Angelle DeLaneuville was greeted with tasty treats, a shiny plaque and the smiles of her coworkers Wednesday morning at St. Joan of Arc School in LaPlace.

The sixth and seventh grade English language arts teacher was honored because she was named L’OBSERVATEUR Reader’s Choice Favorite Teacher of the River Parishes.

Publisher Stephen Hemelt said its L’OBSERVATEUR’S responsibility as a community newspaper to show support for teachers who are working hard each day in the classroom to prepare our children the best education possible.

“We decided this year to have our first ever Reader’s Choice Teacher of the Year Award and publicize the teachers with 20 plus years of experience in the classroom,” he said. “By doing this, the teachers get the recognition they deserve. We are very gratefully to highlight our 2016 winner, voted on by our readers, and continue this effort with our community partners for years to come.”

St. Joan of Arc principal Jeffery Montz said he was excited one of his teachers received the award, adding DeLaneuville cares deeply for her students.

“It’s obvious to see by the way she serves her students,” Montz said. “She is driven to help them, even if they don’t understand that all of them time.

At times DeLaneuville is not popular with the students because she disciplines them, Montz said, adding she does it to teach the students and do what is best for them in the long run.

“She is committed to the cause,” he said. “She isn’t going to waver from what she knows is best for the students. I think her willingness to serve makes her special. I don’t think she wants to be put up on a pedestal, so to speak. She does what she does because it’s the right thing to do.”

In his mind it’s a good feeling know that DeLaneuville, a former St. Joan of Arc student, has returned to her school as a teacher.

“With any student that comes back to teach at their school, there is special element there,” he said. “They not only have been called into this great profession but they have found something or they got something here that drew them back to make them want to be a part of it.”

Even though DeLaneuville said she wasn’t really into sweets, she couldn’t help but take a bite of one of the little cakes made by Fine Cakes by Cora. DeLaneuville said the cake was delicious.

Cora Louque  provided 100 cake squares and petit fours for the celebration.

“We made different varieties of cake squares,” Louque said. “There was chocolate doberge, lemon doberge, pineapple with cream cheese, carrot cake, strawberry and German Chocolate. They are the same size as the petit fours.”

With graduations happening this week Louque said her shop has been crazy but they were still able to make the 50 cake squares and 50 petit fours to honor DeLaneuville for her years of teaching.

“It feels good to be a part of the celebration,” Louque said. “We need good teachers. Teachers are important because kids are such a mess nowadays in the world. It’s a crazy world right now.”

When she received her award it meant a lot to DeLaneuville that her name was spelled correctly. The plaque she received came from Tri Parish Trophies.

Michelle Cox, sales manager at Tri Parish Trophies, said a casted plaque was made to honor DeLaneuville.

With this being L’OBSERVATEUR’S first year with the award, Cox said Tri Parish Trophies is honored to be included.

“Teachers are the ones, to me, that mold our children into what they become and how they do in school,” she said.