2022-2023 Teachers of the Year and Principals of the Year Announced

Three teachers and three principals have been selected as the 2022-2023 St. Tammany Parish Public School System Teachers and Principals of the Year.

Named as 2022-2023 District Teachers of the Year are Phyllis Ducre from Chahta-Ima Elementary, Ashley Colgin from Florida Avenue Elementary, and Kelly Miller from Northshore High.

The 2022-2023 Principals of the Year are Andrea Stant from Sixth Ward Elementary, Dr. Seu Hee Ledet from Pine View Middle, and April Jarrell from Lakeshore High.

 “I could not be happier to have these wonderful teachers and principals representing the St. Tammany Parish Public School System,” said Superintendent Frank Jabbia. “They characterize everything we strive for in education and are making life-long impacts in their schools and communities”.

Dr. Seu Hee Ledet also has been selected as a semi-finalist in the 2023 Louisiana Principal of the Year program held by the Louisiana Department of Education, which honors the most exceptional school leaders from school systems across the state. She is among 24 principals selected to continue in the competition for Louisiana Principal of the Year.

Teachers and Principals of the Year are selected based on their success with students and, for principals, their work to support teachers. Each year, one teacher and one principal at each level – elementary, middle/junior high, and high school – are selected as the district level winners and move on to compete in the state competition.

Phyllis Ducre, the Elementary Division Teacher of the Year, is currently in her 21^st year of teaching and has been at Chahta-Ima Elementary since 2005 as a first grade teacher. She has worked with the 21^st Century Community Learning Center’s after-school and summer camp programs since 2005, and was appointed to the site coordinator position in 2019. Mrs. Ducre received a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Ashley Colgin, the Middle/Junior High Division Teacher of the Year, is a skilled teacher with 21 years of teaching experience and has been at Florida Avenue Elementary since 2010 as a 6^th grade science and social studies teacher. She has served on a parish-wide committee focused on developing and implementing core curriculum and promotes goal-oriented activities and critical thinking in her classroom. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education degree from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Kelly Miller, the High School Division Teacher of the Year, teaches dual enrollment and on-level United States history at Northshore High School where she is also the social studies department head. With 24 years of teaching experience in St. Tammany Parish, Ms. Miller has served as the class sponsor for the classes of 2012 and 2016, coached cross country track and field from 2008-2016, currently sponsors the tennis team and senior trip, has served on the LDOE Social Studies Advisory Board, and recently earned her mentor ancillary certification in January 2021. She received a Bachelor of Arts in History degree with a minor in music from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1995, and recently earned a master’s degree in history from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2019.

Andrea Stant, the Elementary Division Principal of the Year, has been the principal of Sixth Ward Elementary for four years after previously serving as a title I instructional coach and assistant principal at Sixth Ward Elementary. She implemented professional learning communities and under her leadership, Sixth Ward Elementary’s projected school performance scores increased. She received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2001 and returned to earn her master’s degree in administration and supervision.

Dr. Seu Hee Ledet, the Middle/Junior High Division Principal of the Year, is presently in her 12^th year as a school administrator and is serving as principal and head learner of Pine View Middle where she focuses on supporting the “whole child” and building diverse community partnerships. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Education in 2000, her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction in 2003, and her Doctor of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction in 2007, all from Arizona State University where she has previously taught as an adjunct professor before earning her second Masters in Education in Educational Leadership degree from Northern Arizona University in 2010.

April Jarrell, the High School Division Principal of the Year, was named Lakeshore High’s principal in 2020 after previously serving as Assistant Principal for two years. She has helped develop additional opportunities for students who were not university-bound as the school-to-work coordinator, and lead Lakeshore High to increase their school performance score projection. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in 1999 followed by a Master of Arts in Education Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2007.