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LPSS Announces New Principal Assignments For 2024-2025

May 31, 2024 01:54PM ● By News Desk

The Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) has released its list of newly appointed school Principals for the district's 2024-2025 academic year.


Layne Edelman, Principal 
Lafayette High School

Layne Edelman began teaching social studies in 2007. She moved into an administrative role at Acadiana High School in 2012, where she served as an assistant principal for nine years before serving the last three years as principal. In addition to her work in the school system, Edelman worked part-time as a human resources officer for the 1/244 Assault Helicopter Battalion of the Louisiana Army National Guard for eight years, achieving the rank of Captain. 

She received the Mayor's Award in 2021 and was named the 2023 High School Principal of the Year by LPSS. Edelman served on the Louisiana Department of Education English Learner Task Force, is a fierce advocate for students, and has fought for student equity at the state level.


Jason St. Pierre, Principal
Acadiana High School

Jason St. Pierre brings 25 years of experience in education, including 15 years as principal of Walker High School.

According to the LPSS website, "...throughout his career, Mr. St.Pierre has been dedicated to fostering educational environments promoting academic and vocational success. At Walker High, he was instrumental in transforming the school into a 21st-century learning institution, emphasizing the integration of college preparatory and career training programs. 

In recognition of his exceptional leadership and commitment to student life, St.Pierre was honored as the 2022 Varsity Brands School Spirit Principal of the Year, a prestigious national award celebrating principals who significantly enhance the student experience..."  


Sherri Livesay, Principal
David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy 

Ms. Sherri Livesay began her educational career as an English Language Arts teacher for grades 6-12 in Iberia Parish Parish, where she taught for twelve years. 

In 2017, Ms. Livesay joined the Lafayette Parish School System and became the instructional leader at Lafayette High School. Shortly thereafter, she accepted the position as the itinerant assistant principal for Acadiana High School and Lafayette High School before becoming a full-time assistant principal at Lafayette High School. In the fall of 2022, Ms. Livesay joined the David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy administrative team under the leadership of Mr. Alex Melton.



Catherine Cassidy 
Principal of Ovey Comeaux High School 

Ms. Cassidy has 26 years in education, with 24 years dedicated to the Lafayette Parish School System. Her career in LPSS includes 12 years of teaching and coaching, followed by four years as an assistant principal at Acadiana High School. More notably, she assumed the inaugural role as principal at Southside High School, before transitioning to Director of High Schools for LPSS. Cassidy has returned to her passion for direct engagement with high school students and staff.

Additionally, she served on the Protect Louisiana Schools Hurricane Preparedness Commission initiated by Louisiana State Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley in 2021, and she was recently appointed to the Steering/Sustainability Committee for the Louisiana Development Ready Community. 

Ms. Cassidy holds a bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education, a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and an add-on certification in Administration from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.


Jenna Vincent, Principal
Ernest Gallet Elementary School

Jenna Vincent has served as a Master Teacher and Assistant Principal at Alice Boucher Elementary School since 2020. She discovered her passion for education while completing a Bachelor’s Degree in Public Relations, which led her to pursue a Certification in Elementary Education in 2009, and then earn a Master’s Degree in Education Leadership. 

Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an ability to motivate and build strong relationships, spearheading several key initiatives. She has worked with colleagues district-wide to develop and lead professional learning communities aimed at enhancing teaching and learning across the parish. 


Monique Chargois, Principal
Westside Elementary School

Monique Chargois has served as the principal of Ernest Gallet School for the past 10 years. She brings 16 years of experience as a principal and 6 years as an assistant principal. Throughout her career, she has taught at Ernest Gallet and Ridge Elementary and has held administrative roles at Ernest Gallet, Lafayette Middle, and Paul Breaux Middle School.

Under Chargois's leadership, her schools have received numerous awards, including the Top Gains Honoree, Early Childhood Excellence Award, Mastery Plus School, School of Exemplary Growth, and Opportunity Honoree. Notably, Lafayette Middle School improved its rating from 1 star to 2 stars during her tenure. In her advocacy for excellence in education, Mrs. Chargois serves as the Secretary of the Lafayette Parish Principals’ Association. In 2017, Chargois created a Tigers on the Run club for children to come together and learn valuable life skills in a supportive and encouraging environment. In 2010, Chargois co-authored the book "How the Best Teachers Differentiate Instruction," which became a bestseller in 2010 and 2011. 

Chargois holds a bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and two master's degrees in Education, one in Administration and Supervision, and the other in Curriculum and Instruction. 

Lisa Thomas, Principal
Myrtle Place Elementary School

Before her transfer to Myrtle Place, Mrs Lisa Thomas served as Westside Elementary School’s principal for 18 years. During her tenure, Westside was a French Immersion school, a valuable experience she will bring to her new role as the principal of Myrtle Place Elementary. Under her leadership, Westside earned the designation of Louisiana Top Gains School four times in the past 8 years. The school also received accolades for Exemplary Growth, Most SPS Growth, and Recognized Growth. In addition to her achievements at Westside, she serves as the treasurer of the Lafayette Principals Association. She is also a member of the Louisiana Association of Principals, the Louisiana Association of School Executives, and the National Association of Elementary School Principals. 

Thomas completed the executive development program of the National Institute for School Leadership in 2017 and was named Lafayette Parish School System’s Elementary Principal of the Year in 2019. She also served as the assistant principal at Plantation Elementary School (now Corporal Michael Middlebrook Elementary) for 3 years. 

