St. Bernard Parish announces retirements and principal/assistant principal appointments

The personnel committee presented retirements and announced administrative appointments to fill upcoming vacancies.

Miss Albers reviewed the personnel changes and recognized several retirees. She asked the committee to join in wishing a happy retirement to Jennifer Johnson (paraeducator at Chalmette High School), Dawn Mala (Transportation Department dispatcher) and Lisa Young, principal of Gauthier Elementary School. Committee members praised Young’s long service and leadership at Gauthier.

Following the retirements, the committee announced internal appointments. Shelly Monk, who has worked in the St. Bernard parish school system for 22 years and served as assistant principal at Gauthier for 16 years, was named principal of Gauthier Elementary. "We're real happy to announce that we are going to appoint Shelly Monk as the principal of Gauthier Elementary School," a committee member said.

The committee also announced the appointment of Erin Johnston as assistant principal of Merrill Elementary. Staff described Johnston as a 20‑year district educator who most recently served as a literacy coach; the announcement noted her longtime service in district schools.

Officials said the district will advertise for the assistant principal vacancy at Gauthier and aim to have the new leadership team in place by the end of the school year so transitions can begin over the summer. The announcements at the committee meeting were informational; formal personnel actions will proceed through the board’s standard approval process as required.