Iberville Parish School Board announces Teachers of the Year at MSA-West program
After all of the individual schools’ top teachers were introduced, Superintendent Arthur Joffrion, Ph.D., announced the Teachers of the Year for 2019, Lindsey Haltrop at the elementary level, middle school teacher Elmora Kelly-Gunter and Annellies Martinez-Kattan, the high school Teacher of the Year.
Honored as the Principal of the Year was Adeline Loupe of White Castle High School.
“While Christmas time is extremely busy, it is a perfect time to recognize outstanding educators who are truly a gift to those they teach,” Joffrion said before he announced the honorees.
“This group of educators is innovative,” he continued. “They implement high yield instructional strategies in classroom environments where all students are valued.”
‘This group of educators is invigorating,” he said. “They empower students to see a future beyond their dreams. They make students feel strong and full of energy so they can be successful.”
“This group of educators is inspirational,”Joffrion said. “They are leaders in their classrooms and schools. They are active in community and churches.”
Holtrop, the elementary school Teacher of the Year, teaches math to fourth graders at Iberville Elementary School. She graduated from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette where she majored in child and family studies.
“She has always been a teacher at heart,” according to her introduction in the program. “…Her love for children and enthusiasm for teaching is evident in all that she does.”
“She is always ready to volunteer her time to help anyone in need,” the program continues.
Kelly-Gunter, the Teacher of the Year at the middle school level, teaches a multitude of courses in English and language arts to seventh and eighth graders at the Starship Program.
She is a graduate of LSU where she majored in English with a secondary education concentration.
“She has a distinctive ability to bring out the best in her students, always pushing them to think with more depth, write with more passion and speak with more conviction,” is how she is described in the program.
High school Teacher of the Year Martinez-Kattan is a graduate of the University of New Orleans where she majored in English. She teaches sixth, seventh and eight grade art classes and began teaching in 2010.
The Teachers of the Year for each school were announced by their principal. They are:
·Brittany Martinez, a second grade English and language arts teacher at Crescent Elementary School.
·Chamarcus Lewis, a fourth grade science and social studies teacher at Dorseyville Elementary School.
·Crystal Turley is a second grade math and science teacher at East Iberville Elementary School.
·Mary Blanchard is a third grade teacher at Iberville Math, Science and Arts Academy-East
·Brandi Peavy is a kindergarten teacher at Iberville Math, Science and Arts Academy-West
·Kendra Thomas is a kindergarten teacher at North Iberville Elementary School
·Sherri Pierce is a sixth, seventh and eighth grade teacher at East Iberville School
·Amanda Doris is a K-12 visual art and talented visual art teacher at Iberville Math, Science and Arts Academy-West
·Eleanor Methany teaches seventh grade American history and eighth grade Louisiana history
·Jessica Deville teaches seventh grade English and reading at Plaquemine High School
·Troy Green is a seventh through 12th grade physical education teacher and head basketball coach at White Castle High School
·Jamesina Collins is a mathematics teacher and coach at East Iberville High School
·Joanne Griffin teaches eighth and ninth grade algebra I, tenth and 11th grade algebra II and 12th grade pre-calculus at Iberville Math, Science and Arts Academy-East
·Minta Gremillion is a ninth through 12th grade inclusion/resource-special education teacher at Plaquemine High School
·Ira Anderson is a special education teacher at White Castle High School
“Thanks to all educators and tonight especially to those selected to represent their schools as teachers of the year,” Joffrion said. “This group was so outstanding that our judging committee of retired educators, business people and community members struggled in multiple categories to select the overall winners.”