OPSB.net - A+PEL Awards Ouachita Parish Teachers

Annette Breaux, inspired educator, author, and new teacher trainer, presented Tools for Classroom Management to more than 170 Louisiana teachers in November. The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana (A+PEL) sponsored the workshop in Lake Charles. Ms. Breaux offered tools for an innovative and enthusiastic approach to teaching and classroom management punctuated with delightfully warm humor. She is the author of 101 "Answers" for New Teachers and Their Mentors and REAL Teachers REAL Challenges REAL Solutions.

A+PEL’s Annual Conference is the occasion to award scholarships and stipends to members and non-members in a variety of areas. The 2005 awards totaled more than $14,000 awarded to the following teachers...

Student Teacher winners – Ashley Watson of LSU and Emily Stroud of McNeese -- each received a $500 scholarship. First Year Teacher winners include Katie Ourso, Ascension Parish; Autumn Preston, Jaren Dubois, and Julie Macarthy, all of Calcasieu Parish; Amy Andrus, Iberia Parish; and Melissa Geisler, St. Mary Parish. Each winner received $500. Professional Development Scholarship recipients were Cindy Greene and Kim Brun, Caddo Parish; and Charmagne Guillory, Rapides Parish. They received $500 each. Gail Autrey of Ouachita Parish was awarded a $1500 Professional Development Scholarship. Instructional Stipends in the amount of $500 each were presented to Marian Jackson, St. Landry Parish; Dorothy Jones, Monroe City School System; Donna Patten and Linda Brooks of Ouachita Parish; Alice Higginbotham, Lincoln Parish; and Belinda Francis, St. Mary Parish. Tim Francis received a $1000 Social Studies Scholarship from the JY Sanders Foundation in conjunction with A+PEL.

The day’s events were concluded with the Annual Business Meeting. Members discussed old and new business and voted to approve a slate of officers and executive board members for 2005. New A+PEL officers include Diane Jenkins of Ouachita Parish, president; Tim Francis of St. Mary Parish, president-elect; Cassandra Turner of Red River Parish, secretary; and Gail Autrey, Ouachita Parish, treasurer.

New board members include Billy Davis, Jr., District 2 (Red River Parish); Sammie Saulsbury, District 4 (Ouachita Parish); Suzanne Heath, District 6 (Calcasieu Parish); Belinda Francis, District 8 (St. Mary Parish); and Amy Arcement, Nichols State University, university representative.
Gail Autrey is at Robinson Elementary
Linda Brooks at Riser Middle

Not mentioned in this press release were two Ouachita Parish teachers who received grants.
Donna Patten from WMHS indicated the following:

Receiving the grant was definitely an honor. When I received information in the mail regarding grants available from APEL, I was reminded that a friend of mine in Monroe City Schools, Barry Jones, had received a grant from APEL last school year. I enjoy writing and, like all teachers, need classroom supplies to enhance teaching. I wrote the grant with an emphasis on foldables, graphic organizers for notetaking. Algebra students generally see little need to take notes in a math class, and consequently, their grades suffer. Using foldables helps to overcome this dilemma in the Algebra classroom.

I will use the grant to purchase and assemble a foldables kit for each desk, complete with adult sized scissors, markers, colored pencils, glue, protractor, ruler, brightly colored paper and other items as needed.

I am grateful to APEL for allowing me this opportunity to provide my students with the physical tools necessary to enhance their mental tools and foster success to a greater degree in both short-term and long-term assessments.

Robin Remedies Counselor at Good Hope Middle received a grant to assist in the costs related to seeking national board certification.

Tereatha Chisley, Robinson Principal, was recognized as the parish and regional Principal of the Year.

The Ouachita Parish Chapter provided local stipends to members who wished to attend the conference. Those attending were: Tereatha Chisley, Gail Autrey, Michaele Price, President of the Ouachita Chapter (West Ridge), Jennifer Sellers, Good Hope; Linda Brooks, Donna Patten, Diane Jenkins (on leave from OP--now serving at Region 8 Certification Counselor; and Sammie Saulsbury, retired OP educator.