Capt. Shreve Teacher Is Louisiana 'Teacher of the Year'

Captain Shreve High School English and Social Studies teacher Nicole Vasquez has been named the latest Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year.

Vasquez accepted the honor Saturday at the 9th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Symposium and Celebration held in Baton Rouge. Vasquez was among nine finalists for the annual award which celebrates and honors the state’s most exceptional teachers.

In her acceptance speech, Vasquez said:

“I have such immense gratitude and love for my school and my district and I am honored to even stand in a room of such accomplished and amazing educators. This whole experience has been surreal, but I am thrilled that it has given our school the opportunity to showcase all of the hard-working and dedicated teachers at Captain Shreve. I don’t feel like this award is about me, but rather the work of all of us to get to this point. It is our teamwork that makes Captain Shreve such a great place to teach and learn with a staff that supports and truly encourages each other.”

Retiring Captain Shreve principal Sandra McCalla also dad high praise for Vasquez:

“She is truly the real deal. We are so proud of her and are grateful for her work inside and outside the classroom. She is a tremendous asset to the school and we are thrilled to have her.”

Caddo Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Lamar Goree also lauded the award winner:

“The entire Caddo family celebrates and applauds Mrs. Vasquez for this amazing accomplishment. She continuously motivates and challenges her students, but also engages them in thought-provoking discussions designed to inspire and cultivate a love of learning. Mrs. Vasquez is a testament to the power of teachers and we are absolutely delighted and thrilled to see her recognized as the 2016 Louisiana High School Teacher of the Year.”

Vasquez will be beginning her ninth year at Captain Shreve when the new school year begins in early August.