Welcome to the Military Families Resource Hub
Advance Enrollment for Military Families
Military orders don’t wait for the school calendar—and neither should your child’s education.
Louisiana helps military families plan ahead. If you are moving to Louisiana on active duty orders, your child can register for public school before your family moves to Louisiana.
The following items are needed:
- Official military orders showing you're being transferred to a base or duty location in Louisiana.
- A copy of the military orders should be sent to the local school system.
- Locally required enrollment forms should be completed.
- Proof of residency is not required immediately, but it will need to occur within 10 days of arriving in Louisiana.
Check With Your Local School System
- Each school system may have its own forms and timelines for advance enrollment.
- We recommend contacting your school system’s enrollment office as early as possible to learn about:
- Required documents
- School choice options within the school system
Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children
The Interstate Compact on Educational Opportunity for Military Children is an agreement among all 50 states and the District of Columbia to help military-connected students experience fewer school-related challenges when moving from one state to another.
The Compact ensures that states work together to handle common issues like:
- Enrolling in a new school
- Placing students in the right classes or programs
- Handling absences related to deployments
- Staying on track for graduation
By following this shared set of rules, states help reduce disruptions and make school transitions smoother for military families.
What to Expect in Louisiana
Louisiana honors the Interstate Compact and works to reduce barriers for military-connected students moving into or within the state. Schools aim to place students quickly, accept prior coursework, and provide flexibility around deployments.
Each school system has its own policies and points of contact, so we recommend reaching out to your local district early in the process. If questions arise, your school or district can connect you with someone who understands how the Compact is applied in Louisiana.
Purple Star Schools in Louisiana
Purple Star Schools are public schools that demonstrate a lasting commitment to meeting the needs of military-connected students and their families. In Louisiana, schools that earn the Purple Star designation implement practices that align with national recommendations and research-backed strategies, helping reduce the academic and life challenges often faced by students who relocate due to military service.
What Purple Star Schools Do
To earn the recognition, schools must designate a staff member to serve as a military liaison and commit to:
- Serve as the primary point of contact for military connected students and families
- Work to identify special considerations needed by military-connected students and families
- Develop training to inform teachers and other school personnel of those special considerations
- Create a dedicated page on its website featuring resources for military-connected students and families
- Create a student-led transition program to provide peer support for military-connected students
School systems also commit to:
- Adopt a resolution stating the commitment to support military-connected students and families
- Assign a central office staff member to be the contact for the school-based liaison and military-connected students and families
Why It Matters
Military-connected students often move multiple times during their school years and may face unique challenges, including adapting to new academic standards and coping with parental deployments. Purple Star Schools help make those transitions smoother and ensure students feel valued and supported at their new school.
Find a Purple Star School
As of April 2025
Beauregard Parish
- DeRidder High School
Bossier Parish
- Airline High School
- Apollo Elementary School
- Bellaire Elementary School
- Benton Elementary School
- Benton High School
- Benton Intermediate School
- Benton Middle School
- Cope Middle School
- Curtis Elementary School
- Elm Grove Elementary School
- Elm Grove Middle School
- Greenacres Middle School
- Haughton High School
- Haughton Middle School
- Kingston Elementary School
- Legacy Elementary School
- Platt Elementary School
- Plain Dealing High School
- Princeton Elementary School
- R. V. Kerr Elementary School
- Rusheon Middle School
- Southfield School (Nonpublic)
- Stockwell Place Elementary School
- Sun City Elementary School
- T.L. Rodes Elementary School
- W.T. Lewis Elementary School
- Waller Elementary School
Caddo Parish
- C.E. Byrd High School
- Caddo Parish Magnet High School
- Captain Shreve High School
- Eden Gardens Fundamental Elementary School
- Youree Drive Middle Advanced Placement Magnet School
Orleans Parish
- New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy
- St. Edward the Confessor School (New Orleans Archdiocese)
Plaquemines Parish
- Belle Chasse Academy
Vernon Parish
- Leesville High School
- Parkway Elementary School
- Pickering High School
- Rosepine High School
(BATON ROUGE, LA) - The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced the teachers, principals, and early childhood leaders who are one step closer to being named the state’s overall honorees. The LDOE named semifinalists for Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year and finalists for Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year and New Teacher of the Year.
“Louisiana’s educators play a vital role in shaping the future of students and our state,” said Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “These outstanding teachers, principals, and early childhood leaders exemplify excellence in education and a deep commitment to student success. We are proud to celebrate their achievements.”
Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year
Each year, the LDOE, in partnership with Dream Teachers and the Louisiana Association of Principals, recognizes Louisiana’s most exceptional teachers and principals through the Teacher and Principal of the Year programs. These programs celebrate educators who make extraordinary gains with students and serve as models of excellence in their communities.
