Summer 2025 
Louisiana Principals of the Year
2026 LOUISIANA PRINCIPALS OF THE YEAR
Louisiana Overall Principal of the Year
JUSTIN WAX
2026 LOUISIANA OVERALL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Justin Wax is currently serving his fourth year as principal at Denham Springs Junior High in Denham Springs, Louisiana. Under Wax's leadership, the school is recognized for excellence, including 2024 Top Gains Honoree and U.S. News and World Report's Best Middle Schools for 2024 and 2025.
Wax earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, minoring in Leadership Development from Louisiana State University, pursued his passion for education via alternative certification and obtained a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University.
A leader in student advocacy, Wax has taken innovative steps to address teen vaping through offering vaping education alternatives to suspension and facilitating the installation of campus vape detection technology. His efforts include legislative involvement, speaking before the Louisiana House Judiciary, effectively advocating to raise the minimum age to purchase vaping products.
Dedicated to STEM education, Wax pioneers an aquaponics lab, providing hands-on opportunities to conserve endangered Louisiana plant species and teaching sustainable produce cultivation.
Wax is a member of Louisiana Association of Principals, and Vice President of the Livingston Parish Principals Association. Wax served four years as President of Mighty Moms, a nonprofit that "nurtures hungry students to success." Wax is a church deacon and married father of three.
Committed to addressing students' needs, Wax partners with community leaders to eliminate student fees, ensuring access for his economically disadvantaged students. Wax currently supports a rapidly growing language learner population. His educational philosophy centers around #ThreeYearsOfAwesome, fostering innovation and community collaboration to prepare students for lifelong success.
2026 Division Level Principals of the Year
BRANDON SINGLETON
2026 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Brandon Singleton currently serves as the principal of Grand Coteau Elementary (GCE) in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. GCE provides services to students in Pre-K through 4th Grade who reside in the Grand Coteau, Arnaudville, and Sunset communities. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge, where he attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education (1-8). He later attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, earning a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership.
With 18 years of educational experience, Singleton's journey started when he served as a 4th-grade teacher at Southwest Elementary for 5 years, the elementary school he attended as a child. He later went on to serve as Assistant Principal at Green T. Lindon Elementary for 4 years. His journey continued as the Principal at Grolee Elementary for 5 years and is currently in his 4th year as Principal of Grand Coteau Elementary.
Highlights of his career include being named the 2012 Teacher of the Year at Southwest Elementary, the 2025 St. Landry Parish Elementary Principal of the Year, and the 2026 St. Landry Parish Elementary Principal of the Year. Under his leadership, Grand Coteau Elementary was recognized as a Top Gains School in 2022, 2023, and 2024. GCE experienced a 20.8-point increase in School Performance Score, moving the school from a "D" to a "B" in three years.
Singleton is dedicated to creating and sustaining a positive school environment, fostering academic and personal growth, and leading by example.
JENNIFER BURRIS
2026 MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Jennifer Burris is serving in her fifth year as the principal of Benton Intermediate School (Grades 5-6) in Benton, Louisiana. Burris is a proud product of Bossier Parish Schools as well as Louisiana State University Shreveport where she earned both a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership.
During her twenty-four year span as a passionate educator, she spent thirteen years as a classroom teacher, two years as an instructional coach, and five years as assistant principal prior to taking on the role of principal of the district's first 5th and 6th grade campus.
Burris was one of twelve Louisiana leaders selected for Cohort 10 of the Louisiana Superintendent's Academy. She was named 2011 Teacher of the Year at Haughton Middle School, 2024 Bossier Parish Gold Star Employee, and 2025 Middle School Principal of the Year for Bossier Parish. She currently serves as the President for the Bossier Association of School Leaders and has served as a principal representative on numerous district committees.
