Rene Rost principal nominated for Louisiana Principal of the Year

KAPLAN — The Louisiana Department of Education announced its 2024 Principal of the Year semifinalists.
These principals represent schools and systems across the state.
Vermilion Parish is proud to announce that it has one of the 57 principals on the list. Sonya Louviere, the principal of Rene Rost Middle School, made the list.
She has been the principal at Rene Rost Middle for five years and has no plans to leave the school soon.
She got word about her nomination while shopping. A principal from the parish sent her a text congratulating her on her nomination. It was the first she learned about it.
Then, she opened her email and saw the notification from the state.
“I was shocked,” said Louviere, who has been in education for 30 years.
Louviere lives in Lafayette and drives 35 miles one way because she loves Kaplan.
“I have a passion for Kaplan. I love the students and parents. So I encouraged my teachers to take the students on field trips — to think outside of Kaplan,” she said.
All teacher and principal of the year semifinalists and New Teacher of the Year finalists will be honored at the 17th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala, which will be held at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans on the evening of July 22. This exciting event is co-sponsored by Dream Teachers.
“Schools across Louisiana are beginning to make significant gains thanks to the commitment of our teachers and principals to remain focused on what matters most - improving academic outcomes,” said State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley. “Congratulations to Louisiana’s Teacher and Principal of the Year semifinalists and our New Teacher of the Year finalists. They represent the many dedicated professionals leading our Louisiana Comeback.”