District Support Employees of the Year Announced!
Congratulations to our 2024-2025 District Support Employees of the Year!
Bethany “Renee” Simmons
Magnolia Trace - Paraprofessional
Elementary Division
Paul McLain
Folsom Junior High - Head Custodian
Middle/Junior High Division
Jennifer Normand
Fontainebleau High - Secretary
High School Division
Mary Ann Ladner
Harrison Curriculum Center - Braille Transcriber Paraprofessional
Site Division
Surprise Visits
Superintendent Jabbia surprised the winners at their schools.
Meet the Winners
Bethany "Renee" Simmons
Paraprofessional, Magnolia Trace Elementary
Elementary Division
Bethany “Renee” Simmons is a hard-working and dedicated paraprofessional at Magnolia Trace Elementary who always shows up with a positive attitude. Whether it is giving the necessary mentorship to a struggling student or providing support to her fellow staff and team members at school or in her community, Simmons does not hesitate to help those around her no matter the situation. Her attendance and work ethic truly are facets to be admired and no matter how difficult a task, situation, or problem may be, she will always push through and lift the morale of her school’s campus.
Paul McClain
Head Custodian, Folsom Junior High
Middle/Junior High Division
Selfless, committed, and uplifting are all words that describe Paul McClain. As the head custodian and leader of his team at Folsom Junior High, Paul is known as a one-call-that’s-all kind of person. From dissecting the minute intricacies of paint swatches to overseeing campus beautification projects, McClain is a self-starter and is always ready for any challenge. He often takes the initiative and completes tasks before even being notified. As a spirited volunteer he also cooks for faculty and staff and serves as a mentor and trusted adult to many students.
Jennifer Normand
Clerical Worker, Fontainebleau High
High School Division
Clerical worker Jennifer Normand goes above and beyond every single day at the Fontainebleau High campus. She is very often the first smiling face her colleagues see in the morning and never fails to ensure the band students staying late after school get a chance to eat. A beacon of positivity, Normand rarely misses a Fontainebleau High football game and volunteers to coach her school’s Powder Puff football team. Through her excellent rapport with students, Normand truly embodies her school’s motto, “The Best of the Best”!
Mary Ann Ladner
Braillist, Harrison Curriculum Center
Site Employee Division
As the only braillist in the St. Tammany Parish Public School System, Mary Ann Ladner is an unsung hero for visually impaired students across our district and the staff that assists them. Ladner creates tactile graphics such as maps, math graphs, and other necessary supports to enable students who are either blind or have low vision. Through her diligence and passion, Ladner successfully aided a visually impaired 2024 graduate in receiving a TOPS University diploma who is now attending a four-year university and studying biology. For 25 years she has solely taken on the task of transcribing all written instructions into braille, ensuring that all of our visually impaired students have access to learning equal to their sighted peers.