Louisiana
Rayne High School teacher named Louisiana Teacher of the Year
NEW ORLEANS, La. — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) celebrated the state’s top teachers and leaders at the 18th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala in New Orleans on Saturday.
LDOE, in partnership with Dream Teachers, highlighted the event with the announcement of Louisiana Teacher and Principal of the Year, Louisiana Early Childhood Teacher and Leader of the Year, and Louisiana New Teacher of the Year.
2025 Overall State Honorees:
- Louisiana Teacher of the Year: Elise Boutin | Acadia Parish
- Louisiana Principal of the Year: Dr. Amanda Austin | Iberville Parish
- Louisiana Early Childhood Teacher of the Year: Nicole Williams Ross | Jefferson Parish
- Louisiana Early Childhood Leader of the Year: Rockeisha Walker | Iberville Parish
- Louisiana New Teacher of the Year: Tiffany Pfeifer | Calcasieu Parish
“It’s a privilege to celebrate some of the outstanding professionals who have dedicated their careers to improving our state one child at a time,” said State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley. “Each of these talented educators have played a role in Louisiana’s recent successes, and are critical to the vital work that lies ahead.”
Louisiana Teacher of the Year:
Elise Boutin is the overall Louisiana Teacher of the Year.
According to LDOE, Boutin, a 14-year veteran of the classroom, is a publications and English teacher at Rayne High School in Acadia Parish. She revived the Rayne, Alive! Program, a student-produced YouTube channel that has connected students with local broadcasting opportunities. Boutin created a senior project fair for students to showcase their capstone projects in areas of academics, career and community service, and to connect them with business owners. She also connects students to community activities by sponsoring the Interact Club, which works with the Rayne Rotary Club, and she recently started a cross-country team at the school.
The following educators were named division-level Louisiana Teacher of the Year:
- Elementary: J. Joy Stalnaker | Lafayette Parish Schools
- Middle: Christopher Kourvelas | Bossier Parish Schools
- High: Dr. Suresh Babu Chiruguru | Calcasieu Parish Schools
Louisiana Principal of the Year
Dr. Amanda Austin is the overall Louisiana Principal of the Year.
Dr. Austin holds a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership from Lamar University and is the principal of Iberville Math, Science, and Arts (MSA) Academy East in St. Gabriel. She was selected as principal to reopen North Iberville High School (NIHS) after it had been closed for more than a decade, creating a thriving school with a STEM magnet program, as maintained by LDOE.
The following educators were named division-level Louisiana Principal of the Year:
- Elementary: Amanda LaFollette | DeSoto Parish Schools
- Middle: Dr. Decina Rodriguez | Lafourche Parish Schools
- High: Brandon LaGroue | Central Community School District
Louisiana Early Childhood Teachers of the Year
Nicole Williams Ross is the overall Louisiana Early Childhood Teacher of the Year.
Williams teaches at Carousel Preschool in Jefferson Parish and has more than 10 years of experience working and serving children and families in Louisiana, said Ted Beasley, LDOE Deputy Chief of Communication.
Louisiana Early Childhood Leader of the Year
Rockeisha Walker is the overall Louisiana Early Childhood Leader of the Year.
According to Beasley, Walker leads Bright Star Child Care Center in Iberville Parish and has over 10 years of experience leading Early Learning centers in Louisiana.
Louisiana New Teacher of the Year
Tiffany Pfeifer is the overall Louisiana New Teacher of the Year.
Pfeifer teaches at Washington Marion High School in Calcasieu Parish and is committed to fostering a true love of learning in her students, said Beasley.
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Louisiana
Louisiana has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the nation. See the parish data.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with an estimated 333,830 new cases and 36,320 deaths projected for 2026 for the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.
In the U.S., there are approximately 116 new prostate cancer cases per 100,000 people annually. Louisiana has the highest prostate cancer incidence rate in the country at 147.2 cases per 100,000 — a rate that has been steadily rising since 2014, according to data from the National Cancer Institute.
New prostate cancer drug can extend life expectancy by 8 months, Baton Rouge doctor says
These parishes had the highest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in descending order:
- West Feliciana Parish with 218.6 cases per 100,000;
- Iberville Parish with 182.3 cases per 100,000;
- Bienville Parish with 179.7 cases per 100,000;
- West Baton Rouge Parish with 179.4 cases per 100,000;
- Vermillion Parish with 176.5 cases per 100,000;
- Iberia Parish with 173.8 cases per 100,000;
- East Baton Rouge Parish with 173.6 cases per 100,000;
- East Carroll Parish with 172.9 cases per 100,000;
- East Feliciana Parish with 166.3 cases per 100,000;
- Tangipahoa Parish with 166.2 cases per 100,000;
- St. Martin Parish with 166 cases per 100,000;
- Jackson Parish with 165.3 cases per 100,000;
- and Lincoln Parish with 165.1 cases per 100,000.
These parishes had the lowest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in ascending order:
- Cameron Parish with 101 cases per 100,000;
- Evangeline Parish with 102.7 cases per 100,000;
- Union Parish with 106.9 cases per 100,000;
- Winn Parish with 108.2 cases per 100,000;
- Vernon Parish with 109.4 cases per 100,000;
- Grant Parish with 109.7 cases per 100,000;
- Franklin and La Salle parishes with 111 cases per 100,000;
- St. Bernard Parish with 113.9 cases per 100,000;
- Tensas Parish with 115.2 cases per 100,000;
- Terrebonne Parish with 117.5 cases per 100,000;
- Washington Parish with 121.1 cases per 100,000;
- Livingston Parish with 122.8 cases per 100,000;
- Sabine Parish with 122.9 cases per 100,000;
- Bossier Parish with 123.7 cases per 100,000;
- and La Fourche Parish with 124.8 cases per 100,000.
Data represents an annual average for all stages of prostate cancer.
PENSACOLA, Fla. — Marcavia Shavers posts 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead ULM Warhawks women’s basketball past Louisiana 79-63 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.
ULM (15-15, 7-11 Sun Belt) took control early, outscoring Louisiana 17-7 in the first quarter and extending the lead to 41-21 by halftime. The Warhawks never trailed and led by as many as 28 points in the second quarter.
Shavers anchored the inside for ULM, finishing 9-of-15 from the field with 13 rebounds. Jazmine Jackson added 17 points off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers, while J’Mani Ingram scored 16 points and dished out six assists.
ULM shot 46.9% from the field and held a 42-27 advantage on the boards. The Warhawks also converted Louisiana turnovers into 29 points and scored 26 second-chance points.
Louisiana (5-26, 2-16 Sun Belt) was led by Mikaylah Manley with 18 points and Imani Daniel with 17 points and seven rebounds. Amijah Price chipped in 12 points.
After struggling early, Louisiana shot better in the second half, scoring 42 points after the break. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.
ULM advances in the Sun Belt tournament, while Louisiana closes its season with the loss.
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BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.
Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.
According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.
A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.
“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.
Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.
“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.
Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.
“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.
Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.
Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
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