Pleasant Hill Elementary Teacher of the Year Katie Birdwell; not pictured are Pleasant Hill Middle School Teacher of the Year Aimee Guillory and High School Teacher of the Year Lisa Henderson

Story and photos by staff reporter Nora Drenner

Great teachers, principals and bus drivers are essential to the success of students. There is no more important job than the one charged with educating children, the future leaders of our society.
These educators often face seemingly insurmountable obstacles daily, and yet they continue to push forward, often without any recognition or thanks.
In March during its regular monthly board meeting, the Sabine Parish School Board recognized and celebrated its local educators deemed the most exceptional through its annual Teachers, Principal and Bus Driver of the year programs.
Local businesses Foy Motors, City Bank & Trust Co., Sabine State Bank &Trust Co., and BOM, formerly Bank of Montgomery, also got on the band wagon to present an I-PAD to each Sabine Parish District winner – High school teacher of the year recipient Jessica Gentry of Many High, middle school teacher of the year winner Kristi Rutherford of Florien High, elementary teacher of the year victor Mary Merritt of Zwolle Elementary, and principal of the year recipient Jarrad Rivers.
Additionally, Property Casualty Alliance of Louisiana (PCAL) awarded its statewide bus driver winner— Sonya Townson of Sabine Parish– a host of prizes including a check for $1,000.
Certificates were awarded to each school’s respective teachers of the year in three categories: elementary, middle school and high school
Zwolle School winners were Mary Merritt, Stephanie Leone and Jennifer Borre. Pleasant Hill School winners were Katie Birdwell, Aimee Guillory and Lisa Henderson.
Negreet School winners were Christy Foster, Calli Robertson and Jamie Rule. Many School winners were Emily Leone, Teena Cook and Jessica Gentry.
Florien School winners were Kristi Rutherford, Frances Sylvia and Susan Ryals.
Ebarb School winners were Stacie Meshell, Jessica Gatti and Shelby Reddy. Converse School winners were Bryan Sistrunk, Dorothy McCrocklin and Andrea Procell.

Negreet Elementary Teacher of the Year Christy Foster and Negreet Middle School Teacher of the Year Calli Roberston; not pictured is Negreet High School teacher of the Year Jamie Rulenter 

Many Elementary Teacher of the Year Emily Leone and Many Junior HIgh Teacher of the Year Teena Cook; not pictured is Many High School Teacher of the Year Jessica Gentry

Florien Elementary Teacher of the Year Kristi Rutherford; not pictured are Florien Middle School Teacher of the Year Francis Sylvia and Florien High School Teacher of the Year Susan Ryals

Ebarb Middle School Teacher of the Year Jessica Gatti and Ebarb Elementary Teacher of the Year Stacie Meshell; not pictured is Ebarb High School Teacher of the Year Shelby Reddy

Converse High School Teacher of the Year Andrea Procell, Converse Middle School Teacher of the Year Dorothy McCrocklin and Converse Elementary School Teacher of the Year Bryan Sistrunk

Zwolle High School Teacher of the Year Jennifer Borre and Zwolle Elementary Teacher of the Year Mary Merritt; not pictured is Zwolle Middle School Teacher of the Year Stephanie Leone

District Elementary Teacher of the Year Mary Merritt of Zwolle Elementary

Middle School District Teacher of the Year Kristi Rutherford of Florien High; not pictured is High School District Teacher of the Year Jessica Gentry of Many High

Sabine Parish Principal of the Year Jarrad Rivers

Sabine Parish and State Bus Driver of the Year Sonya Townson (in front row third from the left)