ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / May 13, 2000

LAPLACE – After 21 years of teaching, Lanette Perrin is still looking to learn new things and conquer new challenges.

This month’s Teacher Spotlight focuses on a fourth-grade teacher at LaPlace Elementary School who not only teaches the basics to nine-year olds, but is also the school’s expert on computer operation.

As the computer lead teacher at LaPlace Elementary, Perrin is there for teachers who are having computer problems. She is also in charge of runningcomputer workshops for teachers.

In her nomination of Perrin for Teachers Spotlight, LaPlace Elementary principal, Courtney Millet wrote, “She is always enthusiastic and interested in learning new techniques and strategies, especially in the area of technology.

She continues her professional growth by attending seminars and state-of- the-art technology training.””I’ve acquired a lot of knowledge in my years of teaching,” said Perrin, “and I get great pleasure in imparting that knowledge to the kids.”The children is one of the reasons that Perrin chose education as a profession.

“Part of me never grew up,” she explains with a big smile. “And I enjoy beingaround the kids.

Originally from St. Bernard Parish, Perrin has been teaching in St. JohnParish for the past 11 years. She says that she first started out teachingmath because she enjoyed it, but know is teaching an all-inclusive fourth- grade class.

She says that she didn’t really think of teaching as a career when she first went to college. However, she has a sister-in-law who was a teacher andintroduced Perrin to teaching and she got hooked on it.

“I really enjoy it,” Perrin said. “I love watching the kids learn and seeing themmove on in life. And they need me.”Part of her success as a teacher is the way she treats her students.

“I like to treat the children as individuals,” Perrin explained. “I try to be asfair as possible, but each student has a different story, and I try to use that to communicate with the student.”However, Perrin says that doesn’t mean that a teacher should forget his or her role as a role model.

“Kids need teachers and authority figures,” she said. “In fact my biggestchallenge is discipline and behavior.”She stresses to new teachers that classroom management is the most important skill to master if one wants to be successful as a teacher.

Perrin is also very sympathetic to new teachers and tries to befriend as many as she can.

“One of the biggest shortcomings of being a teacher is the isolation,” Perrin said. “When you are a new teacher, it takes a while to make friends, andsometimes, the only human contact you have is with the kids. Other adultsare not talking to you, so I try to be friends with new teachers.”Perrin has recently re-married, has two sons, ages 16 and 23 and just became a grandmother for the first time.

When not busy with students, teaching and computers, Perrin like to spend time with her family, and read lots of history, biographies and science books.

“I just like to read,” she said.

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