Rebecca Stogner, principal of Abita Springs Elementary School, for the past five years, was named St. Tammany District PTA Principal of the Year.

Dick Hastings, treasurer of the Abita Springs PTA, said Stogner was chosen because of her continuing presence in the school.

“She doesn’t hide in an office, but you see her all the time in the halls welcoming volunteers, and always out and about in the school,” said Hastings. He said she has a welcoming presence, is always encouraging parents to participate, volunteer and even visit in the classroom.

Stogner

“This is the biggest honor I can receive because it comes from the parents,” Stogner said. “It means that parents are pleased. A lot of parents volunteer here, and I am a big believer in parent involvement.”

She said that by being involved, the parents are 100 percent more likely to support the teachers and the school and in return, the school also has the support of the children.

Stogner has opened the school to be a parent-friendly environment. A number of mothers volunteer in the classroom while infants sleep in their strollers.

“This is their child’s classroom. They are not going to do anything to interfere with the teaching and learning taking place. When the baby cries or wakes up, mom and baby leave the classroom,” said Stogner.

In addition, Stogner extends the “mom” role to herself.

“As a principal, I am a mom to my faculty and staff. Parents also come to me to when they don’t know what to do in certain situations. I try to give them correct parenting tips when asked,” she said.

Abita Elementary has a citizenship program where the students wear blue bands, signifying that they are each a citizen of the school. The program instills a sense of responsibility and respect for the school and each other, said Stogner. If the blue band is taken away, the student must earn their way back. Before beginning her principalship at Abita Springs Elementary, Stogner was the resource helping teacher. Prior to that, she was assistant principal of Fifth Ward Junior High School.

Criteria for the award is strict and includes the ability to work in a number of different areas, including participation in the school’s PTA programs, the transmission and support of parenting skills, communication between school and home, encouraging a parent to play a part in student learning, and the encouragement of parents to volunteer at the school, said Hastings.

Hastings said the written recommendation from the local school PTA must be signed by three officers and it is then submitted to the district PTA for consideration of the award.

According to Hastings, St. Tammany Parish District’s PTA memberships total half of the PTA membership of the entire state.