Mayfair Laboratory School principal highlights Blue Ribbon results, instructional models

Kyle Fontenette, principal of Mayfair Laboratory School, presented the school’s National Blue Ribbon recognition and described instructional practices and data showing high achievement across subgroups.

Fontenette told the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board that Mayfair is a K–8 academic magnet focused on environmental studies and said the school’s subgroup results rank highly across the state. “We are currently at 118 point 0.2 SPS, which puts us second in the state for any K to 8,” Fontenette said. He told the board that the school’s progress rating and subgroup percentile ranks reflect consistent instructional practices and teacher efforts.

Why it matters: The presentation spotlighted a district school’s achievement and offered a model that board members said they wanted other schools to observe. Fontenette described a dual-teacher model and small-group instructional practices that he said supported mastery-level outcomes, and he invited board members to visit Mayfair.

Board response: Members praised the school and its staff. Board member Paul Lewis said Mayfair felt “a true sense of community” and thanked Fontenette for the school’s work. The superintendent and others noted they will use Mayfair as a learning site for staff from foundational learning centers.

Background detail: Fontenette said that, by the end of eighth grade, 100% of students in the previous year's math cohort were at mastery or above and that the school uses eco-STEM projects and a summer reading program to engage students.

Ending: Board members and the superintendent congratulated Fontenette; the principal was nominated for principal-of-the-year consideration at the state level.