Under her leadership, Benton Intermediate has been recognized as a Certified High Reliability School, Promising Practices School, Louisiana Top Gains Honoree, and a Purple Star School. Her approach to leadership is grounded in shared decision-making, empowering teachers to provide input that informs and transforms practices for continuous improvement. Mrs. Burris is dedicated to creating an innovative school environment where students and staff thrive, embodying a "whatever it takes" mindset to achieve excellence in academics and extracurricular activities.
ANNA FAYE CAMINITA
2026 HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR
Dr. Anna Faye Caminita is currently serving Tangipahoa Parish as the principal of Ponchatoula High School (PHS) in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. PHS serves over 2000 students in grades 9-12 and has not only received the honor of being named a Special Olympics Unified Champion School, but also has 100 years of continuous accreditation. With 32 years of educational experience in Louisiana, Caminita has an extensive track record of growing students and school scores.
Caminita earned a Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education and a Master's of Education in Educational Administration from Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans. She also received a Doctor of Education degree from Walden University in 2011. Caminita accepted the honor of being named Sallie Mae New Teacher of the Year in Jefferson Parish and was also named Alumni of the Year from Our Lady of Holy Cross College. Caminita's proudest professional achievement was being selected in 2003 to serve as a Distinguished Educator with the Louisiana State Department of Education to assist struggling schools. While being a Distinguished Educator, Caminita had the unique experience of opening an evacuee school in Ascension Parish for students who were displaced as a result of Hurricane Katrina.
Because Caminita prioritizes growth in instructional leadership and truly believes that every student can achieve, she continues to utilize strategies from her training sessions with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. Recently, Caminita was selected and participated in the Louisiana Superintendent's Academy.
President's Message
Stella Arabie
Dear Fellow Administrators, colleagues and friends,
As we prepare to launch another academic year, I want to take this opportunity to welcome you back and share my heartfelt appreciation for your continued dedication to educational leadership in Louisiana.
To better achieve our mission, we have updated our website with contact information and conference dates for this year. The LAP 74th Annual Administrators’ Conference will be held at the L’auberge Casino Hotel in Baton Rouge beginning on Sunday, September 28, 2025 and will conclude on Monday, September 29, 2025. If you have not done so already, please click this link to register now.
Your leadership matters—perhaps now more than ever. Together, we can continue to uplift our schools, empower our teams, and create meaningful outcomes for every student in Louisiana.
Thank you for your unwavering commitment. Wishing you a productive, inspiring, and successful school year!
Dr. Stella Arabie, LAP President
Announcements
The Louisiana Association of Principals office has officially moved to Baton Rouge.
The new address is
11822 Justice Ave, Suite B-5
Baton Rouge, LA 70816
The phone numbers have remained the same.
LAP office: 318-648-2999
LAP FAX: 318-648-2990
From The Desk of The Executive Director
Karen Triche
Greetings,
August in Louisiana is synonymous with three things: scorching heat, potential hurricane threats, and the commencement of school. As the 2025-26 school year has officially begun, LAP has chosen this year’s theme to be “Bringing in the Ship.”
The actual quote is “I Care Not How Rough The Sea, Did You Bring in the Ship.” My friend’s dad used to say this frequently, and I’ve had it displayed in every classroom and office since the 1980s. Despite the changing nature of the seas, the requirement to “Bring in the Ship” remains steadfast.
In today’s context, the urgency of “Bringing in the Ship” is ever present, especially as we navigate through school performance score fluctuations, teacher shortages, social unrest, school closings, policy and procedural shifts and numerous leadership changes.
While we undoubtedly care, it’s crucial to address these challenges with the ultimate goal in mind: educating students and empowering them to become positive contributors to society.
Sincerely,
Karen
Executive Director, LAP
CELL: 504.234.1249
FAX: 318.648.2990
LAP Phone: 318.648.2999
[email protected]
NASSP and NAESP
Members of the Louisiana Association of Principals Board of Directors attended the NASSP/NAESP United Conference in Seattle, Washington, in July.
