Harlan Kirgan
Eunice High School employees listen as St. Landry Parish Superintendent Patrick Jenkins speaks over a closed circuit television in the Opelousas Senior High School gymnasium during the school district’s first convocation themed “Great Expectations” on Tuesday. The first day of school was on Wednesday. Photo by Harlan Kirgan
Back to school
‘Great Expectations’ opens public school year
By Harlan Kirgan
Editor
OPELOUSAS — The atmosphere seemed like a pep rally as about 2,000 St. Landry Parish public school employees — administrators, teachers, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers — met at Opelousas High Senior High school for the district’s first ever opening convocation.
Superintendent Patrick Jenkins said the event on Tuesday, themed “Great Expectations,” served to motivate the entire staff.
“I think is a great kickoff in terms of the excitement, the anticipation of getting school started. I think we are going to have a successful year. The teachers are excited and motivated and so that’s one of the things, one of the impetus of this,” he said after the convocation.
In closing remarks, Jenkins said, “The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve and if your dreams do not scare you they are not big enough.”
This marks Jenkins’ first full school year. He started his job leading the school district with an enrollment of about 13,500 students in October 2016.
“I dream the St. Landry Parish school district will be a B district in two years or before,” he said to cheers. “In five years we are going to be an A district.”
Jenkins added he dreams tax proposals to build new schools and provide employee pay raises will pass.
Lorie LeDoux, principal at Highland Elementary in Eunice, praised the first-time event. “This is really a great way to begin a great new school year, especially with our superintendent having such great and high expectations it generates that energy in all of us.”
Tracy Simon, a Eunice cafeteria worker, said, “I thought it was awesome and inspirational. It felt like we were all accepted as one.”
Kristy McLemore, assistant principal at Eunice High School, said, “It was fantastic. Really motivating and fired us up for the school year.”
The first school day in St. Landry Parish was Wednesday.