School board members Rachel Segura, Kathleen Rosamond and Debra Savoie listen during Wednesday’s meeting.

Belle Place Middle School’s new principal was announced at Wednesday’s regular Iberia Parish School Board.

Lora Kennedy will be leaving her post as assistant principal at Westgate High and taking up the head position at Belle Place. The selection comes after several applicants applied for the position.

“Her well rounded, diverse, educational experiences set her apart from the other applicants,” Superintendent of Schools Carey Laviolette said at the meeting. “Dr. Kennedy has worked in various capacities at the elementary, middle and high school levels.”

Kennedy has held educational positions that include regular education teacher, lead special education teacher, instructional strategist and assistant principal. She has a Ph.D in education.

“The committee was most impressed by her outstanding instructional leadership abilities, as well as her vision for academic and social excellence at Belle Place Middle,” Lavioletette said.

“Dr. Kennedy explained her plan to create a culture and an educational program conducive to student learning and empowerment of teacher teacher leaders while fostering internal and external relationships.”

Kennedy thanked her mother and children after the announcement, and said she was excited to be taking up the position.

“It’s truly an honor,” Kennedy said. “I’ve heard remarkable things about the faculty at Belle Place Middle. I’m looking forward to going there and nurturing positive and productive relationships and use research based initiative to progress. We’re looking for superior student achievement.”

In other business, Laviolette also named the Students of the Year for the academic year. Patra Liamkeo of Magnolia Elementary, Olivia Brown of Belle Place Middle and Jordon Waldmann of New Iberia Senior High were named as the students of the year on the elementary, middle and high school levels, respectively.

Coteau Elementary fifth grader Andrew Insisiengmay was also recognized for qualifying in the state National Geographic Geo-Bee.

Winners in the Junior Beta Club were also recognized at the meeting. In the junior division, sixth grader Azjhori Hatcherson of North Lewis placed fifth in language arts; sixth grader Wyatt Barras of North Lewis placed first in science; eighth grader Joshua Allen of Anderson Middle place in science; eighth grader Dominic Smith of Anderson Middle placed second in science; sixth grader Cole Migues of Caneview Elementary placed fourth in social studies and eighth grader Damian Liamkeo of Iberia Middle placed first in social studies.

In the senior division, Emilee Lopez of Delcambre High placed fourth in fiber arts; eleventh grader Jaiden Paul placed third in math; Carson Hebert of Delcambre High placed third in mixed media division II; Carson Hebert of Delcambre High also placed fifth in painting division II and Colt Saunier of Delcambre High placed third in woodworking division II.