Teachers of the Year

School employees gathered at Ormond Plantation last week to honor this year’s most outstanding educators.

Seventeen teachers – one from every school in the parish – were living a fairy tale as they were recognized during the annual Teacher of the Year presentation.

But only three could be chosen to go on and represent the parish at the regional level. This year’s big district winners were Amanda Baudot of Hahnville High School, Sharon Landry of R.K. Smith Middle and Mendy Van Hoven of New Sarpy Elementary.

Baudot teaches English II and creative writing at HHS.

“It feels really good to know that the people I work with are proud of me,” she said of winning.

Each teacher said they were surprised and deeply honored to have been chosen.

This year’s theme was “Once upon a time” and Satellite Center team members helped to cater and film the event.

Superintendent Rodney Lafon said that the theme is very fitting for our local teachers.

“A hero or heroine must overcome many challenges in order to live happily ever after…is that so different from teaching?” he said during the presentation.

Felicia Gomez, assistant superintendent of secondary schools and quality assurance, said that the teachers are in inspiration to all of their peers.

“Your stories honor our profession and I hope inspire others to join the teaching profession,” Gomez said.

During the presentation, a video was shown of each teacher being asked what “story” led them to become a teacher.

Van Hoven said that her story began with a little girl in Mississippi who noticed things that other people did not and who wanted to bridge a gap.

“Sometimes it was hard to watch people be so very different,” she said. Now she uses stories on a daily basis to connect with her kindergarten special education class.

Baudot said her story is often like that of Snow White – she sometimes spends the day with “lazy,” “sleepy” and “grumpy” students.

“Hopefully none of them will ever feed me a bad apple,” she said, laughing.

Landry said that her teaching career is also like a fairy tale, but one that had some “bumps, monsters and scary things” along the way.

2012 Teachers of the Year

Mendy Van Hoven, New Sarpy Elementary – district winner

Sharon Landry, R.K. Smith Middle – district winner

Amanda Baudot, Hahnville High – district winner

Heather Helou, A.A. Songy Kindergarten Center

Stephanie Knight, Allemands Elementary

Jo Ann Roussel, Ethel Schoeffner Elementary

Sharon Diana, Luling Elementary

Corey Weeks, Lakewood Elementary

Gayle Simoneaux, Mimosa Park Elementary

Ann Snakenberg, Norco Elementary K-3

Carla Blais, R.J. Vial Elementary

Ronnette Messina, St. Rose Elementary

Sarra Harville, Norco Elementary 4-6

Mindy Williams, Harry Hurst Middle

Alan Staub, J.B. Martin Middle

Heather Abiol, Albert Cammon Middle

Nicole Madere, Destrehan High