BATON ROUGE - Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced his appointments to several Louisiana boards and commissions.

Gov. Edwards announced appointments to the following boards and commissions:

Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act
In December of 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act, a bipartisan and bicameral bill to reauthorize the federal education law known as the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA), was signed into law. The ESSA aspires to give parents, local educators and communities a voice in making decisions affecting education. It seeks to empower state and local decision-makers to develop and strengthen their own systems for school improvement based upon evidence. The ESSA reduces testing requirements thereby allowing more time for instruction while still maintaining measures to make sure our children are learning. Finally, the ESSA strives to provide every student with high quality educational opportunities, regardless of his or her zip code.

Governor John Bel Edwards established the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act through Executive Order on May 26, 2016. The Council is tasked with conducting an extensive review of the ESSA and making recommendations on specific actions necessary for the implementation of the ESSA in Louisiana.

Scott M. Richard, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Mr. Richard is the Executive Director for the Louisiana School Boards Association.

Shawn P. Fleming, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Mr. Fleming is the Deputy Director for the Louisiana Developmental Disabilities Council.

James B. Melohn, of Luling, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Mr. Melohn is the Chief Financial Officer for the St. Charles Parish School Board.

Debra H. Schum, of Laplace, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Ms. Schum is the Executive Director for the Louisiana Association of Principals.

Jordan R. Thomas, of Grand Cane, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Ms. Thomas is a teacher for the Caddo Parish School Board.

Walter E. Brown, of Shreveport, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Mr. Brown is the District ELA Curriculum Specialist-Supervisor Grades 6-12 for the Caddo Parish School Board.

Leslie A. Birdon, of West Monroe, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Ms. Birdon is a teacher and department head for the Ouachita Parish School Board.

Thomas E. Spencer, of Carencro, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Mr. Spencer is the Director of Accountability, Research, and Evaluation for the Lafayette Parish School System.

Deborah J. Meaux, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Governor’s Advisory Council on the Every Student Succeeds Act. Ms. Meaux is the President for the Louisiana Association of Educators.

 

Board of Examiners for Nursing Facility Administrators
The purpose of the Board of Examiners for Nursing Facility Administrators is to develop, impose and enforce Federal and State Standards that must be met by individuals in order to be licensed as a Louisiana Nursing Home Administrator and maintain that license.

Earl J. Thibodaux, of Thibodaux, was reappointed to the Board of Examiners for Nursing Facility Administrators. Mr. Thibodaux is the President for Pathway South, LLC. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, Inc., and will serve as Nursing Facility Administrator.

Jack H. Sanders, of Many, was reappointed to the Board of Examiners for Nursing Facility Administrators. Mr. Sanders is the CEO for Management Seven, LLC. As required by statute, he was nominated by the Louisiana Nursing Home Association, Inc., and will serve as Nursing Facility Administrator.

 

Louisiana Board of International Commerce
The Louisiana Board of International Commerce serves as the authority on behalf of the state to advance the state’s international commerce economic sector.

Richert L. Self, of Lake Charles, was appointed to the Louisiana Board of International Commerce. Mr. Self is the Director of Administration and Finance for the Port of Lake Charles. He was nominated by and will serve as the representative of the Port of Lake Charles, as required by statute.

 

Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission
The Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission serves to research, collect facts and statistics, and make special studies of conditions pertaining to the employment, health, safety and financial status of women in the state of Louisiana.

Catherine O. Jacquet, of Baton Rouge, was appointed to the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission. Ms. Jacquet is an Assistant Professor at Louisiana State University. She has experience in gender studies, as required by statute.

 

Louisiana State Racing Commission
The Louisiana Racing Commission reviews, regulates, governs and supervises all forms of horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering in the State of Louisiana.

Patrick R. Bernard, D.V.M., of Carencro, was appointed to the Louisiana State Racing Commission. Dr. Bernard is a retired Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. He will serve as an at-large member on the commission.

 

Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges
The Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges serves as the management board for Louisiana’s public two-year institutions. Its mission is to improve the quality of life of the state’s citizens through education programs offered through its colleges.

Mark D. Spears Jr., of Marrero, was appointed to the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges. Mr. Spears is a Jefferson Parish Councilman. He will serve as a representative of the 2nd Congressional District, as required by statute.

 

Pilotage Fee Commission
The Pilotage Fee Commission exists to establish and fix rates and fees charged by commissioned river pilots working on the Mississippi and Calcasieu rivers in the State of Louisiana.

Noel P. Cassanova, of New Orleans, was appointed to the Pilotage Fee Commission. Mr. Cassanova is a Commissioner for the Orleans Parish Jury Commission. He will serve as an at-large member on the commission.