Education Committee

Focus Area of the Education Committee

The Education Committee, chaired by Michele Waskom with First Federal Bank of Louisiana, encompasses a spectrum of programs and initiatives.  These tend to fall into four distinct areas.  Click on each for more information.

Community Comes to the Rescue

Recently, Natchitoches Central High School administration informed the Chamber that while they had expanded the course offerings for Advanced Placement, funds were tight to assist these students with the cost of testing.  The Chamber, through its Foundation, offered to match, dollar for dollar, up to $1,200 in matched dollars to assist these students.

We are proud to say that our members, when informed of the need, came to the rescue!  We want to thank the following for ensuring these students were able to take their tests, qualify for college credit, and reward themselves for their hard work above and beyond the average curriculum.

Donating were:

Please thank these members and strong community supporters for their assistance! 

A Few Words About Education

The Education Committee, one of the four standing committees of the Natchitoches Area Chamber of Commerce, has been instrumental in helping to shape the future of education in Natchitoches Parish and with it, the future of our community.

I am proud of this change and what is shaping up is a school system, with a community behind it, charging forward to meet the demands of the future.  Our future demands that we prepare our students to meet the needs of tech and high-tech employers.  These employers are looking for students that can think outside the box, reason intuitively, and come prepared to meet the technical demands of their new careers.  

This change comes from many sources:  parents, teachers, administrators, the School Board, our community, and the children themselves.  The role of the Education Committee is to facilitate the integration of these factors, to present and disseminate this information and to follow-up with changes to our educational system.  The goal is a school system that can provide students opportunities to learn and an environment conducive to learning.  An educated workforce and a top-rated school system allow us to develop better relationships with local and regional economic development committees and partnerships that, in turn, help us ensure that Natchitoches becomes home to a diverse and strong economic base.  

We want our children and grandchildren to enjoy the Natchitoches we enjoy today.  We want our children and grandchildren to have opportunities to not only stay here to work, but to come back home to Natchitoches to work and raise their families.  Together, we are making this a reality.

-Tony Davis, 2010 

Governor Jindal’s Proposed Education Plan

Click here to view proposed Education Plan.  Click here to learn more about the bills being debated in the Capital.