TPSS 2026 Principal of the Year!

Tangipahoa Parish School System is honored to recognize Principal Sharess Baptiste of Kentwood High Magnet School as our 2026 District Principal of the Year! 

Principal Baptiste's innovative approach, deep care for every student, and tireless support for staff truly lifts Kentwood High Magnet School as a beacon of learning. Her eductional, academic, and love for the community fosters an environment where everyone thrives.

We are immensely proud to have Principal Baptiste as a leader in our district, guiding the way to a brighter future for all. Thank you for your outstanding service and dedication!

Congratulations!

2026 Teacher of the Year Winners

We want to congratulate all of our Teacher of the Year candidates who were nominated by their school.
Here are the 2026 Winners of the Year. CONGRATULATIONS!

 

Tangipahoa Parish District Winners

TPSS District Winners for Teacher of the Year
Elementary - Lavon Ricks-Youngblood - Midway Elementary
Middle School - Hannah Simeon - Roseland Montessori School
High School - Regina Bell - Hammond High Magnet School

TPSS District Winners for New Teacher of the Year
Elementary - Tracy Robertson - DC Reeves Elementary
High School - Mary Schexnayder - Independence High Magnet School

TPSS District Winner for Early Childhood Teacher of the Year
Sarah LaCroix - Perrin Early Learning Center

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See Full List of our School Winners

Come see our Students with Amazing Gifts compete in fun job skill competitions! All are welcome to attend. 

S.W.A.G. Career Skills Olympics

Thursday, January 29, 2026
9am - 1pm
SLU Pennington Center

Award Ceremonies at 1pm

print flyer

TPSS 2026 Support Personnel of the Year

These dedicated professionals are the heartbeat of our campuses, ensuring everything runs smoothly for our students and staff.

A special shout-out to our District Support Personnel Winner - Leah Landrew, of Roseland Montessori.

Join us in celebrating the dedication of our winners and thanking them for their commitment to the TPSS community!

See our Full List of Winners

 Student Attendance on the Rise in Tangi

Tangipahoa Parish School Superintendent Melissa Stilley reports that overall student attendance for the first three months of school stands at 93.7 percent. 

That marks a significant increase from prior years when the attendance rate varied between 90.2 to 92 percent.

“This is a positive trend, and it shows that not only our students but also their families are committed to making classroom time a priority,” Stilley said.

Stilley says COVID-19 and the various shutdowns associated with the global pandemic negatively impacted subsequent years’ school attendance not only in Tangipahoa Parish but also across the country. Recognizing this trend as a direct threat to student success, TPSS implemented a coordinated, system-wide effort, focused on student engagement and support. Stilley said some of the strategies Tangipahoa employed include:

• School Attendance Goals were set by each school, and they have implemented initiatives to help achieve their attendance goal. 

• Attendance and Truancy Designees were identified on each campus. These designees track student attendance and work with families to identify and address barriers to attendance.

• Celebrations and certificates recognizing perfect and improved attendance are being awarded to those who are making the effort to be present at school.

"This rise in attendance is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire school community—our students, families, teachers, and staff,” Stilley said, expressing enthusiasm about the achievement. "We know that consistent attendance is fundamentally linked to student success. When students are in the classroom, they have the best opportunity to learn and thrive. We are committed to sustaining this momentum and ensuring every student has access to the high-quality education they deserve.”

Not only has student attendance become stronger in the first nine weeks of the new academic year, but truancy is also down across the district. Stilley said truancy, which is defined as a student having five or more unexcused absences is down from 51.5 percent in 2024-25 to just 6.5 percent this semester.

“The key issue with truancy is a lack communication,” Stilley said, adding that all families need to do is send in a note or a doctor’s excuse, explaining the reason their student missed school.

The Tangipahoa Parish School System plans to build upon this success by continuing to prioritize attendance and student well-being. Efforts will include ongoing data monitoring, sharing best practices across the district, and strengthening partnerships with parents and guardians. The school system serves 19,065 students, and its mission is to provide every student with a high-quality education and a pathway to success. An integral part of achieving this mission is that families prioritize attendance, and students are present at school every day. 

Link to Watch Video

 

Catch our Next Training!

