Jordyn Vicknair, a Montz native, found massive success in her first year of teaching.
After student teaching at East Ascension High School, Vicknair landed a job at the school teaching geometry there for the 2021-2022 school year. The dedication, passion, and teaching style of the 2021 Louisiana State University graduate caught the eye of administrators there, who nominated Vicknair for the Louisiana Department of Education’s 2023 New Teacher of the Year award.
In partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, the LDOE annually recognizes and celebrates the state’s leading educators through Louisiana’s Educator Awards Programs. These programs provide an opportunity to acknowledge teachers and leaders who are making exceptional gains with students.
After filling out a series of applications and submitting supplemental information, Vicknair found out that she won the award. This year all winners were celebrated at the 16th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Awards Gala at the World War II Museum in New Orleans in July.
“I was shocked … shocked,” Vicknair said. “That first year of teaching is really just trying to survive and figure out what works and you’re constantly learning, so being picked the winner out of all of the amazing people who were nominated … I was shocked, but also just really proud of myself to accomplish that in a year. I love teaching. I’m really passionate about it, so being recognized for something that you’re so passionate about was awesome.”
This school year Vicknair is bringing her talents to Destrehan High School, where she is teaching geometry and Algebra I at her alma mater.
“I had a goal to get back here,” she said of DHS. “It was a destination that I wanted to hit. St. Charles Parish is an insanely awesome school parish. It feels great … this is the community I came from. I know a lot of the people who make the school as great as it is. I feel really welcomed and supported.”
Vicknair said her goal is to make her second year of teaching as successful as her first year was.
“I had an amazing year at East Ascension,” she said. “My administrators and other teachers were extremely supportive there. They’re the ones that allowed me that space to do the job.”
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