Eunice High School Principal Mitchell Fontenot is on the Louisiana Principal of the Year Semi-Finalist list.
The Louisiana Principal of the Year is the highest honor the state can bestow upon a principal. Each year, the Principal of the Year Program recognizes and rewards an elementary, middle, and high school principal who has demonstrated outstanding school leadership.
Under Fontenot’s leadership Eunice High School has achieved A status in the state’s accountability grading.
Fontenot, known as “Mitch,” was born and raised in Eunice.
He received both his undergraduate and graduate degrees from McNeese State University.
Fontenot started his teaching career at East Elementary in 1990, teaching special education. He moved to Eunice High School in 1992 where he again taught students with special needs in addition to serving as the assistant coach in baseball. After teaching for 13 years, Fontenot moved from the classroom into administration, becoming the assistant principal at Eunice High in 2003 and principal in 2009.
“When I was in college a friend of mine asked me if I wanted to accompany him to the local Special Olympics event he was working as a requirement of one of his education classes. I joined him and it had an impact on me. The innocence and joy that these kids displayed were awe-inspiring. Right then, I knew that I wanted to do something in special education,” he said about what inspired him to become an educator.
Fontenot, who prefers to stay out of the limelight, credits his team of teachers, staff, parents and students, who have worked hard. He said, “This work has definitely paid off. Our school performance scores were announced this school year, and Eunice High has learned we have earned an A rating!”
Fontenot has been married 28 years to the former Julie Hollier of Eunice and the couple has five children, Mehgan, 26, Jada, 24, Gabby, 20, Alex, 17 and Millie, 7.