Principal at Thibodaux High named

New Orleans Recovery District Principal Kevin George has been named principal of Thibodaux High School, making him the first African-American principal at the school.

The hire was finalized at last Wednesday’s Lafourche Parish School Board meeting. The 15-member board unanimously voted in favor of George.

“I’m overjoyed. I want to thank the board and the community for all their support. I look forward to helping our students achieve in every field of human endeavors,” he said.

Parish residents packed the meeting room in support of George. Former board member Constance Williams said she is very pleased with the board’s choice.

“I’ve been saying Thibodaux High School needed a change for a long time. I believe he brings a lot to the table and he knows that every child deserves a change to succeed no matter what,” she said.

After researching George’s administrative background, Superintendent Jo Ann Matthews recommended that the board hire George over Thibodaux High’s current assistant principals Glenn Haydel and Terry Boudreaux.

Matthews said she believes there is a need for a change and George has the ability to improve the weaknesses at Thibodaux High. “I feel he will bring in new ideas and help turn things around at Thibodaux High School,” she said.

George, a longtime resident of Thibodaux, is a former Terrebonne High School teacher and Oaklawn Junior High School assistant principal. He briefly served as Elysian Fields’ Principal before resigning to take the reigns at L.E. Rabouin High School in the New Orleans Recovery School District.

“I have been in education for a while, but I have never worked in the parish that I reside in for the past 18 years. My children are in the Lafourche Parish School System. I’ve helped outside my community and now its time for me to help inside my community,” he said.

The principal said like many Americans, he went to New Orleans to help because they were in serious need of administrators and teachers.

George holds a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from Nicholls State University and comes highly recommended by New Orleans Recovery District Superintendent Robin Jarvis, according to Matthews.

At a board committee meeting last Monday, a group of Thibodaux teachers urged the board to hire from within, taking in consideration Haydel and Boudreaux – both of whom have more than 25 years of experience in the school system.

Superintendent Matthews said she appreciated the teachers’ concerns. She added that the decision shouldn’t cause any friction at the school because she believes that the teachers are professional. “They applied to work in Lafourche Parish for the sake of children. It is their belief that they can help children academically and socially. It shouldn’t matter who the leader is,” she said.