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Vermilion Catholic, a legacy of Mount Carmel, is excited to announce it has named Lauryn Lee as assistant principal of its Pre-K through 8th grade. Vermilion Catholic previously announced in January the acquisition and integration of Mount Carmel School of Abbeville forming the only Pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade Catholic School in the lower Acadiana region.
Under the leadership of Michael Guilbeaux, principal of Vermilion Catholic, . Lee will be responsible for the day-to-day operations and comprehensive academic program of the elementary and middle school grade levels.
Aligned with Vermilion Catholic’s mission to ensure an academically challenging environment, Lee brings particular expertise in increasing the rigor by incorporating the most advanced technology, and requiring its integration across all curriculums and grade levels. Using a hands-on approach, Lee will guide her faculty in the use of highly effective, research-based teaching practices to promote the greatest opportunity for student success in the classroom.
Lee is a National Board Certified Teacher. She received a Master of Education Leadership from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she was recognized as ‘Most Outstanding Master Student’ in her college; and a Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, with a concentration in Elementary Education.
Michael Guilbeaux, Principal of Vermilion Catholic, stated, “I am very proud to welcome Lauryn to our Vermilion Catholic family. This is a key position in the formation of our fully-integrated Pre-K through 12th grade school, and Lauryn’s enthusiasm, expertise and leadership qualities make her the perfect fit to guide us through this transition. In collaboration with our high school faculty, Lauryn’s insight will be invaluable as we critically assess our current curriculum with intent to raise the academic standard, introduce a continuum in learning, offer additional elective opportunities and ensure our students are individually supported throughout their educational career.”
Lee said, “I am truly honored and humbled by the opportunity to serve as assistant principal for Vermilion Catholic, a legacy of Mount Carmel. I will forever be grateful for the gift God has given my family by allowing us to join Vermilion Catholic.”
She continued, “Mother Teresa said “If we pray, we will believe; If we believe, we will love; If we love, we will serve.” I feel a deep calling to pray for, love, and serve the students, faculty, and staff of this amazing community. The future of Catholic education in Vermilion Parish is extremely bright!”

Lee began her teaching career in Ascension Parish and has spent the last 13 years in elementary education in the Vermilion Parish School System. She is currently an educator at Dozier Elementary in Erath.

Andrea Ford, principal of Dozier Elementary, said, “On behalf of the Dozier Elementary community, we are so proud to support Mrs. Lee in her new role as Assistant Principal at Vermilion Catholic. Lee brings to the students, teachers, and families of VC a genuine love for children, enthusiastic energy, and passion for the art of teaching. Though we are sad to see Lee leave our Bobcat family, we are certain she will soar with her new adventure as an Eagle!”
Vermilion Catholic, a legacy of Mount Carmel, is currently registering students for Pre-K through 12th grade. For more information on Vermilion Catholic, or to register for the 2021-2022 school year, please visit vermilioncatholic.com.

Vermilion Parish Superintendent Tommy Byler said Wednesday morning that the current plan is for schools to reopen as scheduled on Thursday morning.
Byler said in a post on social media that school officials will continue to monitor weather conditions.
“Currently the plan is to return to school tomorrow as originally planned,” Byler said. “We are monitoring the weather and we are also doing surveys of our schools this morning.”
Byler said infrastructure at the schools will be checked.
“We will be turning water back on this morning and we are hoping for the best that we do not have any busted pipes,” Byler said. “We also will be taking into account the electrical issues and the water pressure issues when making the decisions.”
Byler said he is communicating with school leaders in other districts.
“I am in conversation with surrounding parish superintendents as to their possible plans and we will all be working through issues today before ultimately making a decision,” Byler said. “Thank you in advance for your patience.”

To coincide with the rest of the parish, the city of Abbeville is instituting a citywide curfew from 6:00 p.m. tonight until 6:00 a.m. tomorrow due to the inclement weather. Please shelter in place whenever possible and stay off of the roadways. If there is an emergency, please contact emergency services. Emergency personnel are asking for the public's cooperation and understanding that it may take them longer to safely respond to emergency situations.

KAPLAN - Kaplan Mayor Mike Kloesel and Chief of Police Joshua Hardy have issued an emergency stay-at- home order, due to Monday’s ice storm. The order will remain in effect until until until 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 16. Residents must remain home, unless an emergency situation occurs.