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BESE Educator Effectiveness Committee honors Louisiana’s 2024 and 2025 Teachers of the Year
Summary
The BESE Educator Effectiveness Committee recognized Kiley Altier, 2024 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year, and introduced Elise Boutin, the 2025 State Teacher of the Year, citing classroom innovation, community partnerships and student-centered programs.
The Educator Effectiveness Committee of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) recognized Kiley Altier as Louisiana’s 2024 State Teacher of the Year and introduced Elise Boutin as the 2025 State Teacher of the Year during a committee meeting.
Joni Lacey, talent project director for school system relations, introduced Altier and summarized her classroom work at McKinley Elementary School in Baton Rouge, her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, and the more than $80,000 in grants Altier has secured to fund classroom gardens, a mobile kitchen, virtual-reality learning experiences and outdoor classrooms. Lacey said the funding has enabled student experiences that included interviews with a New York Times best-selling author and connections with museum curators.
Altier addressed the committee and described her personal path into teaching and classroom priorities. She described moments that renewed her confidence as an educator and thanked Louisiana Department of Education staff and committee members for creating opportunities for teacher leadership. “You are enough,” Altier told colleagues and guests as she described how school and community supports helped her renew her commitment to teaching.
Altier introduced Elise Boutin, identified in remarks as the 2025 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year. Boutin is described as a senior English and publications teacher at Rain High School in Acadia Parish. Committee remarks credited Boutin with reviving a student-produced YouTube channel, organizing a senior project fair that connects students with local businesses and community members, and expanding extracurricular opportunities including a cross-country team.
The committee paused briefly for a photograph and for congratulatory remarks; a speaker identified as the state superintendent of education told the committee Altier’s work has drawn questions from other states interested in replicating the committee’s teacher-focused initiatives.
The recognition was presented as part of the committee’s regular agenda; no formal committee action was required for the introductions and remarks.
What’s next: The committee proceeded to other agenda items after the presentation and photo opportunity.