Pictured from left to right: LAP Federal & States Relations Coordinator, Martin Guillory; NAESP State Representative, Kelli Oertling; LAP Executive Director, Karen Triche; LAP President, Stella Arabie; NASSP State Coordinator, Samuel Smith.
Assistant Principal of the Year Nominations are Open
Nominate Your Assistant Principal for the 2025-2026 Assistant Principal of the Year
It is time to nominate your assistant principal for the 2025-2026 Assistant Principal of the Year. Deadline to nominate is September 5. An official 2025-2026 Assistant Principal of the Year Application will be sent to your nominee upon receipt of the nomination form.
Welcome New Members
Bossier Parish
Daniel Baskin, Airline High
Amber Beach, Princeton Elementary School
Sharon Pollock, Elm Grove Middle School
Natalie Pope, Apollo Elementary School
Connie Travis, Apollo Elementary School
Caddo Parish
Natasha Bryant, Magnolia School of Excellence
Lauire Salvail, Loyola College Prep
Calcasieu Parish
Lee Ann Biswell, St. John Elementary
Jeremy Deamon, Sam Houston High
Jennifer Elbert, DeQuincy Middle School
Virginia Foehler, Sam Houston High
Parry Lalande, Sam Houston High
Trudie Yokum, Oak Park Middle School
East Baton Rouge Parish
Ellen Daugherty, LSU Lab School
Kyle Fontenette, Mayfair Laboratory School
Jamari Tillman, Southeast Middle School
Derek Wheeler, Jefferson Terrace Academy
Grant Parish
Jessica Borland, South Grant Elementary School
Iberia Parish
Nicole Eastin, Daspit Elementary
Jefferson Parish
Shelly Baker, G.T. Woods Elementary
Jennifer Dykes, Judge Lionel Collins Elementary
Emily Poche, Kehoe-France School
Stephanie Scott, Harahan Elementary School
Lafayette Parish
Adrian Alba, Lafayette High School
Plaquemines Parish
Melissa Abadie & Ketisha Barthelemy, Belle Chasse Elementary
Fern Billiot, Belle Chasse High
Joshua Euper & Tara Gustin, Belle Chasse Middle
Olivia Hebert & Melissa Rhodes, Belle Chasse Primary
Leslie Smith, Boothville-Venice Elementary
Denita Tate, Phoenix High School
Sara Treuting, South Plaquemines Elementary
Rapides Parish
Stacey Gaskins, J. I. Barron Sr. Elementary
Sabine Parish
Scott Manuel, Florien High School
St. Landry Parish
Amanda Low, Krotz Springs Elementary
St. Charles Parish
Annette Blanchard, St. Rose Elementary
Krystn Charlie, J.B. Martin Middle School
LeTonya Coleman & Jennifer Green, R.K Smith Middle School
Megan Cologne, Harry M. Hurst Middle School
Fallon Drouant & Kim Peltier, Hahnville High
Monique Guitterrez, Ethel Schoeffner Elementary
Ginny Medina-Hamilton, Luling Elementary
Lauren Hymel, New Sarpy Elementary
Macy LaFleur, Norco Elementary
Brandy Landry & Amanda Morgan, Lakewood Elementary
Kandyce Simoneaux, Mimosa Park Elementary
Jennifer Washington, Albert Cammon Middle School
St. Mary Parish
Michelle Bishop, V. B. Glencoe Charter School
Herman Hartman Jr., Julia B. Maitland Elementary School
Ronica LaPoint, M. E. Norman Elementary School
Kendra Thomas, Raintree Elementary
Tangipahoa Parish
Anna Faye Caminita, Ponchatoula High School
Torrea Gordon, O. W. Dillon Leadership Academy
Shantel Womack, Champ Cooper Elementary School
Union Parish
Kasey Hough, Union Parish Elementary
Vernon Parish
Tiffany Holt, Pitkin High School
Mission Statement:
Mission Statement: To provide quality School-based Administrative Leadership for Louisiana schools through Professional Development, Legislation and Member Services.
LAP Office
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