Leadership

Dr. Edith M. Walker serves as Superintendent of Ascension Public Schools, an A-rated school district serving almost 24,000 students across 33 schools and one of the highest-performing public school systems in Louisiana.

A native of White Castle, Louisiana, Dr. Walker is a 28-year veteran educator with 24 years of service in Ascension Parish. She began her career as an English teacher before becoming a school counselor and Assistant Principal at St. Amant High School. She later served as Associate Principal and Principal of Dutchtown High School before moving into district leadership as an Instructional Supervisor and Director of Middle Schools. Prior to her appointment as Superintendent in 2023, she served as Chief Instructional Director, leading the district's Pre-K through 12 instructional programs and academic initiatives.

Under Dr. Walker's leadership, Ascension Public Schools has focused on strengthening relationships with business and industry partners, expanding student and teacher voice through advisory councils, increasing support for struggling learners, enhancing mental health services, advancing STEM education pathways, and improving teacher compensation to remain competitive among Louisiana's top-performing districts.

A respected educational and community leader, Dr. Walker serves on the Louisiana Department of Education Superintendent Advisory Committee, the Ascension Early Childhood Ready Start Network, and the Ascension Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, where she has served as both Vice Chair and Chair. In 2026, she was recognized by the Baton Rouge Business Report as one of the region's 500 Most Influential and Impactful Leaders.

Dr. Walker holds a bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing, a master's degree in Counseling and Administration, and an Educational Specialist degree in Adolescent Counseling from Louisiana State University. She earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Known for her collaborative leadership style and unwavering commitment to student success, Dr. Walker remains focused on ensuring every child in Ascension Public Schools has access to exceptional educational opportunities and a pathway to achieve their dreams.

She is married to Kendrick Walker, and they have a daughter named Kennedi.

Carli Francois is the Chief Instructional Director for Ascension Public Schools, a position she has held since 2023. She leads the district's Instructional Team which oversees Pre-K through 12 education.

Francois has been an educator for 26 years, serving in many capacities including a teacher, instructional coach, TAP mentor teacher, assistant principal, and principal. In her most recent position, she spent the past eight years leading Dutchtown High School, which is the largest school in the state. In 2019, she was named the 2020 Louisiana High School Principal of the Year.

Francois earned a bachelor's degree in communications education and a teaching certification in English from Southeastern Louisiana University. She also earned a master's degree in educational leadership from Southern University.

She is married to Reuben Francois, and they have three children: Reuben II, Olivia, and Isabella who are all proud graduates of Dutchtown High School.

Darby Lambert is the Chief Administrative Director Darby Lambert for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2025. 

Lambert has lived in Ascension Parish for his entire life and is an alumnus of St. Amant High School. He began his 24-year career with the Ascension Public Schools as a Programmer/Analyst in August of 1999. Most recently, Lambert served as the district’s Supervisor of Information Systems and Technology, a position he held since September of 2018. 

Lambert earned a bachelor’s degree in Information Systems and Decision Sciences from Louisiana State University in 1996. He also earned a Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) at Louisiana State University in Shreveport.

He lives in Galvez with his wife, Carla, and their three daughters: Averi, Libby, and Emrie. All five have attended public schools in the Ascension district. 

Jeff Parent is the Chief Operations Director for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2024.

Parent is a 1989 graduate of St. Amant High School and obtained a bachelor's degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in construction management and a minor in industrial supervision from the University of Houston in 1995.

He served eight years in the Louisiana and Texas Air National Guards then worked 12 years in the petrochemical industry in various roles in engineering, maintenance, and capital outlay construction. He has served as Ascension's Supervisor of Maintenance from June 2006 to 2019 and the Supervisor of Planning, Construction and Security until 2024.

Jeff is married to Lori Lambert Parent, and they have three children: Berkley, Cohen, and Pierson, all who graduated from Ascension Public Schools."

Visit the Operations Team page.

Jay Brignac is the Director of Information Technology for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2025. 

Jay Brignac, a dedicated member of the Ascension team for over 23 years, brings extensive experience and a deep understanding of the district’s technology systems. 

A 1996 graduate of St. Amant High School, Brignac earned a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems and Decision Science from Louisiana State University. Throughout his tenure with Ascension Public Schools, he has served in multiple critical roles, including PC Technician, System Analyst, Intranet Administrator, Supervisor of Technology, and Supervisor of Information Systems. He is also a member of the district crisis response team.

