At the July 17 St. Tammany Parish School Board meeting, the district recognized Carrie Kritzke, a mental-health provider at Fifth Ward Junior High, as a state finalist for the Louisiana Department of Education School Health Service Provider of the Year.

Miss Pennison introduced Kritzke and said the district was proud that Kritzke was a Louisiana state finalist in Baton Rouge. The board played a video highlighting Kritzke's work and students and colleagues spoke briefly in support. Kritzke told the board: "It has been such an honor to be named a finalist for the Louisiana Department of Education School Health Service Provider of the Year program. I love working here at Fifth Ward Junior High. It's really exciting to have an opportunity to work with our amazing staff and teachers and to be able to help the students be successful and to prepare them for their future goals." She added that her role "is to help give students the necessary tools they need to manage any emotional dysregulation they may have in the classroom."

A student who spoke during the recognition said, "Miss Carrie has helped me through my anxiety and this has not only made me just a better student but a better person. I mean, Miss Carrie has become a great person that I can rely on. And for that, I love Miss Carrie." The board and superintendent joined in presenting a plaque during the meeting.

Why it matters: the district has emphasized mental-health services in recent years; the board noted that voters previously approved a millage to fund mental-health providers and school resource officers. The recognition highlights the district's investment in on-campus mental-health supports.

No formal board action was required; the item was presented as a special recognition with a short video and remarks.