-09.
Yarbrough, a resident of Kenner, started at Brentwood Middle School in Pensacola, Fla., in 2002 and went on to Navarre High School, Navarre, Fla., in 2004. She went to R.K. Smith Middle School in Luling in 2007, where she teaches band and piano in grades 6 – 8 today.
Yarbrough’s honors include receiving all 4’s on her 2015 formal evaluation, recognized by the St. Charles Parish School Board for student qualification and participation in the state band festival of 2014.
She earned an associate degree in music at Pensacola, Fla. in 1998; undergraduate in general music at Loyola University, New Orleans, December 2001; master’s degree in music education at Columbus State University, Columbus, Ga., May 2003, and master’s degree in educational leadership at the University of New Orleans, New Orleans, December 2012.
Seal, a resident of Luling, started teaching physical science at Hahnville High School in December of 1999.
She earned a bachelor of arts degree in secondary biology and general science education degree in December 1999, and completed six hours of master’s courses in technology for recertification at Southeastern Louisiana University in December 2007.
Seal’s honors include being a seven-time recipient of Teacher of the Month, and receiving the “You Made A Difference” recognition from Senior Football Players, 2013 to 2015.
Each winning teacher received an engraved crystal vase and $800 check.
Finalists also included:
• Erin Knobloch, Lakewood Elementary School
• Valerie Rogers, Luling Elementary School
• Micque Voges, Ethel Schoeffner Elementary School
• Antoinette Nassar, New Sarpy Elementary School
• Gina Burst, Norco Elementary School
• Lisa Cain, Mimosa Park Elementary School
• Melissa Lestelle, St. Rose Elementary School
• Kelli Besse, R.J. Vial Elementary School
• Sally Dupuy, Albert Cammon Middle School
• Karl Harrod, Harry Hurst Middle School
• Anthea Veltos Comardelle, J.B. Martin Middle School
• Nicole Madere, Destrehan High School
The Teachers of the Year Program is a national program designed to honor outstanding teachers from each state.
On the local level, the school system names its Teachers of the Year and announce an elementary, middle and high school teacher as the St. Charles Parish Teachers of the Year. All teachers of the year must complete an application with writing samples, be observed in the classroom and be interviewed by a selection committee.
This year’s selection committee members are John Dias, Samuel Buhler, Connie Gassen, Paul Gibson, Michelle Hof, Sandra McCullough, LaKeisha McKinney, Carla Murphy, Gerard Nugent, Dayna Parker, Dixie Todaro and Leanna Weaver.
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