Beyond his contributions to technology, Brignac has spent two decades coaching at various schools across the district, leading teams to five state championships.

He is married to Allison Brignac, and they have one daughter, Chloe, who is at Lake Elementary.

Visit the Information Technology page.

Deshonna Jackson is the Director of Business Services for Ascension Public Schools, a position she has held since 2024. 

A lifelong resident of Ascension Parish, Jackson has been an integral part of the Ascension Parish school board since 2002, serving as an accountant and most recently as a senior accountant since 2018. Throughout her tenure, she has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in budgeting, financial statement preparation, and administrative oversight, including managing the purchase card program.

Jackson holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Southern University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. She is also an active member of professional associations including the Louisiana Government Finance Officers Association. She serves as President for the 2026-2027 the Louisiana Association of School Business Officials, and is director of the Southern Association of School Business Officials from 2026-2029.

Visit the Business Services Department.

Latatia Johnson,  Ed.D, is the Director of Primary Schools for Ascension Public Schools, a position she has held since 2025.

Johnson, a lifelong educator with more than two decades of experience, brings a strong commitment to student success along with a wealth of knowledge, leadership, and passion for early childhood education.

Johnson began her career in education in 1998 in Assumption Parish. She joined Ascension Public Schools in 2003 as a teacher at Lake Elementary and has served in several leadership roles, including SBLC Facilitator at Lowery Elementary, Assistant Principal and Principal at G.W. Carver Primary, SBLC Supervisor, and, most recently, Federal Programs Supervisor.

Under her leadership, G.W. Carver Primary won the prestigious TAP Founder's Award, a recognition by the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching awarded to one school in the country each year.

Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Speech and Communicative Disorders from Nicholls State University. She also earned two Master of Education degrees—one in Curriculum and Instruction and one in Educational Leadership—as well as a Doctorate in Education from Southeastern Louisiana University.

She is married to Terrance Johnson and is the proud mother of Jayvin and Jyrin Johnson.

Visit the Primary/Elementary Schools page.

Matthew Monceaux, Ed.D. is the Director of Middle Schools for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2024. 

Originally from Crowley, Louisiana, Monceaux moved to the area to attend Louisiana State University (LSU), where he earned a bachelor's degree in history in 2006 and a master's degree in education in 2007. He further advanced his education by earning a Doctorate of Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2017.

Monceaux has dedicated his entire educational career to Ascension Parish. He began as a social studies teacher at Dutchtown High School and then served as an assistant principal at both Lowery Middle School and East Ascension High School. He later held the position of associate principal at St. Amant High School. 

Monceaux was instrumental in opening Bluff Middle School as its first principal and subsequently served as principal of Dutchtown High School.

He is married to Heidi Monceaux, and they have four children: Hayden, Jeremy, Ella, and Avey.

Visit the Middle Schools page.

Michell Mullins is a Director of Primary Schools for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2026. 

Michelle Mullins has dedicated her career to education and student achievement, serving in a variety of leadership and instructional roles throughout Ascension Public Schools.

A proud graduate of East Ascension High School, Mullins earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, an Alternate Teaching Certificate, and a Master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University in 2009.

Mullins began her career in education as a classroom teacher and has since served Ascension Public Schools in several capacities, including Teacher, Instructional Coach, Mentor and Master Teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal, and Instructional Supervisor. Her wide range of experience has helped shape her strong commitment to supporting students, teachers, and school communities across the district.

“I’ve loved every position I’ve held in Ascension Public Schools, and each experience has strengthened my passion for supporting our students, staff, and school leaders. Working alongside our principals and seeing the dedication they bring every day is a reminder of what makes Ascension such a strong district, and I’m honored to continue serving in this new role,” said Mullins.

She is married to Jared Mullins, and they have three children: Marley, Reed and Maddie along with two grandchildren: Mason and Charlie.

Jeremy Muse, Ed.D., is the Director of Human Resources for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2022. An employee of Ascension Parish for over 20 years, Muse taught every grade level from 3rd through 8th before spending nine years as the assistant principal of Central Elementary and Central Middle School.

