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LEF Award finalists announced

Posted at 3:40 PM, Dec 12, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-13 10:32:19-05

2019 LEF Teacher Awards Finalists:

Elementary School Category Teacher School

Bridget Begnaud –  J. Wallace James Elementary School
Morgan Deshotels – Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School
Christy Taylor – Woodvale Elementary School
Hilary Wynn – Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School

Middle School Category

Sarah Couvillon – Acadiana Renaissance Charter Academy
Rachel Ducharme  – Our Lady of Fatima School
Madyson Hope Lopez-Arceneaux –  LJ Alleman Fine Arts Magnet Academy
Monique “Nicky” Walker – LJ Alleman Fine Arts Magnet Academy

High School Category

Cathrine Duex – Ovey Comeaux High School
Amy Hodgins –  Ovey Comeaux High School
Cathryn Martin – Teurlings Catholic High School
Dr. Debbi Reed – Southside High School

Inspirational Category

Jennifer Bellot – Woodvale Elementary School
Katie Courville – Youngsville Middle School
Kova Herrick – Acadiana High School
Katie Slattery – LPSS Talented Theatre Program

 

Today, Lafayette Education Foundation announced 16 finalists out of almost 1000 nominees for the LEF Awards.

“These folks are just going about their day and they have no idea fifteen people are about to burst into their classroom with noisemakers and banners and letting them know that they are being recognized for this award,” says Etianna Wright, Executive Director Lafayette Education Foundation.

All of the finalists teach at schools in Lafayette Parish. The nominations came from parents and of course students.

“Its truly remarkable what these individuals do above and beyond what happens during the school day, they pour their hearts and souls into their jobs and into their students,” says Wright.

This top tier of educators says this is something they never saw coming, and they are remaining humble with the nominations.

“I feel honored that somebody took the time to write something about me,” said finalist Nicky Walker.

“I just teach, I mean I try and help each child as much as I can and I do what I have to do in the classroom no matter what’s going on,” said Jennifer Bellot, another finalist.

Even though everyone else sees them as stars, the finalists believe it’s their students who allow them to shine.

“They’re the ones who make me go home knowing that I am doing something right, everything in the classroom has shown me that they’re why I keep coming back,” says finalist Madison Lopez-Arceneaux.