LAPLACE — Michel Delatte, of Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School, has been named a semi-finalist for 2019 Louisiana Teacher of the Year.

Delatte is one of just 24 teachers from across the state to receive this honor. The educators chosen as semi-finalist are making exceptional gains with students, pushing them to achieve at the highest levels in the state, according to the Louisiana Department of Education.

“It is a great honor to move on in the state competition,” Delatte said. “I’m happy I get to represent the best that St. John has to offer.”

All Louisiana Teacher of the Year finalists and semi-finalists are honored at the Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala July 27 in Baton Rouge, during which the Louisiana Teacher of the Year will be announced.

The Louisiana Department of Education, in conjunction with Dream Teachers, will announce the finalists for the annual award in May.

Delatte is the St. John the Baptist Parish Public School District Middle School Teacher of the Year. She has been teaching English language arts for the past four years and spent 14 years as a special education teacher.

Delatte is a TAP Mentor Teacher, helping other teachers to improve their instructional practices. She is a member of the PBIS team and Leadership Team at Lake Pontchartrain Elementary and also assists with the Lake Pontchartrain Elementary School Student Council.

She serves as a member of the Teacher Appreciation Committee, as well as a community outreach member for the school.

Each year, school districts throughout the state submit their Teachers of the Year for consideration for the statewide honor. This is the fifth consecutive year a St. John Public School District Teacher has been named a semi-finalist for the award.