There’s a whole lot of educational experience on display at SHS

There are several teachers at Sacred Heart School (SHS) in Moreauville who have many years in the classroom.

This story, which is in two parts, is about two of them: Carla Bordelon Moreau and Dan Soldani.

Teaching is something that Carla Moreau of Bordelonville just can’t stay away from. Currently in her 46th year in the classroom, Carla said, “I just love being around kids.”

Her long teaching career has been an odyssey of sorts. She began in the Bordelonville school, moved on to Mansura High, back to Bordelonville, Riverside in Simmesport and then Plaucheville Elementary.

So now, with 46 years in her resume, she’s teaching math and science part time at Sacred Heart School in Moreauville

“I’ve taught kindergarten, PE, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grade,” she listed, then added, “In mainly math and science because they do go together.” She’s subbed in all grades and tutors before and after school.

While in the public school system, Carla taught summer school for 21 years in math remediation. She logged 33 years in the Avoyelles public school system.

Her years at SHS began when the principal called her to sub. That simple request ballooned into full-time and 14 years at SHS.

“I tried to retire with 44 years of teaching. My daughter said, ‘who retires at 44 years? Make it one more year.”

Carla, who is giving the Energizer bunny a run for his money, has passed that milestone and just keeps on going.

Because math is probably the most dreaded class for a lot of students, Carla uses multiple ways to teach it.

“You can’t teach math just one way and I have a reservoir of tricks in my head to help them.” For Carla it’s all about getting the students where they need to be. “I like seeing the light bulb go off in their heads, and see the progress they’ve made from August to May.”

As much as Carla loves being in the classroom and around her students, she does have other interests.

“I love being with my grandchildren, I read, work outside and love all LSU sports.”

She admitted that “I know one day I’ll have to give it up, maybe that’s what I’m fighting,,,” then trailed off and jumped quickly into talking about the new math program SHS has.

The day we spoke, Carla had taken the day off to recuperate from a full weekend of helping at the Bordelonville church fair.

“See, I’m sitting here thinking about the students,” she commented.

That’s what happened the first time she gave retirement her best shot. “Sitting here is not for me, I missed the kids, my teacher friends and the school activities.”

And wouldn’t you know as soon as she said that, a pink bunny beating a drum marched right across in front of her.

Addendum

An extra historical fact you need to know.

When Heath Pastor, current Avoyelles Parish Assessor, was in the fifth grade at the Bordelonville School, Carla was his teacher.

“When he sees me, he’ll tell me he hasn’t forgotten the United States capital cities he learned in my class.”

Carla has another connection to the Pastor family.

She taught Heath’s daughter, Emma, in the eighth grade at Sacred Heart.

And just in case you want another connection, Carla taught with Heath’s mother, Renella Pastor in Simmesport.

C’est tout.