New Principal Rachelle Brown excited about students, staff at LeBlanc Elementary

Students at LeBlanc Elementary will attend a meet and greet next week to kick off the start of the new school year.
Among the happiest to greet them will be their new principal, Rachelle Brown.
“It’s very exciting,” Brown said of the opportunity.
Brown officially started her new job on July 1. She takes over for Susie Stephen, who transferred to another job in Vermilion Parish. Brown spent the previous four years as an assistant principal at Cecil Picard Elementary at Maurice. She also served as an assistant principal at S.J. Montgomery Elementary in Lafayette from 2012-’14.
“Any time you come into a new place,” Brown said, “it’s learning new ways of doing things. Even though I have had experiences in elementary schools with similar sizes, everybody has different processes.
“It’s about learning those processes of the school and meeting new people.”
With that, Brown is working diligently to learn those processes and people, not coming in and dictating to teachers and staff how she wants things done.
“This is our school,” Brown said. “Not my school. One of the first things I did when I got here was have some focus groups. I spoke to all staff members and learned as much as I could about the school. I also formed a leadership team.
“We make decisions as a team.”
Brown’s new staff has certainly helped ease the transition.
“All the staff members here have been just unbelievable,” Brown said. “The work ethic here, and I would say this about our entire parish, is second to none. It amazes me. When I reach out for help or ask questions, people are stepping up.
“It is just unbelievable.”
Parents are also putting a smile on Brown’s face.
“This community is filled with hard-working people who want what’s best for their children,” Brown said. “Parents have come into the school to tell me they are here for us. They ask what they can do because they want to be a part of this. You don’t even have to ask. People are showing up looking for things to do.
“I am excited about welcoming them in.”
Vermilion Parish Superintendent Jerome Puyau said he is happy to have Brown in place at LeBlanc to welcome those parents.
“She’s a very strong leader,” Puyau said. “She is very committed to parental support and looks forward to working with a community and a school that values high standards.
“We are excited to have such a strong leader at LeBlanc Elementary.”
Again, the feeling of being there is mutual for Brown.
“It’s fun,” Brown said of this moment. “It’s so amazing to be here, especially when you have this kind of staff.
“We are going to make some really incredible things happen.”