NATCHITOCHES, LA – On Monday, September 25, 2023, NPSB Superintendent Grant Eloi announced that the district received a three-year competitive grant from the federal Teacher and School Leader (TSL) Incentive Program grant totaling $14.26 million. This grant continues the innovative work the Natchitoches Parish School District is doing to build teacher and school leader effectiveness and raise student achievement.
The new partnership, Systems for Training and Retaining Our Natchitoches Educators for Growth (STRONG), will provide a sustainable model for attracting, developing, and retaining an effective and diverse pool of educators who are prepared to teach diverse groups of learners, as well as for supporting highly skilled and effective school and district leaders who are prepared to support these teachers. The district will partner with the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) to implement the research-based TAP System to leverage teacher and school leadership effectiveness, and raise student achievement, directly impacting 5,003 students, 427 teachers, and 22 school leaders.
“I cannot overstate how big this is for Natchitoches Parish Schools,” said NPSB Superintendent Grant Eloi. “The amount of the award, the fact that it was competitive and from the federal Department of Education, but more than that—its purpose. The purpose of every one of these 14.26 million dollars is meant to improve student achievement, while at the same time rewarding teacher’s hard work and creating greater leadership opportunities for teachers. This is the next big step for Natchitoches Parish Schools and this grant puts us even closer to realizing our goal of being an “A” district!”
"With STRONG in place, the Natchitoches Parish School District is positioned to make historic changes in its education system. I am excited that the Natchitoches Parish School District was awarded a federal grant to put in place more effective staffing structures and increase the quality of classroom teaching and learning,” said NIET CEO Dr. Barnett. “Increasing our support for teachers and leaders is a critical foundation on which to build a world-class educational experience for students."
The Natchitoches Parish School System, located in Central Louisiana, is committed to equipping and empowering its educators and students with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to be successful in and out of the classroom. In 2021-2022, Natchitoches was the highest ranked school district for improving student achievement in Louisiana. In 2022-2023, the district was again recognized for being a Top 10 district for student achievement growth. For more information about Natchitoches Parish Schools, please visit www.npsb.la.
For more than two decades, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including TAP, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 300,000 educators and 3 million students across the U.S. Learn more at www.niet.org.