APSBulletin - June 2026
Dr. John Barthelemy, Superintendent
SCHOOL BOARD
Honoray Lewis, Ward 1
Lee Meyer Jr, Ward 2
Andrea Barras, Ward 3
Alexis Boutain, Ward 4
Joshua Hebert, Ward 5
Daniel Washington, Ward 6
Bambi Hood, Ward 7
Jessica Ourso, Ward 8
Doris Dugas, Ward 9
CALENDAR
May 27-June 25 – Seamless Summer Feeding Program
June 18 – Juneteenth Holiday, OfficesClosed
June 23 – Early Childhood Day, Assumption Parish Community Center, 9 am to noon
July 2 – Independence Holiday Observed, Offices Closed
July 4 – Independence Day Holiday
August 3-5 – Professional Development for Teachers
August 6 – First Day of Classes for Students
Sept. 7 – Labor Day Holiday, No School
The district’s Special Education Department recently attended the 2026 Louisiana Association of Special Education Administrators (LASEA) Conference in New Orleans, where they gained valuable resources, updates and ideas to help them continue supporting student success and strengthening services for our students with disabilities. Attendees shared practices and leadership strategies for improving outcomes.
K-3 Reading Proficiency Climbs 21 Points During 2025-2026 School Year
The Assumption Parish Schools’ students in kindergarten through third grade posted strong reading gains during the 2025-2026 school year, according to the literacy screener results released this week by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Assumption Parish’s K-3 students showed a 21.0 percentage-point increase overall in reading on or above grade level from the beginning to end of the school year, the report said. Assumption Parish Schools greatly exceeded the state’s overall improvement rate of 16.5 percent.
“The state’s literacy screener is a true gauge of the work our teachers do each day to academically grow our students. Our teachers have committed themselves to a back-to-basics approach grounded in the science of reading, and the results are showing,” said Superintendent Dr. John Barthelemy.
The Louisiana Department of Education’s literacy screener report showed every grade level for K-3 in Assumption Parish Schools improved during the school year, with kindergarten students posting the largest gains. The district’s kindergartners increased more than 40 points from the beginning to the end of the school year. At the beginning of the school year, 30.9 percent of kindergartners were reading on-level or above, but by the year’s end, 73.2 percent were reading on-level or above.
First graders reading on-level or above improved from 46.2 percent to 62.4 percent, second graders jumped from 50.3 percent to 71 percent, and third graders grew from 58.5 percent to 63.2 percent.
Assumption Parish Schools is Best Choice for Early Learners
Reading on or above level at an early age is the strongest indicator of a child’s ability to succeed in school. That’s why Assumption Parish Schools has prioritized literacy and reading skills among its youngest learners, making it the preferred choice for student-placement.
“Assumption Parish Schools is the best place for our children to receive targeted, explicit reading instruction needed at an early age,” said Rachel Dugas, director of Elementary Education and Early Childhood.
“In addition to our emphasis on foundational literacy skills, which is introduced in Head Start and Preschool and carried out through 3rd grade, Assumption Parish Schools provides individualized tutoring opportunities for our students to close any reading gaps,” she said.
Research from the Harvard Graduate School of Education supports that learning to read in the early elementary years is about much more than reading books; it provides children with the foundation needed to succeed in every academic subject. A child's reading ability by the end of third grade is one of the strongest predictors of future academic achievement, high school graduation, and opportunities later in life, according to Harvard’s analysis.
The district has heavily invested in reading resources, and teachers at the K-3 levels are continuing to strengthen their learning plans over the summer through comprehensive “science of reading” workshops and professional development programs.
The comprehensive approach includes high-quality instructional materials, high-dosage tutoring, professional learning, coaching support, and individualized academic support plans for students who need additional help. These efforts give teachers the tools and information to identify reading gaps early and provide targeted support during the students’ foundational elementary years.
Assumption School Board Approves New Salary Schedule
The Assumption Parish School Board recently approved a new salary schedule that significantly improves the salaries of certified and non-certified employees, making their pay more competitive with neighboring school systems.
The new salary schedule was developed as a result of a district-wide compensation study completed during the 2024-2025 school year by Lean Frog, a national education consulting firm that reviews the financial and organizational structure of school systems to improve collaboration and performance and reduce costs. Lean Frog recommended improvements to make Assumption Parish Schools more competitive with its peer school systems.
“This process started nearly two years ago and has undergone much review and public input to ensure we address our most critical pay structure needs. We are very appreciative of the work that has gone into this plan and to our board members for investing in our most valuable assets – our employees,” said Superintendent Dr. John Barthelemy.
The new salary schedule goes into effect July 1, 2026.
NES Student Earns Bid to National Rodeo Competition
Phelps - LJHSRA Rookie of the Year
Cooper Phelps, a fifth grader at Napoleonville Elementary School, has been named the Louisiana Junior High School Rodeo Association’s “Rookie of the Year” and has earned a bid to compete in the 2026 National Junior High Rodeo to be held June 21-27 at the Lazy E. Arena in Guthrie, Oklahoma.
Phelps turned in a stellar performance at the Louisiana Junior High Rodeo Association’s state finals, which were held in the Lake Charles Burton Coliseum, to qualify him for the national competition.
He won the bareback steer riding competition, placed 2nd in the Average bareback steer riding competition, was named the Reserve State Champion in bull riding and placed 1st in the Average bull riding competition. He also placed in the Top 10 of the final two rounds of the goat tying competition.
The combined accolades earned him the title of LJHSRA Rookie of the Year.
Phelps had to finish in the Top 4 at the state competition to earn a bid for the nationals. He qualified to compete in bull riding and bareback steer riding.