Monroe Chamber of Commerce hosts State of Education Lunch

MONROE, La. (KNOE) - The Monroe Chamber of Commerce put on a community luncheon to address educational matters in different districts.

Educational, local government and business leaders sat before an audience of community supporters at the State of Education Lunch at ULM's Bayou Pointe Event Center.

The lunch featured five speakers who are working to progress education throughout the region: Superintendent Sam Moore III of Monroe City Schools, Superintendent Todd Guice of Ouachita Parish Schools, President Ron Berry of ULM, Chancellor Randy Esters of LA Delta Community College and Associate Dean Dr. Carrie Baker-Royer of VCOM.

Monroe City Schools' Superintendent Moore said it's going to take the community to make such progress.

"Bringing them to the table educationally - to discuss educational matters and concerns that impact students and all children and I'm very concerned about all kids across our spectrum and across our district, but I'm especially concerned about those students who are in challenging environments - who come from low socioeconomic environments," said Moore.

Superintendent Guice of Ouachita Parish Schools said it's going to take a partnership between the two districts to move education forward.

"One thing Sam touched on - he and I had spoken quite a bit over the last few months. We're going to start - you're going to start seeing the two school districts working a little bit more together in areas where we have common interests," said Guice.

Sterlington Mayor Matt Talbert credited educators for the growth of the town.

"And I tell people everywhere I go - they ask me like, 'what are you doing to cause Sterlington to grow so fast?' And I would tell everybody that it's less of what I'm doing and more of what our educators are doing," said Talbert.

Guice mentioned to the audience that Sterlington Elementary School will be honored next week in Washington, D.C., for being named as the National Blue Ribbon School.

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