After 55 years serving St. Bernard Parish Public Faculties, together with main the district by means of its darkest days following Hurricane Katrina and its rise to turning into a top-performing faculty system, Superintendent Doris Voitier is retiring.

One other long-time educator Mary Lumetta, the previous deputy superintendent who has labored on the district for greater than 36 years, was named Votier’s successor.

The faculty board voted on her appointment to start contract negotiations at its June 23 board assembly.

Lumetta has served as curriculum coordinator, testing and accountability coordinator, a center and highschool supervisor of instruction and deputy superintendent. Previous to becoming a member of the district, she was a highschool arithmetic instructor and school arithmetic teacher. She is a graduate of the previous Andrew Jackson Excessive College in Chalmette.

As superintendent, she’s going to take the helm of the district, overseeing seven elementary colleges, three center colleges, one highschool and another faculty. She shall be accountable for main a college system that educates greater than 7,500 college students and employs greater than 1,000 academics, directors and assist personnel.

Voitier introduced she’s going to step down following the 2025-26 faculty 12 months, closing a profession that started as a math instructor at Chalmette Excessive College and finally made her one of many state’s most revered schooling leaders.

Named superintendent in 2004, only one 12 months earlier than Hurricane Katrina devastated St. Bernard Parish, Voitier grew to become the regular hand that guided the district by means of restoration. Underneath her management, colleges reopened, amenities have been rebuilt, households returned and the district regained not solely its footing however emerged stronger than earlier than.

“Ms. Voitier’s tenure has been outlined by regular management, deep institutional information and an unwavering dedication to public schooling,” the district stated in saying her retirement. “She is well known for guiding the district by means of its restoration and rebuilding following Hurricane Katrina, serving to to revive not solely faculty amenities, however a way of stability and hope for your complete neighborhood.”

In recognition of that management, Voitier acquired the John F. Kennedy Profile in Braveness Award in 2007. She additionally served on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Schooling from 2016 to 2024, serving to form schooling coverage statewide whereas persevering with to steer St. Bernard Parish.

“Her expertise, management and unwavering dedication to this district have guided our colleges by means of each our most difficult moments and our best successes,” College Board President Diana Dysart stated.

Voitier’s profession spans generations of scholars and educators. Starting as a classroom instructor at Chalmette Excessive College, she served in quite a few district management positions earlier than turning into superintendent. Throughout her tenure, enrollment rebounded as households returned to St. Bernard Parish, and the district expanded alternatives for college kids by means of common Pre-K4 for parish residents and an in depth dual-enrollment partnership with Nunez Neighborhood School.

The district additionally celebrated a banner 12 months academically throughout Voitier’s last 12 months on the helm.

Among the many Class of 2026’s accomplishments have been 17 affiliate levels, 60 Certificates of Technical Research, greater than 305 seniors taking part in dual-enrollment programs and greater than 6,158 school credit score hours earned. College students additionally earned greater than 1,840 industry-based certifications.

The graduating class additionally set a brand new faculty report by incomes greater than $30 million in scholarship affords, the very best whole in Chalmette Excessive College historical past. Eight seniors graduated as valedictorians and two college students have been named Nationwide Advantage Semifinalists.

The district’s modern LEAP Join Twin Enrollment Program additionally marked a profitable first 12 months. The initiative, which serves college students with mental and developmental disabilities by means of a partnership with Nunez Neighborhood School and assist from LSU, offers a pathway from schooling to employment.

All taking part college students completed their first semester in good educational standing and ten college students secured internships with organizations together with B&G Grocery, the St. Bernard Authorities Complicated, the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Workplace, Espresso Home in Arabi, Milestones Youngster Improvement, the New Orleans Youngsters’s Museum, Balcony Ballroom and the Royal Sonesta New Orleans. The internships present hands-on office expertise whereas serving to college students construct confidence, accountability and profession abilities.

St. Bernard Parish college students additionally earned nationwide recognition by means of its Chalmette Excessive College ProStart Administration Group, a hospitality-based skills-based and management program. College students completed second within the nation on the 2026 Nationwide ProStart Invitational. The staff’s idea, Honua’s Desk, a Hawaiian restaurant centered on sustainability and genuine flavors, impressed judges with its professionalism, creativity and detailed enterprise presentation.

Building is underway to develop the Ninth Grade Academy with seven extra school rooms and a convention room that may join on to the prevailing freshmen academy. The undertaking is anticipated to be accomplished in fall 2026.