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Louisiana Superintendent John White announced his resignation Wednesday. Some St. Mary Parish educators won’t be sorry to see White leave the post he’s held for eight years.
“Hopefully, the next state superintendent is actually concerned with improving the quality of education that our children are receiving, and not just with how it looks on paper,” said Kevin Chauvin, an educator for 31 years in St. Mary Parish, in a text message. “Currently, schools are becoming ‘te$ting mills’ to ‘play the game’ and ‘earn’ letter grades that give the public the perception that high quality education is taking place.”
White announced he will step down March 11 in a letter sent by email to the members of the state’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. The letter did not clearly state a reason for the resignation.
In his letter, White praised the work he and the board have done to improve public schools.
“Louisiana is a better educated state today than any point in its history,” White wrote.
BESE members expressed some of the same sentiments as White in their press release concerning the resignation.
“Over the last eight years, Louisiana has made great strides under Superintendent White’s leadership in carrying out the vision of the Board,” said BESE Vice President Dr. Holly Boffy.
BESE pointed to an all-time high graduation rate of 81.4%, as well as record highs in student college and career credential attainment and TOPS eligibility.
But White’s time as superintendent was not without controversy.
White and his allies found themselves at odds with teacher union groups such as the Louisiana Association of Educators and the Louisiana Federation of Teachers. Sources of conflict with educators included the merits of vouchers, the new form of teacher evaluations, public school letter grades based on high-stakes assessments, and a host of issues following the implementation of the Common Core standards which were eventually given a slight makeover and renamed Louisiana State standards.
“While LAE members wish Mr. White the best in his future endeavors,” said LAE President Dr. Tia Mills in a news release, “we are happy about a change in leadership at the Louisiana Department of Education.
“I know many educators were not pleased with the initiatives pushed by Mr. White’s administration. His departure presents Louisiana’s education professionals with an opportunity to focus on positive change for our public school students.”
In St. Mary, Tim Hymel, a former educator who also served as the assistant principal of Morgan City High School and principal of Berwick Junior High School, said, “I think most educators will be happy with [White’s] resignation. Many policies that were implemented by him do not fit our state’s needs. Students and teachers are more stressed than ever, and state education has really not improved since he’s been in.
“Hopefully, they will consider all of that in naming our next state superintendent.”
“I am thankful that White is leaving,” said Julie McCarty, an educator who resigned this school year from St. Mary Parish schools, “but with the current BESE, we are likely to end up with worse. I pray that the next state superintendent is actually qualified and certified for the job.”
It is unclear what White will do next.
BESE will immediately begin the process of selecting a new superintendent. The board appoints the position of superintendent by a two-thirds vote.
“All eyes are now on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Louisiana Senate, the groups charged with filling Mr. White’s position,” Mills said.
“The women and men who serve in these bodies must hire an individual with an extensive background in serving students in a K-12 public school system. LAE will be extremely vocal in this selection process,” Mills said.

A Bayou L’Ourse home was robbed the day after Christmas by two residents of Patterson, leading to the arrest of one and the search for the second, Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon said in a news release.
—Madison Gonteski, 20, of Tall Timbers Drive in Patterson, was arrested on charges related to the burglary of a dwelling on or about Dec. 26, 2019. Deputies responded to a call in the Bayou L’Ourse area in which the complainant reported a burglary. Detectives determined that forced entry had been made and numerous items were stolen.
Based on the investigation, Madison Gonteski and Claude M. Charlot were identified as suspects. As a result of this investigation, detectives have also issued an arrest warrant for the second suspect, Claude M. Charlot, 26, of Leonard Street in Patterson, for a charge of simple burglary. Gonteski was jailed with a $15,000 bond.
Charlot remains at large. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is urged to contact detectives at 985- 526-1627.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 23 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Paul Marshall Daigle, 41, of Cajunway Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 8:36 a.m. Tuesday on a Morgan City Police Department warrant for failure to appear on the charges of simple battery, disturbing the peace intoxicated and contempt of court and a Minnesota warrant for failure to appear on the charge of simple assault. Deputies were dispatched to a local business in reference to a welfare concern.