In 2016, he became the principal of Lake Elementary School. In his five years as the principal at Lake Elementary, he led the school to earn an “A” rating annually, including earning the designation of “Top Gains Designee” for student growth each year. In 2020, Lake Elementary School was named a Model PLC by All Things PLC. Dr. Muse was selected as the Louisiana Middle School Principal of the Year for 2022. Dr. Muse earned a bachelor's degree and an MBA from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, a master's degree in educational leadership from Louisiana State University, and a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, which included a dissertation in school policy and law. In addition, he is an SHRM certified professional. 

Visit the HR Department webpage.

Beth Templet leads the district's high schools and two programs as the Director of Secondary Education, a position she has held since 2023. 

Templet has worked in education for 33 years, with almost 30 years in Ascension Parish. She served as a teacher at St. Amant High, an instructional coach at East Ascension, followed by assistant principal, associate principal, and principal at St. Amant High School. 

Templet earned a bachelor's degree in secondary education from Louisiana State University and a master's degree in educational leadership from Southern University. 

She and her husband, Scott, have a son, Bennett

Visit the High Schools page.

Jackie Tisdell oversees all communications for Ascension Public Schools as the district’s Director of Communication.

Under her leadership, the district has earned 10 national awards including the National School Public Relations Association’s Gold Medallion in 2017 and the Golden Achievement award in 2021 and 2024. She was was named the 2024 Louisiana School Communicator of the Year and was one of 27 nominees for the 2024 National School Communicator of the Year.

Prior to working in Ascension, Tisdell spent 12 years at the University of Louisiana System overseeing communications for the Board of Supervisors and its nine public universities.

She currently serves as President of the Leadership Ascension Foundation and Past President of the Louisiana School Communications Association. Her past community service includes serving multiple years on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education's Special Education Advisory Panel (SEAP), the Ascension Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Ascension Committee, and  Volunteer Ascension's Board of Directors.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Centenary College and a master’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University.

Jackie has been married to Eric Tisdell for 22 years. They have two children, Jackson and Max, who attend Ascension Public Schools.

Visit the Public Information Office.

Dr. Jennifer Vicknair has served as the Director of Special Education for Ascension Public Schools since 2026. She has dedicated much of her career to Ascension Public Schools, beginning as a Special Education Teacher at Lowery Elementary and Dutchtown Primary. She then served as Lead Special Education Teacher and Mentor Teacher at Duplessis Primary before becoming the Lead Special Education Teacher at Dutchtown High School.

From 2022 to 2025, Dr. Vicknair served as Special Education Coordinator at LeBlanc Special Services, where she supported districtwide special education programs and initiatives. She then joined the Louisiana Department of Education as an Education Consultant for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities and Transition Services from 2025 to 2026. During that time, she also served as Project Director for the Louisiana Center for Effective Transitions.

Dr. Vicknair earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Psychology from Texas A&M-Tarleton State University. She also earned a Master of Education degree and a Doctor of Education degree from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Dr. Vicknair is married to Shawn Vicknair. Together they have four daughters, Lyric, Piper, Maras, and Ava, and one granddaughter, Phoenix.

Visit the Special Education Department.

Tim Amedee is the Supervisor of Maintenance for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2020.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Amedee graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in Architecture. He lived and worked in Pocatello, Idaho for two years before moving back to Baton Rouge in 1995 to work for Domain Architecture. 

Over the course of his 15-year career at Domain, Amedee worked on projects for Ascension Public Schools, Idaho State University, LSU, Southern University, BREC, EBR Schools, and Zachary Schools.

He is married to Karen Tabiolo, and they have two children: Elizabeth and Ethan.

Visit the Maintenance Department page.
 

Mary Dazé is the Supervisor of TAP and Teacher Development for Ascension Public Schools, a position she has held since 2021.

A native of Donaldsonville, Dazé began her 27-year career as a teacher at Lutcher High School. She was hired by Ascension Public Schools in 2008 as a Mentor Teacher at Donaldsonville High. In 2011, she advanced to a Master Teacher position for the school. Five years later, Dazé became the Assistant Principal of Galvez Middle School. Most recently, she served as the Executive Master Teacher for 12 TAP schools and Teach Ascension Academy for the last five years. 

A National Board Certified Teacher, Dazé earned a bachelor’s degree from Nicholls State University and a master’s degree from Louisiana State University. 