Tangipahoa Parish School System Transportation Department offers a 30 hour pre-service training course for those interested in becoming a certified Louisiana School Bus Operator. 

Visit Us Online for More Information

Join us in celebrating our exceptional 2026 Students of the Year! 

These students exemplify academic excellence, leadership, and outstanding character. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and dedication to our Tangischools community.

Keep shining brightly!

2026 District Student of the Year Recipients

🌟 Lani Traylor - 5th Grade District Winner - SLU Lab School

🌟 Noah Lindsey - 8th Grade District Winner - SLU Lab School

🌟 Carly Montz - 12th Grade District Winner - Ponchatoula High School

Read our Complete List of School Winners

 

Subscribe to Receive our TPSS Digital Newsletter

When you sign up for our mailing list, you will receive a digital publication of our Tangischools Newsletter every two weeks. The newsletter contains current information which will help guide you through our school year.

 Sign Up

Save the dates for our Lunch + Learns and stay tuned on the LASARD Facebook page for registration links. See you at lunch!

Dear Families,

We want to take a moment to share several important updates regarding our student transfer policies and magnet school selection process. These changes reflect recent legal developments, including our Unitary Status for Students Assignment, Presidential Executive Orders, and Supreme Court decisions.

On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, Judge Lemelle issued the following order:

"All previous injunctions and orders entered in this matter by this Court with respect to the areas of student assignments are hereby VACATED AND LIFTED. The Court’s supervision over Defendant TPSB in the area of student assignments is hereby TERMINATED, and this matter with respect to student assignments is DISMISSED with prejudice."

This means our district is no longer under federal court supervision for student assignments. Moving forward, we must ensure that all of our practices align with current state and federal law. One key change is the removal of race-based considerations in our student assignment processes. This is not a choice but a legal requirement, and we are committed to carrying out these changes with professionalism, transparency, and integrity.

Diversity Transfer Update

We understand that any transition of this nature can raise concerns, especially for families who were approved for Diversity Transfers. Please know:

• Students with existing, approved Diversity Transfers will remain at their current school for the 2025–2026 school year. These transfers will be honored for the 25-26 school year as long as the student remains within the approved school or feeder pattern.
• Effective immediately, we can not approve any additional Diversity Transfer requests based on race. The Diversity Option has been removed from our online registration portal to comply with the law.

Families still have several transfer options available, including:

• Magnet Programs
• Academic Transfers
• JROTC Transfers
• Extraordinary Circumstances
• Joint Custody
• Child of an Employee

Policy JBCC (Student Transfers) will be reviewed at an upcoming board meeting to ensure it reflects these changes and remains legally compliant.

Magnet Selection Process Update

Previously, race was Priority #3 in our magnet school selection criteria. In accordance with the latest legal guidance, this priority has been removed. Going forward, selections will be made through a computer-generated random lottery using the following updated priorities:

1a. Students living in the new magnet school's attendance zone (first year of operation)
1b. Students continuing in the same magnet program or feeder pattern
2. Siblings of currently enrolled students in the same magnet program
3. Students with IEPs or IAPs due to disabilities or exceptionalities

All other students will be placed into the general random-lottery pool.

Please rest assured that all magnet selections and offer letters issued before the April 23, 2025, court ruling will still be honored. These changes apply only to late applications and future magnet school cycles.

We recognize that these changes may bring up questions, emotions, and uncertainties. We are here to support our families and staff through this transition. Your continued compassion, dedication, and professionalism make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children and families we serve.

Thank you for standing with us as we move forward together TO ACCEPT THE CHALLENGE.

With appreciation,

TPSS Administration
 

 

On April 23, an evidentiary hearing was held in federal court in New Orleans to consider the consent motions. The Federal Judge granted the joint motions submitted by the school system and the plaintiffs that provides FINAL unitary status in student assignment, teacher assignment, and hiring practices for administrative positions. This order ends judicial supervision in these three areas.

The only remaining area in which the district holds provisional unitary status is Facilities. The Tangipahoa Parish School System is actively working to address this final “Green factor” in its effort to conclude the long-standing desegregation case that has placed the district under federal court supervision for six decades.

