What's happening in Cenla education

Grant to help Rapides schools

The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching, in partnership with 12 Louisiana school districts, received a five-year $49 million federal Teacher Incentive Fund grant to improve the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders and increase student achievement in some of the highest-need schools in the state.

Eighty-nine schools across six parishes, including Rapides, and six charter schools will be served.

"This effort demonstrates our commitment to turning around our chronically low-performing schools by focusing on creating great teachers and school leaders," Rapides Superintendent Nason "Tony" Authement said in a release.

Other grant partners are DeSoto, East Feliciana, Madison, Orleans, and Saint John the Baptist as well as New Orleans charters Algiers Technology Academy, Eisenhower Academy, Landry-Walker High, McDonogh #32 Charter, Fischer Academy and Martin Behrman Academy.

"NIET’s track record of success in supporting high-need districts to improve classroom instruction is based on elements that are aligned with our priorities at the state level," said Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White.

"NIET’s work for over a decade has focused on advancing educator effectiveness," said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Stark. "I am excited about this statewide collaboration to advance principal and teacher leadership. We look forward to working with educators across Louisiana."

The TIF grant expands on a long history of work in Louisiana by NIET that dates back to the implementation of the TAP System beginning in 2004.

"Louisiana districts have had solid, measurable success with evidence-based practices over multiple years, and this grant will expand that success into new districts," said NIET President Dr. Patrice Pujol. "When I was superintendent of Ascension Public Schools, I saw the benefits firsthand of leveraging best practices and creating a common vision around effective instruction."

LC receives more than $200,000 in grants

Louisiana College received grants totaling $208,416 to help support the arts, nursing, scholarships and entomology.

Funds from the Louisiana Board of Regents Enhancement Grants will provide $55,000 to update sound and lighting equipment in the Martin Performing Arts Center, which will give "a full professional theater experience for the students as well as the local community of audience-goers," said Tabitha Huffman, associate professor of Theatre.

"Our audience numbers should grow as well as student involvement in the productions," Huffman said. "Students within our Theater Arts program will have a competitive edge in the professional world, where previously their technical creativity was limited."

A $58,416 grant to fund Nursing curriculum enhancements will provide state of the art projection and teaching equipment for classrooms in Cavanaugh Hall and the Nursing Skills Center practice lab. And a Lettie Pate Whitehead grant of $68,000 will fund Nursing scholarships.

"These grants will afford better learning environments for students and instructional capabilities for instructors through three hi-tech lecterns with LCD projectors, dedicated computers, and drop-down screens. The multiple audio-visual and online teaching strategies should enhance student outcomes," said Dr. Marilyn Cooksey, Dean/Professor, School of Nursing. "Our plans will include adaptive quizzing programs to enhance test-taking skills and reinforce nursing content. The ultimate goals are to improve student retention and increase healthcare providers in the Central Louisiana, Louisiana as a whole, and the nation."

A USDA Forestry Service grant of $27,000 titled "Identifying Potential Louisiana Forest Health Issues Based on Future Inventory Projections" provides funding for LC students to help characterize insect threat potential based on future projections. This includes fieldwork to collect stand samples, set insect traps, and monitor insect activities.

Other objectives include assessing the quality and quantity of feedstocks and processing samples collected for the National Forest Inventory and Analysis Biomass project.

"Louisiana College has developed a relationship with the Forestry Service Research Center located in Pineville, Louisiana. And three of our science majors -- Jeancy Baraka, Rebekah Magee, and Chan Jin -- have done research at that facility during the last two years," said Dr. Sarah Payne, assistant professor of chemistry. "These projects include alternative fuels, entomology, and opportunities for all three of them to grow in scientific research and refine career interests."

LC President Rick Brewer said, "We want to thank the Board of Regents for the funds that will not only enhance the quality of education that is our heritage, but will also have a personal impact upon each student who will benefit from these grants."

Fifth-graders learn lessons at Camp Grant Walker

Grant Parish fifth-graders recently spent a school day outside the classroom at Camp Grant Walker.

Students attended six different classes at the camp, which covered topics such as ATV and fire and gun safety, the dangers of impaired driving and drug use and the consequences of social media bullying.

The Grant Parish Sheriff's Office hosted the event and Cpl. Donna Bryant and search-and-rescue K-9 Zeus performed demonstrations.

South Grant Elementary teacher Amy Merrell said her school’s students and the students from other schools enjoyed the camp and learned a lot there.

"I think it's a good community project for the Sheriff's Office (and other organizations) to come in with the kids and work with them and establish those good relationships," Merrell said.

College to host "Values & Ethics" conference 

A panel of bio-ethicists will speak at Louisiana College's "Values & Ethics" conference set for Oct. 10-11.

Slated to meet in LC’s Martin Performing Arts Center, the Oct. 10 session at 6 p.m. is free and open to the public and features nationally acclaimed author and scholars Ben Mitchell and Douglas Axe and local healthcare specialist Mary Kienzle of Christus St. Francis Cabrini Hospital.

The conference offers Cenla residents “the rare opportunity to hear from three top-flight experts whose credentials are as impressive as their content is stimulating," LC President Rick Brewer said in a school release.

Former director of Social Services for New York State, Kienzle brings more than 30 years of experience in health care.  A graduate of New York University and Hunter College, Kienzle is director for Missions Integration Services and Spiritual Care Departments at Christus Cabrini Hospital, which is sponsoring the conference.

Author Doug Axe earned a PhD in biochemical engineering from Caltech and completed post-doctoral studies at Cambridge, where he worked with Nobel Laureate Max Perutz. Published in numerous academic journals, Axe’s latest book is titled "Undeniable: How Biology Confirms Our Intuition that Life is Designed." In 2005, Axe founded The Biologic Institute in Redmond, Wash., a non-profit research organization developing a new approach to biology with the hypothesis that life is by design.

Bio-ethicist C. Ben Mitchell earned a PhD in medical ethics from the University of Tennessee. He completed residencies at UT Knoxville and Vanderbilt University.  He is a consultant with the Center for Genetics & Public Policy at Johns Hopkins University, and is co-director for, and fellow of the Biotechnology Policy in Washington, DC.  A frequent interviewee for radio and television, Mitchell is widely published in other national media and journals. His latest book is titled “Biotechnology and the Human Good.” Mitchell is provost and academic vice president at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.

Each of the speakers is also scheduled for lectures in various classes at LC.

"This group of stellar scholars and cutting-edge specialists provides our students exposure to the kind of academic expertise that is the heritage of Louisiana College," Brewer said.  "Professionals and students in the fields of medicine and other sciences, as well as educators, business leaders, pastors and the general public should avail themselves of this superb opportunity on October 10."

Louisiana College will livestream the conference from its website: www.lacollege.edu.