Knights of Columbus teachers of year: Job a ‘joy every day’

• By DARLENE DENSTORFF
• Ascension section editor
• Published: May 8, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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GONZALES — After 36 years of teaching, Charlene Ourso knows she picked the right career.

“It’s been my life,” Ourso said as she was honored as her school’s Teacher of the Year by local Knights of Columbus chapters April 30. “I love it.

“I know each day when I get  up I was meant to be in the classroom.”

Ourso, the Prairieville Middle School Teacher of the Year, was one of 28 parish public and parochial school teachers honored by the Knights of Columbus during the group’s 33rd Teacher’s Appreciation Banquet at St. Mark’s Catholic Church hall.

Six teachers were honored with the group’s Teacher of the Year Awards.

Primary school Teacher of the Year Yvonne Decoteau from Duplessis Primary School praised her colleagues for providing outstanding educational opportunities for area children. She said today’s teachers must use technology and a variety of teaching methods to reach every child.

Dutchtown Middle School teacher Deborah Porche, the middle school Teacher of the Year, said that after teaching for 21 years, she still finds “joy every day.”

Porche, a math teacher, said one student “who came to me at the beginning of the year barely knowing how to add and subtract” was excited about getting a math test back because “he knew he did well.”

High school Teacher of the Year Cindy Cangiolosi thanked the late Ronnie Rabalais and other members of the Donaldsonville High School administration for supporting her as the school’s art teacher.

Catholic School Teacher of the Year honors went to Rebecca Wild, Ascension Catholic High School; Meghan Hanzlik, Ascension Catholic Middle and Janie Ament, St. Theresa Middle.

Parish President Tommy Martinez, whose wife, Theresa, has been a teacher for 32 years, praised the teachers for their commitment to the children of Ascension Parish.

“I know how hard you work,” Martinez said. “You get up early, go home, grade tests, call parents and prepare lessons. It’s a long day.”

He commended the school board for undertaking a school construction plan that was needed to address the parish’s growth.