LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / May 30, 2000

LULING – This fall’s school term will see a host of new faces in top positions in St. Charles Parish schools, according to Rochelle Touchard, spokespersonfor the public school system.

Stephanie Williams, now administrative assistant at Lakewood Elementary, will be principal at Norco 4-6 Elementary, succeeding Gloria Singleton.

Williams, a resident of Marrero, taught seven years at Carver Elementary, taught language arts at Norco, then served as an administrative intern at New Sarpy Elementary and, for the past year, at Lakewood.

“I’m very excited to work with this faculty, students and the community there. I’ll be open to get input from all the stakeholders.”Williams received her bachelor’s degree from Nicholls State University and a master’s degree at Southeastern Louisiana University. She also served inboth the Army and Air Force Reserve.

Edie Sirmon, returning from a one-year sabbatical, will be principal at New Sarpy Kindergarten, replacing Martha Daigle.

Sirmon graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana and began teaching third grade at Mimosa Park Elementary two days later. During hercareer she’s taught at Hahnville Elementary, R.J. Vial Elementary and NorcoElementary. There, she began as an administrative assistant before startingseven years as principal.

The Luling resident is eager to get back into the schools. “I just love thekindergarten kids,” she commented.

Martha Daigle will be principal at Allemands Elementary, replacing Sharon Kerlec. A resident of Luling, Daigle earned her bachelor’s degree at LamarUniversity in Beaumont, Texas.

She began in 1975 at R.J. Vial Elementary and worked several years at A.A.Songy Elementary and Lakewood Elementary. She moved to becoming afacilitator for district standards and benchmarks and as overseer for K-12 language arts requirements and also as an administrative assistant at Carver Elementary.

She served as principal at New Sarpy Kindergarten for the past two years.

Daigle said she’s eager to “carry on the traditions already set” at Allemands, aware that the community is one which is “very close-knit and family- oriented.”Sharon Kerlec is moving to the central office as Title I Coordinator, succeeding Bertha Barfield, who is retiring.

Kerlec, a resident of Luling, is in her 15th year of education in St. CharlesParish. She started in Orleans Parish, where she taught for nine years. Here,she began at Allemands Elementary, then was an administrative assistant at Luling Elementary, principal at A.A. Songy Elementary for four years andprincipal at Allemands for the past four years.

“I love the community, and it’s a wonderful school,” Kerlec said of Allemands.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Whellock College in Boston and her master’s degree from Nicholls State.

Rick Treuting is also returning from a one-year sabbatical to succeed Terry Matherne as principal at Luling Elementary.

Treuting, a resident of Destrehan, earned his bachelor’s degree at LSU and his master’s at the University of New Orleans in administration. During hissabbatical he began work on a second master’s degree in music performance.

He began as a band director at Destrehan High School for four years, then went to elementary music at Luling Elementary and A.A. Songy Elementary.Treuting spent four years at Carver, continuing his music education career, then split between Norco Elementary and Lakewood Elementary as an administrative assistant.

Prior to his sabbatical Treuting was principal at New Sarpy Elementary for eight years.

“I told the superintendent to use me wherever he needed me, and I’m really looking forward to returning to Luling Elementary,” he said. “A lot haschanged, but our dedication to the art of teaching says a lot.”Terry Matherne is moving to the central office as director of literacy, succeeding Catherine Dunlap, who is retiring.

Matherne commented, “I’m really excited about it. It offers differentchallenges and will let me expand my horizons.”A resident of Des Allemands, Matherne earned his bachelor’s degree at Nicholls State and his master’s degree in supervision and administration.

He’s taught at A.A. Songy Elementary and Lakewood Elementary, held anadministrative assistant position at Luling Elementary and then served six years as principal at Allemands Elementary. He has been principal at LulingElementary for the past three years.

“It’ll be an easy transition,” Matherne added.

Finally, Carolyn Thomas, now assistant principal at Hahnville High School, will be principal at Carver Elementary for a semester, succeeding Yvonne Gaspard, who is going on leave.

“Excited? Very much so!” she commented.

Thomas is a resident of Boutte who earned her bachelor’s degree in special education at LSU and her master’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University.

She has taught at J.B. Martin Middle School, worked as an administrativeintern at several schools and was assistant principal at Harry Hurst Middle School. Last year Thomas was on special assignment with curriculum andinstruction at Albert Cammon Middle School and is currently assistant principal at Hahnville High School.

“I’ll be able to make a decision about principalships and decide whether to pursue it,” she said.

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