Teacher of the Year Semifinalists
- Heather Cross, Fairview High School, Allen Parish
- Tante Poche', Gonzales Middle School, Ascension Parish
- Rebecca Snead, East Beauregard Elementary, Beauregard Parish
- Leslie Mauthe, Saline High School, Bienville Parish
- Jahnice Johnson, Tanglewood Elementary School, Central Community School District
- Chad Harry, Bogalusa High School, City of Bogalusa School District
- Katherine Willrich, Neville High School, City of Monroe School District
- Christopher Frazier, Baton Rouge Magnet High, East Baton Rouge Parish
- Melanie Soileau, James Stephens Montessori, Evangeline Parish
- Carla Bringier-Mason, Edward Hynes Charter School, Hynes Charter School Corporation
- Donna Michelet, Mathematics, Science and Arts Academy West, Iberville Parish
- Aaron Beaubouef, Jennings High School, Jefferson Davis Parish
- Pamela Breaux, Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy, Lafayette Charter Foundation
- Brittany Hebert, Broussard Middle School, Lafayette Parish
- Bianca King, Lake Charles Charter Academy, Lake Charles Charter Academy Foundation
- Erin Cosse, Belle Chasse Elementary School, Plaquemines Parish
- Toni Rodgers, Red River High School, Red River Parish
- Kelli White, Mangham High School, Richland Parish
- Lois Carnline, Many Junior High, Sabine Parish
- Caroline Miller, Joseph J. Davies Elementary School, St. Bernard Parish
- Ali Angelle, Teche Elementary School, St. Martin Parish
- Whitney Myers, North Vermilion High School, Vermilion Parish
- Delanea Buffalo, West Feliciana High School, West Feliciana Parish
- Regena Beard, Copper Mill Elementary, Zachary Community School District
Principal of the Year Semifinalists
- Dr. Corey Crochet, Assumption High School, Assumption Parish
- Jennifer Burris, Benton Intermediate School, Bossier Parish
- Nicolas Cunningham, North Caddo Elementary Middle School, Caddo Parish
- Denise Whitley, S.P. Arnett Middle School, Calcasieu Parish
- Dr. Alexandria Feaster, Homer High School, Claiborne Parish
- Anesha Ross, Mansfield High School, DeSoto Parish
- Kyle Fontenette, Mayfair Laboratory School, East Baton Rouge Parish
- Kimberly Glascock, East Feliciana STEAM Academy, East Feliciana Parish
- Michael Young, Baskin School, Franklin Parish
- Jodi Romero, Delcambre Elementary, Iberia Parish
- Lisa Boudreaux, Raceland Upper Elementary School, Lafourche Parish
- Christopher Jones, Choudrant High School, Lincoln Parish
- Justin Wax, Denham Springs Junior High School, Livingston Parish
- Armetrice Williams, M. R. Weaver Elementary, Natchitoches Parish
- Rusty Farrar, West Ouachita High School, Ouachita Parish
- Pamela Walker, Lessie Moore Elementary, Rapides Parish
- Rebecca Matherne, New Sarpy Elementary School, St. Charles Parish
- Hollie Folse, Paulina Elementary School, St. James Parish
- Brandon Singleton, Grand Coteau Elementary School, St. Landry Parish
- Christian Monson, Mandeville High School, St. Tammany Parish
- Dr. Anna Faye Caminita, Ponchatoula High School, Tangipahoa Parish
- Tonia Cook, Acadian Elementary School, Terrebonne Parish
- Lisa Haymon, Leesville High School, Vernon Parish
- Walt Lemoine, Brusly High School, West Baton Rouge Parish
Louisiana Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year
The LDOE, in collaboration with Dream Teachers, recognizes exemplary early childhood educators and leaders. These awards honor teachers and directors (leaders) in Type III Centers, CCAP Certified Family Child Care Sites, Head Start Centers, and Early Head Start Centers.
Early Childhood Teacher of the Year Finalists
- Ana Qassem, Belle Chasse Primary (Head Start), Plaquemines Parish
- Brooklynn Johnson, Kinder Head Start, Allen Parish
- Demika Gilmore, LSU Early Childhood Education Lab Preschool, East Baton Rouge Parish
- Shannon Morgan, Carousel Preschool, Jefferson Parish
- Sharekia Winn, Red River Head Start, Red River Parish
Early Childhood Leader of the Year Finalists
- Delishia Wilson, Building Blocks Early Learning Center, Tangipahoa Parish
- Devonda Warren, Explore and Learn Early Learning Center, Tangipahoa Parish
- Jennifer Stevenson, The Garden of Knowledge, Washington Parish
- Shannon Johns, Cenla Christian Childcare Centers: Pineville, Kolin, AEX, Libuse, Winnfield, Woodworth, Rapides Parish
- Dr. Sondra Washington, Chief Cornerstone Daycare Center, Iberville Parish
Louisiana New Teacher of the Year
The Louisiana New Teacher of the Year program, launched in partnership with Dream Teachers, highlights the remarkable contributions of first-year classroom teachers. This award celebrates new educators who are already demonstrating outstanding instructional skills and a commitment to student achievement.
New Teacher of the Year Finalists
Elementary
- Savannah Richards, Vidalia Lower Elementary School, Concordia Parish
- Alaina LeBlanc, Bayou Blue Upper Elementary School, Lafourche Parish
- Kalyn Metcalfe, Bains Elementary School, West Feliciana Parish
Middle
- Michael Shelton, Rusheon Middle School, Bossier Parish
- Colin Hyatt, F.K. White Middle School, Calcasieu Parish
- Leah Maldonado, East Ouachita Middle School, Ouachita Parish
High
- Olivia Francois, Dutchtown High School, Ascension Parish
- Anna Jackson, North DeSoto High School, DeSoto Parish
- Jacob Church, West Feliciana High School, West Feliciana Parish
Finalists for Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year will be announced in May. Overall honorees will be announced for all teacher, principal, and leader awards in July at the 19th Annual Cecil. J. Picard Educator Excellence Gala.
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