It was a whirlwind day across the district as six educators were surprised with the news they will be representing Bossier Schools as the 2026-27 Teachers and New Teachers of the Year.
Teacher of the Year candidates are educators who have been in the classroom for at least two years and New Teachers of the Year are first-year educators who demonstrate excellence in their field, as well as leadership and innovation, and positively impact student growth and achievement. The process for selecting a Louisiana Teacher and New Teacher of the Year starts at the school level, then advances to the district. The next step is the state level. Meet our educators that will represent Bossier Parish:
Bossier Parish Teachers of the Year
Katie Douet is the Bossier Parish Elementary Teacher of the Year. She is a fifth grade teacher at W.T. Lewis Elementary and is no stranger to being named Teacher of the Year. She was honored with the title in 2021 at her home parish school, Teche Elementary. Douet values her position on the W.T. Lewis Instructional Leadership Team, which enables her to analyze data to make instructional decisions across the school campus. She received her Louisiana Evaluator certificate with perfect scores for two consecutive years and aspires to become a mentor teacher to college students planning to pursue a career in education.
Erica Ernst is the Bossier Parish Middle School Teacher of the Year and Director of Bands at Elm Grove Middle School, where she has cultivated a thriving music program. Recognized in 2023-24 as the District VIII Middle School Band Director of the Year, Ernst views the band room as an environment where belonging is created through shared purpose, disciplined artistry and collective excellence. She co-founded Moor Performing Arts Academy and has greatly increased access to instruments and opportunities for her students through multiple partnerships and grant support.
Leigh Machen is the Bossier Parish High School Teacher of the Year and ninth grade English Pre-AP teacher at Benton High School. Machen is a 23-year educator with two Master’s degrees; one in Educational Leadership, the other in Clinical Mental Health. She is also a Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor (P-LPC), which has transformed her role as an educator by prioritizing mental health and inspiring the “Easy to Love” movement that is credited with changing school culture, specifically how teachers view and teach challenging students.
Bossier Parish New Teachers of the Year
Caroline Broussard is the Bossier Parish Elementary New Teacher of the Year and in her first year at Plantation Park Elementary, where she teaches fourth grade English Language Arts (ELA) and Social Studies. While a student at Louisiana Tech, her commitment to excellence in education was recognized with several honors, including selection to the Louisiana Board of Regents 2025 Future Educator Honor Roll. A firm believer that every student deserves an engaging and inclusive classroom experience, Broussard tailors her instruction to meet their needs through creative teaching methods, whether that means dressing as literary characters, incorporating movement or crafting curriculum-based songs.
Rebecca Alexander is the Bossier Parish Middle School New Teacher of the Year and a sixth grade math teacher at Rusheon Middle, where she also serves as the military family liaison and sponsor of the Military Club. As a graduate of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she is passionate about applying mathematics education to real-world situations and problem solving, emphasizing the importance of a strong foundation. Alexander wants students to recognize there is no such thing as being “bad at math,” only more opportunities to grow.
Raegan Hall is the 2026-27 Bossier Parish High School New Teacher of the Year, who teaches ninth and 12th grade English at Airline High School. A graduate of LSU-Shreveport, Hall earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary English Education and a Master of Education degree in Educational Leadership. She exemplifies innovation and excellence in the classroom by creating meaningful experiences that make literature relevant and engaging for every student. Her lessons connect classic texts to modern themes, encouraging students to think critically.
The process for selecting a Louisiana Teacher and New Teacher of the Year begins at the school level. Districts may then select and forward three outstanding educators from each grade band for competition at the state level.
Statewide winners will be announced in July 2026 by the Louisiana Department of Education at the 20th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala in New Orleans. The Teacher and New Teacher of the Year will then serve in that role for the 2026-27 school year.
View photos from the announcements here: Teacher & New Teacher of the Year Announcements