Three Bossier Parish educators are earning state and national recognition for the work they do every day to help students learn, think critically, and feel supported in their educational journey.

Bellaire Elementary School’s Carrie Culpepper has been selected as the Louisiana Association of Teachers of Mathematics (LATM) Outstanding Elementary School Mathematics Teacher for 2026. Curriculum Coordinator Heather Middlebrooks has been named the 2026 Louisiana History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History. English Learner Supervisor Kelle Ogilvie has been selected for the 2026-27 Louisiana Department of Education English Learner Fellows Program.

While their areas of expertise are different, all three educators share a commitment to helping students see learning as something meaningful that extends beyond the classroom.

Culpepper nearly missed her LATM recognition after initially thinking the email notifying her of the honor was spam. Once she opened it, she was surprised to learn that Bellaire Principal Alyshia Colson had nominated her.

“I know how many classrooms and teachers she’s seen, and the fact she sees something special in me means a lot,” Culpepper said.

For Culpepper, the recognition reflects the passion and work ethic she brings to her classroom each day. More than anything, she hopes parents understand how deeply teachers care about their children.

“I hope parents know how much their child is thought about and cared for,” she said. “We lay awake at night figuring out how to help students better understand. We celebrate the whole child – it’s about growing their heart and their mind.”

Culpepper also works to make math relatable to her students’ everyday lives, sometimes using their interests to help them overcome mental blocks.

“As a parent of young kids, I am very up on everything kids care about right now, so it’s about putting it on their level,” she said.

Culpepper will be honored at the 2026 LATM/LSTA Joint Conference in November.

Middlebrooks’ recognition as Louisiana History Teacher of the Year celebrates her 12-year career teaching students in grades 7-12, including general and advanced history courses.

The Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History presents the annual award to an outstanding K-12 educator in each state, along with educators from the District of Columbia, Department of Defense schools, and U.S. territories. The honor recognizes teachers for exceptional work in American history education.

Throughout her career, Middlebrooks has maintained high academic expectations while helping students achieve strong results. Beyond the classroom, she has led curriculum development and supported teacher teams across the district. Her record of student achievement and instructional leadership eventually led to her role as curriculum coordinator.

The timing of the honor came as a surprise to Middlebrooks, whose nomination began while she was teaching at Airline High School. She said the recognition is meaningful because it highlights her work while shining a light on educators and the importance of continually strengthening curriculum standards in Bossier Parish.

“It’s a lot of work to bring literacy into the classroom. We have big asks of our students, raising expectations and goals,” she said. “I mean, how do we get a 10-year-old to wrap their mind around the U.S. Constitution?”

For Middlebrooks, teaching history is about more than memorizing dates and names. She believes students need to understand the reasons behind historical decisions so they can better understand the world around them and make informed decisions of their own.

“I am a true believer that we need to pass down information to the next generation so they can make wise decisions,” she said. “They need to understand the ‘why’ behind decisions in history so it makes sense for today.”

That emphasis on making connections also shapes the way she teaches critical thinking.

“There is no better class to teach than Advanced Placement Government in an election year because you have real-time history happening and can have students figure out why that relates to them,” she said.

Middlebrooks will join 52 other state honorees as a finalist for the 2026 National History Teacher of the Year Award at a special ceremony in New York City.

For Ogilvie, being selected for the Louisiana Department of Education’s English Learner Fellows Program represents an opportunity to learn, collaborate, and find new ways to support both students and teachers.

The year-long professional learning program is designed to develop educator leadership and strengthen support for English learners across Louisiana. Fellows will participate in collaborative learning focused on the Louisiana English Learner Framework, Standards-Based English Instruction, instructional leadership, data-informed decision-making, and sustainable systems that improve outcomes for English learners.

The program will also allow Ogilvie to learn alongside educators from across the state, reflect on local practices, and apply what she learns through a job-embedded project supporting English learners within her school system.

Ogilvie said she is particularly excited about the opportunity to discover new ways to serve students and teachers. One of the biggest challenges she sees for English learners and their families is navigating school resources when English is not their first language.

She hopes to build on the resources available through the Parents Center, including translation services, while exploring new ways to make information more accessible. Potential ideas include video tutorials in families’ native languages and events such as a cultural night where English-speaking families can interact with and learn from other cultures.

“These families are supportive of their children’s education, and they are eager for them to be successful,” Ogilvie said. “I have a lot of ideas to serve students in innovative ways, and that is what our work is about.”

Ogilvie believes the variety of experiences she brings to her work helped her earn the fellowship, but she said her commitment to serving others is at the heart of her approach.

“I believe that all kids are OUR kids,” she said. “Every decision has a child behind it. It’s not about us.”