June 30
June 30, 2009
Elsie Rhodes Theriot Andrews
July 2, 2009Three Terrebonne Parish principals are among 21 finalists for the state Principal of the Year awards to be given this month by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Peggy L. Marcel of Schriever Elementary, Mary P. Aucoin of Mulberry Elementary and Kenneth J. Delcambre of South Terrebonne High schools were named Region 3 elementary, middle and high school principal of the year, respectively, in May.
The trio traveled to Baton Rouge June 23 to be interviewed by the state selection committee.
For the first-time nominees, just getting to this point is a tremendous feat.
“It was quite a surprise,” Aucoin said. “I got my original packet that you have to submit back in the mail congratulating me for being the regional winner. It feels great to be honored for the 27 years of work that I’ve put in.”
“It feels awesome to be honored that way. It was totally unexpected,” Delcambre said. “I was pleased to be nominated for Terrebonne Parish. Winning the regional is quite exciting.”
For Marcel, being nominated is especially gratifying because she is a former student at Schriever Elementary.
“This is where I started my education. It’s like I’ve gone full circle,” she said. “That’s pretty cool.”
The trio has a combined 89 years of experience in public education.
Marcel has been with the Terrebonne school system for 29 years, the past two as principal at Schriever Elementary.
Before that, she was principal at Grand Caillou Elementary for three years, an assistant principal at Village East Elementary, master teacher at Honduras Elementary and a kindergarten teacher at Acadian Elementary.
Marcel said her main focus as a principal is to assure that her staff works collaboratively and does what’s best for the children.
“I’m a big believer in team-building and having all my stakeholders involved,” she said. “We also want to make learning fun and engaging as well as keeping kids hungry for knowledge.”
The best advice Marcel has received about being an educator is to put what is best for the child first.
As a principal, she said she has to wear many hats. She could be the peacemaker, the educational leader, the nurse, the doctor, the custodian, and the teacher.
“I’m always walking around visiting the classrooms, so I’ll do lessons and teach,” Marcel said. “You can have a set agenda and that agenda will always change when you walk into that school. Whatever happens at that moment you have to be ready to react and handle it professionally and responsibly.”
Although Mulberry is named an elementary school, the pre-K through sixth grade campus encompasses the middle school grades. Therefore, Aucoin was nominated in the middle school category.
Aucoin has been Mulberry Elementary principal for eight years. Prior to that she was principal at Upper Little Caillou Elementary for three years, a master teacher for four years, and pre-K though third grade classroom teacher at several different schools in Terrebonne Parish for 12 years.
One thing she has emphasized as a principal is computers in the classrooms. She believes children should become familiar with the use of technology as early as possible.
“Technology is so important in our world. We need to make certain there is enough technology in the classroom for teachers to use with students because children love learning that way,” Aucoin said. “They do not like lectures. They are used to animation and they want learning to be fun. Teachers at Mulberry try to do that for them.”
Another key to her success is the active participation of the parents in her students’ education.
“It supports the programs we try to implement by having active parents in our school,” Aucoin said. “If you come up with an idea, they do everything possible to make it work.”
Delcambre just completed his 33rd year as a public school educator. His first 20 years were in Lafourche Parish teaching English and science at Thibodaux Elementary School and East and West Thibodaux junior high schools.
He came to South Terrebonne in 1996-97, teaching business English and computer literacy for one year before becoming assistant principal for four years. He finished his eighth year as South Terrebonne principal.
Delcambre said his biggest focus is to continuously improve the school’s scores on the state accountability tests.
“We have gone in the correct direction in the eight years I’ve been principal,” he said. ‘That’s a constant battle to always improve what you’ve been doing and we have been able to do that. I attribute that to my faculty. I have an outstanding young faculty that does a great job. We care a lot about the kids’ accomplishments, and we’ve been successful in what we’ve been doing.”
The best advice he has received about being an educator is to treat everybody like you want to be treated, and to treat every student like they were your own child.
“If you follow those two pieces of advise, generally, you’ll never go wrong,” he said.
This has been an exceptionally good year for Delcambre. In January, he was unanimously elected president of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association.
“I’ve been training all my career for these positions,” he said. “To finally make it here and be recognized and reach these levels is quite satisfying.”
Aucoin, Delcambre and Marcel were nominated by their peers in Terrebonne Parish.
After completing an informational packet, the school district submitted each for state Principal of the Year in their respective categories.
School districts from outside the region selected the winners.
Winners are judged on specific criteria, including leadership skills, commitment to academic excellence, community leadership, and respect for students, parents and colleagues.
The finalists will be honored during the Third Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration July 16-17 at the Crown Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge.
