LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / May 13, 2000

LULING – Nineteen teachers, one for every public school in St. Charles Parish,received Teacher of the Year honors Tuesday, with four named as “the best of the best” by a blue-ribbon committee.

Ceremonies were held at the Esperanza Room in Luling, where Sheriff Greg C.

Champagne was the guest speaker.

“Day by day, student by student, you are making a difference in these young people’s lives,” Champagne said.

Robert Fisher of Destrehan High, Barbara Forshag of Eual J. Landry Sr.Middle, Virginia Morgan of R.J. Vial Elementary and Mary Beth Anderson ofMimosa Park Elementary were named the top teachers of the year, out of each grade section.

Each received a plaque and a $400 check, along with a cooler and a pocket calendar.

In addition, the American Petroleum Institute, Delta Chapter’s Michael del Papa presented cash awards to four of 1999’s top teachers. Receiving thoseawards were Wendy Wall of J.B. Martin Middle School, Lisa Perrie of EualLandry Middle School, Florence Tapley of Ethel Schoeffner Elementary School and Cherie Mitchell of Destrehan High School.

Secondary level teachers of the year are Robert Fisher of Destrehan High and Suzanne Aucoin of Hahnville High. Middle school level teachers of the yearare Martye Martin of Albert Cammon Middle, Barry Guillot of Harry Hurst Middle, Barbara Forshag of Landry and Nancy Curole of J.B. Martin Middle.Upper elementary teachers of the year are Cindy Champagne of Carver Elementary, Dee Decuers of Lakewood Elementary, Darla Delaney of Norco 4- 6 Elementary, Holly Granier of Schoeffner and Virginia Morgan of R.J. VialElementary.

Primary level teachers of the year are Karen Burggraf of A.A. SongyKindergarten, Rachelle Scariano of Allemands Elementary, Merlyna Adams of Luling Elementary, Mary Beth Anderson of Mimosa Park Elementary, Marian Clement of New Sarpy Elementary, Tanya Hoffmann of Norco K-3 Elementary and Robynn Fontaine of St. Rose Primary.Champagne’s remarks centered upon his own education in St. Charles Parishschools, from Luling Elementary to J.B. Martin Middle to Hahnville High School,where he graduated in 1975 before attending Nicholls State in Thibodaux and the LSU Law School for his juris doctorate degree.

He recalled one particular punishment for an infraction for which he stood in a corner for six weeks’ worth of recesses. “ADAPT is a piece of cakecompared to six weeks in the Luling Elementary hallway,” Champagne said, adding it helped steer him onto the straight and narrow.

He applauded the efforts of today’s teachers and school administrators to reach today’s students and urged them to stay the course.

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