Celeste Pipes named interim principal at Wyandotte

Celeste Pipes will serve as acting principal at Wyandotte Elementary in Morgan City after current Principal Tammilee Kelly announced that she'll leave that position.

Kelly is leaving because her husband is taking a job in north Louisiana, Superintendent Dr. Teresa Bagwell said Tuesday.

"Under Ms. Kelly’s leadership, the school demonstrated academic gains throughout the period of school interruptions as she worked to steadfastly focus on classroom instruction and
addressing the learning needs of students," Bagwell said in a press release.

Before this week's appointment, Pipes was assistant principal at Hattie Watts Elementary in Patterson.

"Ms. Pipe’s will be working with Ms. Kelly in the weeks ahead to fluidly transition and sustain
the school’s progress," Bagwell said.

Pipes has served as a teacher in St. Mary Parish Schools for 18 years, working at both Maitland Elementary and Bayou Vista elementary schools. She has also hosted numerous
student teachers through Nicholls State University, many of whom now teach in the school system.

In 2019, Pipes was honored as St. Mary Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year. She has additionally worked as a teacher representative in district projects regarding curriculum
design and technology integration.

Replacing Pipes as acting assistant principal at Hattie Watts will be Courtney Folse, who currently serves as curriculum facilitator at that school.

"Prior to becoming the school’s curriculum facilitator, Ms. Folse taught first grade at Berwick Elementary School and has a strong foundation in elementary curriculum and effective classroom instruction. Given her experience within the school, transitioning into a leadership role is expected to be efficient and effective," Bagwell said.