Awards winners were recognized at Thursday’s meeting of the St. Tammany Parish School Board. Among them were:

The Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators, LACUE, named Stephanie Purser of Bonne Ecole Elementary School as their teacher of the year for her use of iTouch in the classroom.

In addition, Mary Baumgartner of Marigny Elementary was named the gold award winner of the 2009 Educator of the Year for the Governor’s Office of Disability Affairs for her outstanding leadership in the classroom.

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Newly elected Director of Food Services Pat Farris was introduced to the board. She comes from the Archdiocese of New Orleans Food Service and will work with Supervisor Sylvia Dunn until she retires at the end of the school year.

The school board also elected officers for the coming year. Continuing to serve as president will be John Lamarque with Jack Loup serving once again as vice president. Both were elected unanimously with no other nominees.

Chairs for the committees as whole meetings were also elected. Beth Heintz will continue as chair of the human resources and education committee, elected unanimously with no other nominees.

Donald Villere won election with a majority vote over Ray Alfred as chair of the business affairs and administrative committee.

Other personnel were recognized as retiring from the system. Certified personnel recognized by the board for their service included Kevin Marse, senior superintendent for administration, 38.50 years, all in St. Tammany Parish; Lynette Leblanc, Pontchartrain Elementary, 24.06 years, all in St. Tammany Parish; and Henrietta Guste, Slidell High, 20.17 years, 18.48 years in St. Tammany Parish.