Two LSU School of Education Students Named to Louisiana Future Educator Honor Roll
May 4, 2023
BATON ROUGE, LA – Two LSU School of Education students have been named to Louisiana Board of Regents
Future Educator Honor Roll. Abigail Tassone and Meghan Fontana were honored by Louisiana
Governor, John Bel Edwards, Commissioner of Higher Education, Dr. Kim Hunter-Reed,
and State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Cade Brumley for being named Louisiana’s
Future Educator Honor Roll. Tassone and Fontana were among 35 future teachers in the
state recognized by the Louisiana Board of Regents in a program at the Louisiana’s
Old State Capitol.
Tassone is graduating with her Dual Certification degree in May 2023. The dual certification degree option is designed to provide students with the opportunity to receive dual certification in elementary grades 1-5 and special education through an integrated program of study. The dual certification degree is an eight-semester program of study that allows students to graduate with two certifications. Candidates who are interested in the PK-3 or 6-12 programs can complete the five-course minor in special education in addition to their respective program coursework. That alone makes students stand out to school principals that will offer them their first job upon graduation.
"Being nominated to the Future Educator Honor Roll is very meaningful to me because I did not expect to get my hard work recognized in such a way. My decision to join the Dual Certification program was the key to my success. The staff in the program challenged me, supported me, and made sure I had the tools necessary to be successful in my student teaching semesters. As a teacher, I will remain true to being child centered, data driven, outcome oriented, and solution seeking. I truly believe that these pillars will enable me to be the best educator I can be for my students. My future plans are to remain at Cohn Elementary School in Port Allen, taking the role of third-grade inclusion," said Tassone.
Meghan Fontana will be getting her TEFL certification this summer in hopes of teaching abroad for some time. For long-term plans, she would like to teach first grade back home in New Orleans or Florida. Fontana was part of the early childhood education program. The Early Childhood Education (ECE) Programs at LSU are recognized by NAEYC and are designed with the organization's professional preparation standards in mind. Teacher candidates can choose either B-K Teacher Certification or PK-3 Teacher Certification. Both certification areas move through the program in cohorts, gaining the advantage of collegial relationships found to be effective for both personal and professional growth. Candidates participate in field-based professional blocks and student teaching in diverse professional development school settings. By the time you finish your LSU ECE degree, you will have accrued experience across birth through 3rd grade, including working with children with exceptionalities.
Fontana said, "I am so incredibly honored to be nominated for this distinction by Dr. Eisworth and my fall mentor teacher, Ashley Williams. The education department at LSU has provided me with the opportunity to not only study education but live it out through service learning. The classes I have taken alongside interning and student teaching have given me the tools for a successful teaching profession. This distinction means the world to me, and I could not have achieved this without the help and support of my professors, mentor teachers, fellow cohort members, friends, and family. I look forward to my future in education, where I will apply everything I have gained from LSU to change young lives everywhere."