The deputies made contact with business personnel who stated that a male subject was involved in a verbal altercation with an employee. The deputies made contact with the subject, identified as Daigle. Dispatch advised the deputies that Daigle held active warrants for his arrest. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Christa Judith Terry, 33, of Charlotte Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 10:11 a.m. Tuesday on charges of driver must be licensed and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of driving under suspension-. A deputy was traveling on U.S. 90 Eastbound approaching Tiffany Street in Patterson when a vehicle pulled into his lane of travel, nearly causing a collision. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Terry. Dispatch advised the deputy that no driver’s license was found for Terry and that she also held an active warrant for her arrest. She was jailed with no bail set.
—Alcee Paul Eskine, 58, of Becnel Street in Franklin, was arrested at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of a Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper lane usage. A deputy was patrolling the area of Northwest Boulevard in Franklin when he observed a vehicle cross over the centerline. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Eskine. During the stop, drugs and drug paraphernalia were found in his possession. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Clay Joseph Guillory, 42, of La. 182 in Patterson, was arrested at 8:21 a.m. Tuesday on an active warrant for the charges of possession of methamphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia. A deputy was dispatched to a residence on La. 182 in reference to a disturbance. The deputy made contact with Guillory and dispatch advised the deputy that Guillory held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed and released on personal recognizance.
—Jovian Jerome Clark, 38, of Friendship Alley in Amelia, was arrested at 1:46 a.m. Wednesday on two active Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office warrants on the charges of contempt of court. A deputy was patrolling the area of Friendship Alley when he observed a parked vehicle with three subjects who ducked down to hide when the deputy’s headlights shined in the vehicle. The deputy approached the vehicle and made contact with the subjects, one identified as Clark. Dispatch advised the deputy that Clark held active warrants for his arrest. He was jailed and is being held for another agency.
—Bryson Skinner, 25, of Grace Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 12:49 a.m. on a charge of possession of Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance (Xanax) and on warrants for Saint Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office for failure to appear on the charge of possession of alprazolam and for hit and run, as well as two active Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office warrants on the charges of contempt of court.
Deputies with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division along with officers from the Morgan City Police Department and Berwick Police Department worked together to apprehend Skinner who was wanted by several agencies.
Officers received information that Skinner was at a local business in Berwick. All agencies made contact with him at said business and located Skinner inside.
Skinner was in possession of pills for which he had no prescription. He was jailed and is being held for another agency. No bail has been set for the St. Mary charges.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 38 calls of service and the following arrest was made:
—Paul M. Daigle, 41, of Park Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:15 a.m. on a warrant for three counts for failure to appear. Daigle was located at St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and placed under arrest on active warrants held by the City Court of Morgan City. He was jailed.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrests:
—Tyresha Dugar, 28, of Young Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:41 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal use of controlled dangerous substance in presence of a minor.
—Teraneka White, 24, of Young Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:40 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal use of controlled dangerous substance in presence of a minor.
Officers received a call concerning a strong odor of marijuana coming from a residence on Young Street. Officers responded and made contact with the homeowner who was identified as Dugar. Officers advised that they detected the odor of marijuana while walking up to the residence as well as when making contact with Dugar.
Dugar invited officers inside where another occupant of the residence was located and identified as White as well as two small children who were present during the investigation.
Dugar and White admitted that they had been smoking marijuana. Consent to search was given to officers and they later located marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia. Both were jailed with no bond set.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Leslie Bennett, 36, of Fifth Street in Patterson, was arrested at 7:09 a.m. Tuesday on charges of 2 headlights required and driving under suspension. Subject was released on own recognizance.
—Angela Bennette Johnson, 56, of North Street in Patterson was arrested at 7:23 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of driving under suspension.
Subject was released on own recognizance.