2024 Louisiana Principal of theYear

Tia mechelle trahan

lafayette middle school

Mrs. Tia Mechelle Trahan is the proud principal of Lafayette Middle School (Grades 6-8) in Lafayette, LA. Trahan is a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) and is a veteran of the United States Army National Guard. There, she served on a Specialized Task Force focusing on Community Outreach. Trahan received her Undergraduate Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana Lafayette and her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University Shreveport. An educator for over twenty years, Trahan's educational journey began as a teacher and reading facilitator. She was an assistant principal for two and half years, Principal of Milton Elementary-Middle School for four years, and is now entering her seventh year as Principal of Lafayette Middle School. Trahan was one of 21 Louisiana educators awarded a Leaders Fellowship and was part of the First Cohort of Louisiana Leaders to complete the National Institute for School Leaders. She was named 2007 Teacher of the Year at Katherine Drexel Elementary School and named 2023 Middle School Principal of the Year for Lafayette Parish. She currently serves as the Middle School Representative for the Lafayette Principals Association along with being a member of Lafayette Parish School System's Superintendent Panel, Wellness Team, Reimagine Grant Advisory Committee, and she serves on the Louisiana NBCT Network Board. Trahan continually seeks to strengthen her knowledge as an instructional leader to bridge gaps. She also strives for excellence in aiding all educators and students to maximize their potential. Trahan, born and raised in Louisiana, is honored to be a Louisiana Educator.

 
 
 
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2024 HONOREES

  • Lacey Morel Bueche, Point Coupee Parish, FINALIST

  • Dr. Jeremy Muse, Ascension Parish, 2022 Louisiana State Middle School Principal of the Year

  • Amy Barrow, St. Tammany Parish

  • Kevin Dugas, St Martin Parish , FINALIST

  • Karen Robertson, Vernon Parish, 2022 Louisiana State Elementary School Principal of the Year

  • Cassandra “Cassy” Brou, West Baton Rouge Parish

  • John Hill, Livingston Parish, FINALIST

  • Gregory Cook, Lafourche Parish

  • John Dickey III, Red River Parish

  • Darrell Dillard, Terrebonne Parish

  • Patricia Gaspard, Vermillion Parish

  • Selena Gomes, Jefferson Davis Parish

  • Dr. Claudette Perkins, East Baton Rouge Parish, FINALIST

  • David Thrash, Bossier Parish, FINALIST

  • Chevonda Leonard, Jackson parish

  • Cynthia Lewing, Sabine Parish

  • Ronnie Harvey Jr., Calcasieu Parish, 2022 Louisiana State High School Principal of the Year

  • Anna Lincoln, Plaquemines parish

  • Becky Louque, St. James Parish

  • Kellie Rabalais, St. Landry Parish

  • Ginger Richard, Lafayette Parish

  • Shantell Toups, St. Mary Parish

  • Mary Wilks-Kilgore, Lincoln Parish

The Principal of the Year Process

The process for selecting a Louisiana Principal of the Year begins at the local level. Each school within every public or public charter school district is eligible to select a Principal of the Year subject to their own selection criteria. Those individual local school nominations are sent to the District level for further review and consideration.

Each District Superintendent or public charter school District may select three outstanding teachers to forward to the State Department of Education for competition at the state level. Of the three District nominations, there will be one elementary, one middle school, and one high school principal selected.

The Louisiana Department of Education continues a review and evaluation of all District candidates submitted. To learn more about the Principal of the Year selection process, contact LDOE at louisianabelieves.com/teaching/award-programs. Questions regarding the selection process or on-line applications should be directed to the department.