By JIM MUSTIAN

Staff Reporter

LUTCHER – The St. James Parish School Board has approved a new director and assistant director to lead the Science and Math Academy (SMA) in Vacherie beginning this school year.

Pam Bourgeois, a veteran teacher and administrator, replaces Interim Director Sheila Guidry. Gary Stein, formerly the assistant principal at St. James High School, was appointed to take over as assistant director.

Bourgeois, who has worked in the central office for the last five years, leaves her most recent post as director of research, evaluation, accountability and grants.

“Because of her experience we feel that Mrs. Bourgeois will be invaluable to our Science and Math Academy,” St. James Parish Schools Superintendent Lonnie Luce said. “We are confident that our SMA will flourish with Mrs. Bourgeois and her staff’s leadership.”

The new appointments come as SMA enters its first school year as host of the district’s expanding gifted program.

The board voted in March of this year to transfer fourth- through eighth-grade students receiving gifted services to the site in Vacherie, where they will participate in the program the entire school day.

Students enrolled in the program previously received those services at their individual schools but followed the same curriculum as their peers.