Eight Livingston Parish teachers awarded grants

LIVINGSTON, La. – Eight Livingston Parish teachers have been awarded the 2025 Deborah Rochelle Teacher Grants to fund instructional, research-based projects that provide direct instruction to local students. 

The grant program, which was initiated in 1991, is managed by the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr. Charitable Foundation to benefit qualified teachers and professional staff in East Baton Rouge, Livingston, and St. Tammany parishes.  The grant program is named after Rochelle, who is responsible for the grant’s origination and organization. The grants are valued at up to $5,000 each, and they are awarded directly to winning recipients.

The eight recipients and their projects include:

• Anthony Elliot, French Settlement Elementary, received $4,824 to fund Next-Level STEM curriculum.
• Crystal Gurley, Denham Springs High, received $4,955 to fund kits for kids.
• Alicia Jackson, Seventh Ward Elementary, received $4,835 to fund computers for intervention.
• Nikki Lavergne, Live Oak Junior High, received $3,204 to fund responsibility and agricultural literacy.
• Laura Litolff, Albany Lower Elementary, received $5,000 to fund "Let's Play Together."
• Heather Smith, Walker Elementary, received $4,284 to fund Tables that Teach.
• Carol Tate, Springfield High School, received $1,131 to fund Food Science Books.
• Jaime Winter, Seventh Ward Elementary, $4,823 to fund "Let's Get Techy with Kindergarten."

“We are most appreciative of the Kelly Gene Cook, Sr., Foundation and those involved with the Deborah Rochelle Grants program for recognizing the outstanding work that is being done by our teachers,” Superintendent Jody Purvis said.