The stars aligned Saturday night for two Bossier Parish educators at the 19th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence
Awards Gala in New Orleans, where one was honored as one of the top first-year teachers in the state and a middle school
principal walked away with a big win.
Rusheon Middle School educator Michael Shelton was honored as one of nine New Teacher of the Year state finalists
from across Louisiana. Last school year marked Shelton’s first year in education, teaching eighth grade science.
Jennifer Burris, who has spent the past 25+ years in education, is the principal at Benton Intermediate School. Burris was
recognized as a state finalist for Principal of the Year, then went on to be named the 2026 Louisiana Middle School
Principal of the Year.
“I am thrilled. It is such an honor. There were so many people deserving of this honor, so to be selected for such a
prestigious award is very humbling,” Burris said after the awards ceremony.
She calls her faculty and staff “truly the heart of the work” who inspire her, while they praise Burris for being a leader
with an open mind-set, a huge heart and who always makes time to listen.
“My ‘why’ has always been to be a change agent in education to make sure all of our kids are getting the absolute best
educational experience we can possibly give them,” Burris said. “Why does this mean so much to me? I know firsthand
the power of an education and it is the fire that has ignited me from the beginning.”
Burris further elaborated, adding “Something very few may know is ‘my story.’ I have one of my first day of school
pictures in a hand-painted T-shirt that I made myself. I like to look back at this picture as a reminder of where I came from
and how I got to where I am today. I am where I am today because of people who believed in me and invested in me
throughout my educational journey.”
Bossier Schools Superintendent Jason Rowland, who was at the awards ceremony to cheer on Shelton and Burris, said
“We are so excited to celebrate these exceptional educators and congratulate them for these honors that are well-deserved.
This gives us a lot of motivation as we start the 2025-26 school year.”
Each year the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE), in partnership with Dream Teachers, honors the state’s most
outstanding educators who demonstrate the highest standards of the profession and a deep commitment to student success.