Deal reflects TEDA issues
October 9, 2013Crime blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes
October 9, 2013
The Terrebonne Parish School Board recently recognized 69 parish teachers rated highly effective by the state for the 2012-2013 school year.
To pick one from the group was a hard decision for Philip Martin, school district superintendent.
“So many names jump out at me,” Martin said. “There are a bunch of great teachers in this group.”
This is the second year the parish has recognized its “Gold Star” teachers, and many of the teachers are making the list a consecutive time, including Tara Soudelier, a fourth grade math teacher at Mulberry Elementary in Houma.
“It feels very good,” Soudelier said. “I am proud to be a Gold Star teacher. It encourages me to keep working with students and watch them continue to show growth.
“I’d like to thank our principal, Gwen Ferguson, the students, the parents for being so supportive and the other teachers that inspire me every day. We always learn from each other.”
Soudelier taught at Mulberry for 13 years. With the new Common Core Curriculum, which focuses heavily on students’ test scores, in place, the teacher said establishing a bond with her students is that much more important to being a great teacher.
“Before I focus on test scores, students have to care about what I say and they have to know I care,” she said. “Once that relationship has been established, teaching is not as hard as it could be. It makes a big difference when you have a good bond, a caring relationship, with students. They will work for you and perform for you. It all just works.
“There are some challenges with the new curriculum, but the changes are here. We are ready for the challenges.”
In addition to forming a connection with her students, Soudelier loves the sense of accomplishment she feels at the end of each school day.
“I know that what I do matters and makes a difference,” Soudelier said. “We have a very good faculty here, and they are very hard working.”
“Tara and I were both fourth grade teachers when we started working here,” Ferguson said. “She could have a Gold Star for every year she has been here. She has always shown concern and compassion for her students. She is able to get kids to do what she wants when she establishes a relationship with them.”
Gold Star teachers for the 2012-13 School Year
Acadian Elementary School: Angie Broussard, Patricia Hutchinson, Jill Parfait, Christine Daigneault and Allison Daigneault; Bayou Black Elementary School: Tiffany Lucas; Broadmoor Elementary School: Claire Broussard, Jeanie Battaglia, Sheri Constant, Janell Cunningham. Lydia Frisella and Kim Voisin; Caldwell Middle School: Shelly Bergeron, Charlene Dufrene, April Guerrero and Melissa Guidry; Evergreen Jr. High School: Jessica Martin (Caldwell Middle School last year); Montegut Middle School: Bambi Billiot (Coteau-Bayou Blue Elementary School last year) Shannon Eaton, Amy LeCompte, Tamara Melancon, Karley Moore, Cacinda Voisin and Gayle Westley; Mulberry Elementary School: Amanda Giordano (Coteau-Bayou Blue Elementary School last year), Angela Boudreaux, Jennifer Bourg, Polly Burgess, Kim Hebert, Mindy Kreller, Evelyn McCulla and Tara Soudelier; Dularge Middle School: Lynne Chaisson, Angela Degruise, Brandi Holcomb, Ashley Mader and Madenna Voisin; Elysian Fields Middle School: Stacey Authement, Kimberly Bergeron and Ruth Celestine and Matthew Kelso; Oaklawn Jr. High School: Curtis DeHart (Elysian Fields Middle School last year); Grand Caillou Elementary School: Madeline Barker, Tana Falgout, Shawn Boquet and Nicole Hawthorne; East Houma Elementary School: Ashley Wininger (Grand Caillou Elementary last year); Honduras Elementary School: Sylvia Clark, Ashley Jefferson and Cindy Lee; Houma Jr. High School: Donna Benoit and Tammy Brouillette (Lisa Park Elementary School last year); H. L. Bourgeois High School: Terese McCormic (Houma Jr. High School last year); Lacache Middle School: Annie Lirette and Summer Skarke; Lisa Park Elementary School: Brittany Champagne, Jennifer Deroche, Brenda Eschete, Farrah Gregoire, Bridgett John and Sheri Ledet; Oakshire Elementary School: Angelle Pellegrin and Jenny Trahan; Schriever Elementary School: Janine Chauvin and Monique Trahan; South Terrebonne High School: Justin Lirette; Southdown Elementary School: Kathleen Abboud and Kendra Russ and Legion Park Middle School: Kelly Barrera (West Park Elementary School last year).
Tara Soudelier, a fourth grade math teacher at Mulberry Elementary in Houma, helps students Paige LeCompte and Jace Bergeron during class. Soudelier was recently named one of Terrebonne Parish’s Gold Star Teachers.
