Parish schools employee earns state award
Published 11:46 pm Friday, October 9, 2015
Washington Parish Schools Adult Education Program Administrative Assistant April Partman was recognized as the 2015 Louisiana Association of Public, Community & Adult Education Support Personnel of the Year during Thursday’s Washington Parish School Board meeting.
Partman received a plaque in recognition of the honor she received during the three-day conference in August at the Crowne Plaza in New Orleans. Washington Parish Schools Superintendent Darrell Fairburn and Washington Parish Supervisor of Adult Education Penny Moses presented Partman with the plaque.
Partman is also HiSET Test Administrator for the parish and has assisted the adult education faculty and students in the community since 2006.
“Being the first face and voice in the department that potential adult education students encounter, it is her goal to make them feel relaxed and accepted,” Moses said. “Her attention to detail is phenomenal and she takes pride in anything she does, whether big or small.”
Partman recently battled Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and underwent six rounds of chemotherapy. Despite the treatments, she continued to work.
She is currently attending classes at Southeastern Louisiana University to earn a bacherlor of arts degree in general management with a minor in business administration.
The conference recognized the category for which Partman won for the first time.
“It was an honor to be the first recipient of that award,” Partman said. “My struggle was a journey, but I had a good support system. The key was that I kept it as normal as I could for the family. It was good support at home, the job and at my church. Those were the keys.”
Partman is married to Tim Partman and the couple has four sons, Ka’Brin, Timius, Timarion and Timothy Jr. All attended Thursday’s Board meeting.
Fairburn also recognized his Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent, Sharon Mizell. She received a “Above and Beyond” recognition plaque.
“You make things roll,” Fairburn said to Mizell.
Concerning the agenda, the board:
• Announced that a public meeting will be conducted on Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m. to consider a resolution to call for an election concerning levying of ad valorem taxes.
• Took under advisement a possible oil and gas lease of eight acres at the old Angie School.
• The board heard a presentation by Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education District 6 candidate Laree Taylor.