Board, Superintendent Laud Outstanding Individuals, Programs

Several individuals and programs were recognized by School Board members and Superintendent Charlotte Placide at an East Baton Rouge Parish School Board meeting on May 21.

Placide presented Tara High School Principal LuAnne Estess and her school’s Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) program with the annual Superintendent’s Trophy for the school program that amasses the most points in competitions throughout the year.  This is the third consecutive year the school’s program has won the trophy.

In addition to competing at a high level, Tara High School’s program also retains the coveted designation of Honor Unit with Distinction earned during the regular Command Formal Inspection as conducted by the U.S. Army ROTC brigade commander.  Tara High School’s JROTC is one of three units in the School System to win this distinction of the eight units inspected.

Pictured are (first photo, left to right):  Lt. Col. (Ret) August J. Amoroso Jr., director of Army Instruction for the School System; Maj. (Ret) Leslie G. Martin, senior Army instructor for Tara High school’s JROTC program; Cadet/Lt. Col. Kimberly Robert, Tara High’s cadet battalion commander; Estess; Cadet Capt. Azariah Pierce, Tara High’s cadet battalion executive officer; and Mstr. Sgt. Johnell Joseph Jr. and Mstr. Sgt. Bobby O. Brown, Army instructors for Tara High School’s JROTC program.

In addition, three East Baton Rouge Parish School System employees were named Outstanding School Support Employees (OSSE) for the 2008-2009 school year:  (second photo, left to right) Jamie White, school clerk - Woodlawn High School; Stella Gremillion, paraprofessional - Westdale Middle School; and Martha Douglas, technician II - Child Nutrition Program at Mayfair Pre-K Center.  The winners are support employees selected for having rendered time and talents beyond the call of duty and achieving top-notch job performance.  This is a state award, and the recipients from each district are chosen by that district’s administrators.

White has been at Woodlawn High School for two-and-a-half years, having served at Tara High School for eight years previously.  “Ms. White goes above and beyond in trying to help all parents and students that she comes in contact with,” said Jimmy Newman, principal of Woodlawn High School.  “Ms. White’s dedication goes beyond the school day as she regularly takes work home.  She has a great rapport with the faculty and staff at Woodlawn High School and is respected by all.”

At Westdale Middle School, Gremillion “has demonstrated her loyalty and commitment to her job,” according to Principal Sherry Brock.  “As a paraprofessional in the classroom, she has a talent for addressing the needs and developing the skills of children in the community-based program.  She encourages each child’s individuality and instills in them the confidence to do their best.”

Douglas provides nutrition education to the students, encourages them to eat or try new food items and reminds them to say “please” and “thank you”.  Employed by the district for 18 years, she also works closely with parents. Mary Wilkinson, a nutrition area supervisor, said, “Because of her calm demeanor and her interest in the welfare of the children, her relationships with parents are excellent.  She takes special interest in the children so much so that some of the children bring their parents in to meet her.  Parents are thankful to her for making their children feel welcomed.”  In addition, Douglas tutors community children and conducts arts and crafts classes for students.

As part of another School Board recognition, three School System employees were recognized as the district’s School Counselors of the Year 2008-2009.  They are (third photo, left to right):  Dr. Diane Sistrunk (of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, high school level), Tedral Patterson (of McKinley Middle Academic Magnet School, middle school level) and Anitra Bell-Robinson (of Belfair Montessori Magnet Elementary School, elementary school level).

Sistrunk had 31 years in education, 19 of which have been as a school counselor.  She is a National Certified Counselor, a National Certified School Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Board Approved Supervisor for Counselors and Licensed Prevention Specialist.  Patterson has 12 years in education, 10 of which have been as a school counselor.  Bell-Robinson has been in education 11 years, all of them as a school counselor.  She is a National Certified School Counselor, a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Board Approved Supervisor for Counselors.

Winners possess the personal qualities thought to be desirable in a counselor and have been responsible for innovations in guidance and counseling programs, for providing leadership in the further development of existing guidance services and for performing an outstanding service to the school and/or community.