FIEB principal is state principal of the year semifinalist

FORKED ISLAND — Forked Island E. Broussard Principal Patricia Gaspard received an e-mail Monday that she had to read twice.
The e-mail originated from the Louisiana Department of Education.
“We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected as a 2016 State Principal of the Year semi-finalist! Congratulations,” read the second paragraph of the e-mail.
Some may have stopped reading at that point, excitement then taking over. Gaspard kept reading before giving it another thorough look.
“I had to look twice to make sure I was understanding it correctly,” Gaspard said with a laugh. “You don’t get an e-mail like that every day.
“I was surprised, I guess you could say.”
After the second time, excitement did set in.
“It was a good feeling,” Gaspard said.
Only the feeling was not just for her. The faculty, staff and students at FIEB, the good feelings are for them all.
“We stand as one,” Gaspard said. “We are all in this together.”
The school’s united stance has returned great dividends. After all, FIEB received an “A” ranking from the state for the 2013-‘14 school year. FIEB is at the top of its game right now.
“That’s right,” Gaspard said proudly.
The idea goes that it is more difficult to maintain an A than it is to earn one. No one at FIEB is going to rest on any ranking.
“We are focused not only on maintaining what we do,” Gaspard said, “but becoming even better.”
Among the processes of entering the competition, which included answering questions and obtaining letters of recommendation, Gaspard had to include a list of goals for her school. Those goals revolved around FIEB improving.
“Some of our main goals are to increase our scores,” Gaspard said. “We also want to see our students do their best on state testing.”
Those goals would be the same whether Gaspard were in the running for the award or not.
“These are things we always want to do,” Gaspard said.
As for the contest, Gaspard, along with the other 15 semifinalists, will attend the 9h Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium on Saturday, July 11, 2015 at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge. The winner will be announced at the event.
Will Gaspard’s nerves build up between now and the middle of the summer?
“Nope, nope,” she said. “It’s back to the everyday routine of taking care of my school.
When Gaspard does finally arrive at the award ceremony, she will be representing everyone at FIEB.
“This is for all of us,” Gaspard said before exclaiming, “We are all in this together!”