St. Bernard Parish Public School System Kicks Off the 2025-2026 School Year With Strong Roots and Bright Futures

The St. Bernard Parish Public School System kicked off the 2025–2026 school year recently with its annual Back-to-School Rally, embracing this year’s theme, Strong Roots, Bright Futures. The event, held at the Frederick Sigur Civic Center, brought together over 1,000 district employees for a morning of celebration and community.
The program opened with a video highlighting Chalmette High School’s ProStart team, which recently earned national recognition. Superintendent Doris Voitier welcomed attendees by reflecting on the achievement and drawing parallels to the rally itself. “Watching that ProStart video, I was reminded how students from different elementary and middle schools came together at Chalmette High to achieve national recognition, showing the power of unity, shared purpose, and teamwork,” Voitier said. “In many ways, this morning is no different—we’ve all come from every corner of the district, each with different roles, experiences, and stories—and yet we begin this year as one team. Thank you for everything you do to make our schools and our students stronger every day.”
This year marks a major milestone for the St. Bernard Parish Public School System – the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The District’s theme of Strong Roots, Bright Futures honors the foundation laid two decades ago in the wake of the storm, as well as the remarkable growth that the school system has achieved since.
Vice President Diana Dysart led a morning reflection and prayer, followed by the singing of the National Anthem, and Superintendent Voitier introduced members of the St. Bernard Parish School Board. Board President Dr. Katherine Lemoine addressed the crowd, emphasizing the significance of the district’s mission and the commitment of its employees. “Our district is rooted in the talent, dedication, and commitment of each person in this room who answers the call to make a difference in the lives of children,” Lemoine said. “Let’s grow something extraordinary – together.”
To emphasize that point and highlight the theme of growth, board members were featured in a fun ‘Apple A Day’ segment, using the apple as a symbol to narrate how students, staff, and programs work together to nurture learning, resilience, and success across the district.
Superintendent Voitier recognized employees who achieved perfect attendance last year, celebrating their consistency as a model for students. She also welcomed new administrative leaders stepping into roles across the district. She also touched on some of the initiatives and challenges of the new school year including new technology advances, building upgrades, new safety protocols, and a focus on math skills via numeracy modules.
The kickoff included a number of light-hearted videos highlighted by musical montages to both classic pop songs and orchestral symphonies which featured all school leaders and administrators across the district.
In closing, Superintendent Voitier thanked all employees for their dedication and wished them a successful start to the 2025-2026 school year. “We each play a part in something bigger than ourselves – cultivating the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders,” she said. “Together, with deep roots and steady hands, we’re growing bright futures and lifelong learners.”