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Superintendent honors long‑serving educators and spotlights March community events
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Summary
At the March board meeting, the superintendent recognized veteran educators with certificates and video tributes, praised recent school visits and community partnerships, and announced upcoming events including an autism acceptance celebration and a vendor fair for prospective district vendors.
The superintendent opened the March report with a celebration of the district’s history and a series of recognitions for long‑serving educators, then highlighted recent school visits and community events.
The superintendent invited the audience to view video tributes for honorees Mardell Simmons Early, Mary Hay(ton) Smith and Dr. Michelle Douglas and presented certificates to recognize their decades of service. “We proudly mark this milestone occasion since our founding in 1841,” the superintendent said, framing the honors alongside the district’s history through desegregation and Hurricane Katrina.
Speakers and video testimonials described the honorees’ work rebuilding schools and sustaining community relationships after the storm. Dr. Michelle Douglas was identified in the presentation as the founding CEO of the Hines/Heinz Charter School Corporation and credited with expanding campuses in Lakeview and beyond.
The superintendent also recounted a string of March events: a Kidsmart ribbon cutting, a children’s museum exhibit from Reggio Emilia, a step show during a KIPP Central City visit and the Align PUSH graduation that spotlit staff leadership development. “I had the best time,” the superintendent said of the KIPP visit, and singled out Principal Rachel Parker for praise.
The report included community‑facing items: an autism acceptance event scheduled for March 28 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Mahalia Jackson, a vendor fair at Georgia’s Auditorium (Gentilly Schools of Science building, Dillard University) to help local entrepreneurs and small businesses learn about RFP/RFQ processes, and recognition of Alex Brown of Carver High School as a WWL‑TV Excel Award winner for strong Algebra I results.
The superintendent thanked local media for positive coverage of Carver High School and praised student leadership; Olivia Williams, a senior at Carver mentioned during remarks, was noted for her leadership and college plans.
The superintendent closed the segment by inviting honorees forward for photographs and thanking district staff and community partners for their support.
The board moved next to business items after the recognition segment.
