Alisha Butler
2027 Louisiana State
Teacher of the Year
Lauren Williams Rentrop
2027 Louisiana State
Principal of the Year
THE DEPARTMENT NAMES THE 2027 TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR STATE-LEVEL HONOREES
The Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year programs honor exceptional educators whose instructional expertise, leadership, and unwavering commitment to students exemplify the very best of Louisiana education. Annually, the Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, recognizes and celebrates these educators through the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs.
Each year, Louisiana school systems nominate up to three teachers and three principals for state-level consideration. Through a rigorous state selection process, the Department identifies educators whose impact extends beyond individual classrooms and schools to serve as ambassadors for public education in Louisiana.
The Louisiana Department of Education is proud to announce the 2027 Teacher and Principal of the Year State-Level Honorees, selected from an exceptional group of educators representing school systems across Louisiana.
In addition to announcing the state-level honorees, the Department recognized all Teacher and Principal of the Year semifinalists and finalists during the 20th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, held on July 25 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
For questions about the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs, email [email protected].
State Teacher and Principal of the Year Honoree Announcements
Teacher and Principal of the Year Resources
Teacher and Principal of the Year Archives
THE DEPARTMENT NAMES THE 2027 NEW TEACHER OF THE YEAR
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that great teachers and school leaders are critical to student success. Annually, the Department honors the state’s most exceptional educators through the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs. These programs provide an opportunity to acknowledge educators who are achieving excellence. The Louisiana Department of Education, in partnership with Dream Teachers, has launched the New Teacher of the Year program, which recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional new educators.
In addition to announcing the state-level honorees, the Department recognized all New Teacher of the Year Finalists during the 20th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, held on July 25 at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.
Applications for the 2027–2028 New Teacher of the Year programs will be available on this webpage in the fall.
Katie Weber
2027 Louisiana State
New Teacher of the Year
New Teacher of the Year Announcements
New Teacher of the Year Resources
New Teacher of the Year Archives
New Teacher of the Year Application Portal
Sarah Corley
2027 Early Childhood
Teacher of the Year
Jillian Graves
2027 Early Childhood
Leader of the Year
THE DEPARTMENT NAMES THE 2027 EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER AND LEADER OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that exceptional teachers and leaders are essential to the success of young children. Each year, in partnership with Dream Teachers, the Department honors outstanding early childhood educators through the Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year program.
Eligible nominees include teachers and directors (leaders) serving in CCAP-certified Type III Early Learning Centers, CCAP-certified Family Child Care Sites, Head Start programs, and Early Head Start programs.
This year, educators from across Louisiana were nominated for their commitment to excellence, leadership, and positive impact on children, families, and communities. In addition to recognizing the state-level honorees, all Early Childhood Teacher and Leader finalists were celebrated at the 20th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, held on July 25 at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.
Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year Award Application
Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year Announcements
Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year Resources
Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year Archives
THE DEPARTMENT NAMES THE 2026 OVERALL OUTSTANDING SCHOOL SUPPORT EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that outstanding school support staff are critical to school success. Annually, the Department recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional school support staff through the Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year Awards program. This program provides the opportunity to acknowledge those support employees (teacher aide, paraprofessional, school bus driver, food service worker, clerical, custodial or maintenance personnel, or any other employee who is not required to hold a teacher's certificate as a condition of employment) who have rendered time and talents beyond the call of duty. These staff play an integral role in school and student success.
The application materials for the 2026-2027 school year will be uploaded to the website in the fall of 2026.
For questions about the Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year program, email [email protected].
Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year Honoree Announcements
Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year Resources
2026 Health Provider, School Support and Physical Activity Finalists
Outstanding School Support Employee of the Year Archives
THE DEPARTMENT NAMES THE 2026 OVERALL SCHOOL HEALTH SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR
On April 15, the 2026 School Health Service Provider of the Year Finalists were recognized and celebrated at the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) meeting. Following the meeting, a reception was held at Louisiana’s Old State Capitol to celebrate the honorees’ outstanding achievements. During that special occasion, Lacie Thomas Fontenot, from Livingston Parish, was announced as the 2026 Overall School Health Service Provider Of The Year.
The Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that outstanding school support staff are critical to school success. Annually, the Louisiana Department of Education recognizes that student health plays a vital role in education and that school health providers are a critical link in ensuring the delivery of health services to students. Through the School Health Service Provider of the Year program, the Department recognizes and celebrates some of the state’s most exceptional school health providers. This program provides an opportunity to acknowledge providers who demonstrate superior health services in schools and support the expansion of those services.
The application materials for the 2026-2027 school year will be uploaded to the website in the fall of 2026.
For questions about the School Health Service Provider of the Year program, email [email protected] .
School Health Service Provider of the Year Honoree Announcements
School Health Service Provider of the Year Resources
2026 Health Provider, School Support and Physical Activity Finalists
State Health Service Provider of the Year Archives
In 2018, the Department, in partnership with the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE), launched the inaugural Louisiana Public Interest Fellowship. The fellowship allows recipients to spend the upcoming school year advocating for a key education initiative of their choosing. You may read more about the fellows and their work.
Public Interest Fellowship Overview
-(1).png?sfvrsn=a2e34aac_4 "Public Interest Fellowship Seal Logo"){kind=logo}
.png?sfvrsn=a7800422_0 "Kelli White Headshot (PIF 2026)")
Kelli White,
2026 Public Interest Fellow
Public Interest Fellowship Reports
Public Interest Fellowship Archives
The Louisiana Public Interest Fellowship allows recipients to spend the upcoming school year advancing a key education initiative aligned with the Department’s priorities. Recipients are selected from the previous year’s list of Teacher of the Year semifinalists and finalists.
Kelli White’s initiative focuses on strengthening students’ reading proficiency by embedding strategic supports within high-quality instructional materials (HQIM) to improve comprehension. Building on her work with reading processes and student performance, the initiative will be refined to move beyond a focus on reading speed alone and instead emphasize how fluency supports deeper understanding of complex texts. By integrating these strategies into existing instructional routines and unit texts, this work aims to better equip students to engage with grade-level content and demonstrate their learning across assessments.
Through this initiative, White will research effective literacy practices and develop aligned resources for educators, including tools, guidance, and professional learning opportunities to support implementation. The work is designed to be piloted, refined, and shared more broadly to support teachers and students across Louisiana.
As the 2026 Louisiana Public Interest Fellow, White will also be honored at the 20th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, co-sponsored by Dream Teachers.