Mrs. Thomas graduated from the University of Southwest Louisiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Education and obtained her Masters degree in Education Administration from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

John Kris Leger, Principal
Carencro Middle School

Following the retirement of Mr. Renee Nunez, LPSS has appointed Mr. John Kris Leger as the next leader of Carencro Middle School. 

Leger's extensive background includes over 20 years in education, specializing in Health and Physical Education. Additionally, Leger has served in an administrative capacity for six years. 

Leger eagerly anticipates forging strong partnerships with parents, guardians, and the broader community to ensure the success of Carencro Middle School. "My mission is to create a safe, structured, supportive learning environment where all staff and students feel valued. As principal, I’m dedicated to leading our team to create a learning environment that brings inclusivity and fosters academic excellence, social-emotional growth, and character development through building relationships." 

Leger holds a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education.

Elizabeth Sinegal, Principal
Carencro Bob Lilly Elementary School 

Elizabeth Bearb Sinegal brings 13 years of experience to her new role as principal of Carencro Bob Lilly Elementary School. Most recently, she served as assistant principal at Katharine Drexel Elementary School in Broussard. Sinegal began her teaching career after earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, teaching 3rd grade at Ross Elementary in Acadia Parish. She then transitioned to Lafayette Parish School System at Ossun Elementary School where she taught 5th grade for six years. 

During her tenure at Ossun, Sinegal was honored as the 2019 Teacher of the Year and earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from McNeese State University. Following the completion of her master's program, she served as assistant principal at Herod Elementary School in Vermilion Parish for three years. Her achievements during this time include being named Region 4 LACUE Leader of the Year and the Kiwanis Club Elementary Principal of the Year. After her tenure in Vermilion Parish, she returned to Ossun Elementary as assistant principal, before assuming the role of assistant principal at Katharine Drexel Elementary School.

Tracy Sanders, Principal 
Broadmoor Elementary School 

LPSS released the following statement about Ms Sanders: Embarking on a distinguished career in education in 2006, after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Tracy Sanders has dedicated over 17 years to shaping young minds and fostering a love for learning. Her journey in education has predominantly unfolded within the Lafayette Parish School System, where she has remained committed for the last 15 years. Early in her career, Sanders was recognized for her exemplary teaching, being honored as Teacher of the Year for the 2008-2009 academic year, a testament to her passion and dedication to her students. 

Sanders furthered her qualifications by pursuing a specialization in library science, receiving her certification as a library and media specialist from Northwestern State University in 2012. Over the next seven years, she excelled as a librarian, where her efforts to promote reading and literacy were nationally recognized. Her strategies for enhancing students' reading performance placed her on the Accelerated Reader Nation Honor Roll registry in consecutive years, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. This achievement highlighted her commitment to implementing research-based strategies and achieving significant data points in students' reading advancements. 

In a pursuit to impact educational leadership, Sanders completed her Masters of Education in Educational Leadership in 2019. Following this achievement, she transitioned to an instructional leader in 2020, then to assistant principal at Ernest Gallet Elementary, before her recent appointment as the acting principal at Broadmoor Elementary. Throughout her ascending career, Sanders has demonstrated a relentless commitment to education and leadership, showing a remarkable ability to inspire change and foster an environment conducive to learning. Her journey reflects a dedication not just to academic excellence but to the comprehensive development of both students and the educational institutions she has served. 

Catherine Bricelj, Principal
Prairie Elementary School 

Catherine Bricelj, originally from Belgium, has been appointed principal at Prairie Elementary School. 

Bricelj graduated from Université Mons-Hainaut earning a Master’s Degree in the Science of Education.

She began her career in education more than 23 years ago as a French Language teacher in Ruston, Louisiana, then transitioned to Lafayette as a French Immersion teacher at Prairie Elementary. In 2014, she accepted a leadership role at Audubon Charter School in New Orleans before returning to Lafayette once again in 2017, when she assumed the role of principal at Myrtle Place Elementary. Under her exceptional leadership, Myrtle Place Elementary received the prestigious 2022 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence award, recognizing outstanding academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups over a five-year period. Myrtle Place's school performance score surged from 87.1 in 2019 to an impressive 108.1 in 2023. 

Bricelj’s accomplishments have garnered national recognition, including the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership from the U.S. Department of Education in 2022. Additionally, she was appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques in April 2024, a prestigious French distinction symbolizing excellence and scholarship in education and culture. 

Ryan Martin, Principal 
Paul Breaux Middle School

Martin has been with LPSS for 21 years, serving in various capacities across the parish. He began his career teaching social studies at N.P. Moss Middle School (now David Thibodaux STEM Magnet Academy) and Scott Middle School. His administrative roles include dean of students at Lafayette Middle School and assistant principal at W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center and Milton Elementary Middle School. Martin has also served as an academic specialist for social studies districtwide. For the past four years, he has been supervisor of district improvement contributing to initiatives such as the implementation of the ACT MasteryPrep program at all high schools, the Student of the Year program, the LPSS Dual Enrollment program, and key components of academic programs. Most recently, he has served as acting principal of Paul Breaux Middle School since January. 

Martin graduated from Northside High School in 1994 and served in the United States Marine Corps for four years. Martin holds a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. 

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