Superintendent Melissa Stilley emphasized the importance of this work, stating, “When becoming the Superintendent in 2018, it was a top priority for me to bring this case to a close. Our School Board members have been committed to doing the same. Our children, families, and community deserve a school system that is unified and focused fully on excellence for all.”

In 2021, the district entered into a consent agreement with the plaintiffs. Subsequently, Judge Lemelle granted provisional unitary status, launching a three-year probationary period. In 2024, the district filed motions for final unitary status in the areas addressed by the agreement. Judge Lemelle ordered mediation between the two parties with the goal of mutual consent.

This milestone reflects the dedication of many leaders over the years. “Over the course of 60 years, numerous superintendents, School Board members, and community stakeholders have worked tirelessly toward this goal,” Stilley said. “Their efforts have all contributed to the progress we are celebrating today.”

Special thanks are extended to the school system’s lead attorney, Ashley Bass with Coudrain, Cash and Bass, as well as Indigo Diekmann and Andre Coudrain, for their unwavering commitment and legal guidance throughout this process. Their work, alongside our district leadership and board, has been instrumental in achieving this progress.

School Board President Tom Tolar praised the achievement, stating, “This moment represents tremendous progress—not just legally, but financially and educationally. Our Board is proud to stand with our Superintendent, legal team, and community in this historic moment. We remain committed to completing the final step required to attain full unitary status and close this chapter in its history, focusing forward on building a future of opportunity and excellence for every student.”

 

 

We are excited to announce that Tangipahoa Parish School System now has a mobile App! Getting information, announcements, and important dates has never been easier! The App is available for Apple devices in the App Store and on Android devices in the Google Play store.

Search Tangipahoa Parish Schools and download the App today, Use the filter option at the top right under News and Events so that you only see the news and events for the school(s) your student attends. 

Under the More menu, tap Notifications at the top and turn on TPSS Announcements. Any announcements sent by the district will be delivered to your mobile device and shown under Notifications in the App. 

The App is easy to navigate and has all of the news and events you need. Plus it has links that will take you directly to the Family Toolkit and more! Get connected today then show your friends!

Preview the App

Transportation Department

Read More About our Core Values in our TPSS Handbook.

Apply for a teaching position today!

Student Enrollment

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SchoolCash Online will roll out as our online payment platform for the 2023-2024 school year. Get ahead of the game by creating your guardian account today! Once established, we will use this platform to manage the posting and payment of your child's school-related fees.

Note:

-cafeteria fees will still be paid through MySchoolBucks

-students have not yet rolled over into their 2023-24 classes. That usually happens more toward the start of the new school year.

Create Account: https://www.tangischools.org/district/school-cash-online

The School Board gave final approval for the district to offer a one time $15,000 recruitment stipend for NEW teachers to Tangipahoa Parish School System.

New Teachers to the Tangipahoa Parish who receive the recruitment bonus will be placed at specific schools based on their certification with the goal of creating a more diverse workplace at every school. This stipend will be paid over two years, which would provide an additional $625 per month for 24 months ($7,500 more annually) on top of the teacher salary schedule. Teachers transferring from other districts to Tangipahoa will have their numbers of years teaching credited to them on the salary schedule.

New teachers in TANGI with no teaching experience start at $47,300 plus the $15,000 recruitment stipend. New teachers coming into TANGI with five years experience with a bachelors' degree start at $49,636 plus the $15,000 recruitment stipend. New teachers coming into TANGI with 10 years experience with a bachelor's degree start at $52,016 plus the $15,000 recruitment stipend.

The Superintendent and Board will continue to utilize all available revenues to ensure that the very best teachers are in the classroom. The new 2023-2024 Salary Schedule will be released in July 2023 and may reflect higher teacher salaries. Our goal is to continue to offer competitive salaries for all our employees. 

If you are interested and want to know more click the banner below and submit our form. A representative from Human Resources will contact you. 

2022-2023 SALARY SCHEDULE

 

https://tangischoolsorg.finalsite.com/departments/human-resources

The P3 platform enables the public to share information anonymously with Crime Stoppers programs, law enforcement entities, schools, and large corporations around the world.  If you have crime or safety-related information that may be deemed useful in your community, submit a tip via the P3 web page – or download the P3 Tips App for iPhone or android devices. 

SUBMIT A TIP

 

Visit Tangischools.org for more information.