Leuna Johnson, Ph.D. is the Supervisor of Child Nutrition for Ascension Public Schools, a position she has held since 2010.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Dr. Johnson earned a bachelor's degree in dietetics, a master's degree in business administration, and a doctoral degree in public policy from Southern University A&M. 

Prior to working for Ascension Public Schools, Dr. Johnson served as the Director of Child Nutrition Programs for the Assumption Parish School Board.

Visit the Child Nutrition Department page.

A graduate of Louisiana State University, McKnight brings a wealth of experience in operations, project management, and facility improvement.

Prior to joining Ascension Public Schools, McKnight served as Operations Manager at the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) from 2012 to 2015, where she oversaw key initiatives and systems. Following her time at BRAC, she worked as a Project Analyst for CSRS, leading facility improvement projects and renovations totaling over $500 million for the Louisiana Technical & Community College System (LCTCS). Her extensive experience also includes working with school boards across Louisiana and contributing to major projects such as the Covid-19 Relief efforts at LSU and renewable energy projects.

McKnight's experience with Ascension Public Schools began through her work with CSRS, where she played a vital role in the district’s 2016 Flood Recovery Program, 2016 and 2020 Bond Programs, and Hurricane Ida Recovery Program. She has been instrumental in the successful completion of numerous construction and maintenance projects, including the renovations at Gonzales Middle School and the demolition and reconstruction of East Ascension High School’s main building.

McKnight resides in Ascension Parish with her husband, Andrew, and their two children, William  and Blaine.

Visit the Planning and Construction page.
 

Amber Miller has served as the Supervisor of Supply Chain for Ascension Public Schools since 2020. A lifelong resident of Ascension Parish, she has dedicated her entire career to serving the district, beginning as a high school student worker at LeBlanc Special Services before joining the school system full-time after graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University in 2006.

Amber earned a bachelor's degree in Art with a concentration in Graphic Design from Southeastern Louisiana University. She is an active member of the Gonzales Lions Club, where she enjoys giving back to the community through service projects and local initiatives. She is passionate about finding innovative solutions, building strong relationships, and supporting the students, staff, and schools of Ascension Public Schools.

Visit the Supply Chain Department page.

Kenneth “Kennie” Ridgdell, Jr. is the Supervisor of Transportation for Ascension Public Schools, a position he has held since 2026.

Ridgdell has worked in Ascension Public Schools for 22 years. He began as a custodian at St. Amant High in 2004 and moved to accounting in 2006. He served for eight years as a coordinator of transportation. Most recently, he was a planning generalist in the Planning and Construction Department, a position he held since 2015. He has also been the Head Swim Coach for Prairieville High school since it's opening. 

Prior to joining Ascension Public Schools, Ridgdell worked for Nissan Motor Acceptance Corporation and Primus Automotive Financial Services. 

A graduate of Bogalusa High School, he earned a bachelor’s degree from Southeastern Louisiana University in Business Administration and Marketing.

“I am looking forward to and excited about this new mission I have in transportation. We have a tremendous department,” said Ridgdell. “We have the precious cargo of Ascension Parish on our buses, transporting 17,000 students on a daily basis. We’re going to take care of those kids like they are our own.”

Ridgdell is married to Lori LeBlanc Ridgdell, an East Ascension graduate and former educator at St. Amant High. They have two children who are St. Amant graduates: Amanda and Darren, and three grandchildren: Emma, Luke, and Philip.

Fun Fact: In his spare time, he serves as a professional Santa Claus. During the holiday season, Mr. and Mrs. Ridgdell can be seen at schools and at community events spreading holiday cheer.

Visit the Transportation Department.

Robyn Simmons, EdD, is the Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance (Student Services), a position she has held since 2021. 

Born in New Orleans, Simmons began her career with Ascension Public Schools in 2010 as an English teacher at Donaldsonville High School. At DHS, she served as a career teacher, Mentor Teacher, and Master Teacher before moving to Dutchtown High in 2013. She began teaching English at Dutchtown High and also served as a Mentor Teacher for the instructional leadership team and then an Assistant Principal. In 2019, Simmons became the Principal of Early College Option. She remained in this position before being named Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.

Simmons earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication and a master’s degree in English from Jackson State University. She also earned a doctoral degree in educational leadership from Southeastern Louisiana University. 

Visit the Student Services page.