Lake Charles, LA– U.S. Representative Charles W. Boustany, Jr., R-Southwest Louisiana, honored three Calcasieu Parish educators named “Louisiana Principal of the Year” for their respective grades by the Louisiana Department of Education. The Principals- Jill Portie, Bobby Jack Thompson and Assistant Principal Barbara Culpepper – were honored for their dedication and success in a ceremony today at the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

 

 “These three principals continue to work diligently to ensure our students across Southwestern Louisiana receive the best education possible,” Boustany said.   “I commend Jill, Bobby Jack and Barbara for helping lead our children in a positive direction. A quality education is critical to prepare our young people in Calcasieu and Southwest, LA for higher education and the workplace.”

 

Jill Portie is the principal of LeBleu Settlement Elementary in Lake Charles. She has 18 years of experience as an educator and helped raise the school’s performance score almost 31 points since she became its principal.  She has presented at the National Association of School Principals Conference and has served as the Chairperson on the Elementary Alternative School Design Committee.

 

Bobby Jack Thompson is the principal of LaGrange High School in Lake Charles. He has worked as an educator for 28 years and worked as a principal since 1998.  Thompson has participated in numerous conferences and under his direction LaGrange High in Lake Charles has been recognized as a Model School by the International Center for Leadership in Education.

 

Barbara Culpepper, assistant principal of Sulphur High School, has been an educator for 25 years and has served as an assistant principal for almost a decade.  She is involved in Team Green for the beautification of community and schools.  In addition, Culpepper serves on the committee for the promotion of literacy for Southwest Louisiana.