Dear Parents, Students, Staff, and Community,

I am delighted to be a part of the Park Forest Elementary School family.  Before evacuating to Baton Rouge just before Hurricane Katrina hit in August, 2005, I was an educator for over 25 years in New Orleans.  I taught general education as well as gifted classes, served as ranking teacher without classes, assistant principal, and then principal in the French Quarter for six years.  My husband of 41 years and I have permanently settled in Baton Rouge near our daughter and grandson, and everyone has been extremely welcoming to us.  During the second semester of 2005-2006, I taught gifted classes at Brookstown Elementary School.  During the 2006-2007 school year I was the principal at Bellingrath Hills Elementary School, and now I am beginning my second year as principal here at Park Forest Elementary School.

I anticipate a great school year at Park Forest Elementary School.  We will continue to develop our Positive Behavior and Intervention Support Program.  We have a number of new students and teachers this school year, including a full-time art teacher, full-time vocal music teacher, and a second physical education teacher.  In addition, we have an assistant principal and two clerks in the office besides the secretary.  We are continuing the Reading Block; however, with a new reading adoption called Treasures in grades K-5.

Our new construction was completed last January, and first grade classes moved into it at that time.  This is now known as our Kindergarten/First Grade Building.

As always, if there is ever anything that I, or we together, can do to assist your child in succeeding, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Mary Jane Clark