Calcasieu Parish School Board Named “Models of Excellence” Recipient by Louisiana Department of Education

Louisiana - The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced on February 9, 2023, that the Calcasieu Parish School Board (CPSB) has been awarded its Models of Excellence for its innovative approach to ensuring that all high school students have access to challenging courses taught by highly qualified teachers. Dr. Cade Brumley, state superintendent, presented the award to Dr. Shannon LaFargue, CPSB superintendent, during a ceremony held today at the Lake Charles Boston Academy of Learning.

The Virtual Instruction Program (VIP) of the CPSB provides all high school students with access to high-quality courses, including STEM, Dual Enrollment, and Advanced Placement. Teachers trained in classes that are difficult to staff are kept in a central location where they provide synchronous virtual education to students in all CPSB high schools.

Dr. Brumley stated that Calcasieu Parish schools are paving the way for children to have access to exceptional teachers and courses that would not otherwise be available at every high school. This initiative should be evaluated for implementation in other regions of Louisiana.

Students get access to 30 courses that few CPSB high schools could offer individually due to the VIP model. This year, STEM Biomedical Pathway is included, with STEM Computing Pathway planned for next year. All high school students have the chance to earn over sixty hours of college credit through VIP course offerings.

Dr. LaFargue stated that the addition of the Virtual Teaching Program to the academic options in Calcasieu Parish is altering how instruction is delivered and received. “We are proud of the program, the students enrolled, and the faculty and staff pouring into this program daily. We’re already seeing an incredible impact on our students’ educational journeys, and we fully anticipate this program will continue to grow and the further impact these students’ futures. In addition to the VIP recognition, we appreciate the LDOE’s acknowledgment of three pillars that contributed to this prestigious award – Innovation, Partnerships, and Perseverance. We emphasize those areas consistently, and we are excited and honored that our school district gets this affirmation.”

The VIP teaching staff consists of twelve instructors with specialized degrees. In addition to other topics, it provides a licensed math instructor to many schools that may struggle to find sufficient math teachers of high enough quality. Additionally, the 30 VIP courses provide around 700 additional seats per high school, resulting in decreased class sizes for other on-campus classes.

Louisiana Models of Excellence (MOE) was designed to recognize schools that serve as exceptional models for executing the department's educational priorities. This effort recognizes achievement in Louisiana schools, disseminates success stories and provides models for others to emulate, and establishes high-impact connections among school systems throughout the state. The MOE will be provided to CPSB based on the Department's priority that school systems create inclusive learning environments for all students.

The Calcasieu Parish School Board is the sixth organization in the state to get this distinction. Phillis Wheatley Community School (Firstline Schools), East Feliciana Public Schools, Rapides Parish Schools, Mansfield Elementary (DeSoto Parish Schools), and Lafourche Parish Schools are examples of past award recipients.

Online submissions for the 2022-23 Louisiana Models of Excellence can be submitted by school districts by following this link.

Follow this link to visit the awards library and learn more about submitting nominations.