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Regular Session, 2014 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 177
BY SENATOR GARY SMITH
A RESOLUTION
To commend Larry Bourgeois Jr., upon his retirement after thirty-four years of
extraordinary service at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace, Louisiana.
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois is a native of Garyville, Louisiana, and a graduate of
St. Peter Catholic School and Riverside Academy in Reserve; and
WHEREAS, he graduated from Nicholls State University in 1980 with a Bachelor
of Arts degree in secondary school social studies, with a minor in English, and was
employed at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School, a kindergarten through eighth grade school;
and
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois continued his education while teaching at SJA, which
currently teaches children age three (kindergarten) through eighth grade, and received his
Master of Education degree in administration and supervision from Nicholls State University
in 1990; and
WHEREAS, he obtained additional certifications from the Archdiocese of New
Orleans Office of Religious Education as an elementary school catechist and received
certification in the course The Principal as Spiritual Leader; and
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois has served as a teacher for fourteen years, as assistant
principal for five years, and as principal for eight years at SJA; and
WHEREAS, in the mid-1990's he was a member of the Archdiocese Office of Middle
School Task Force which introduced leveled classes, individualized scheduling, and
exploratory classes at SJA and other Catholic middle schools and SJA remains the only
school in the river parishes to offer these programs; and
WHEREAS, during his tenure at SJA, Larry Bourgeois established the student
council, which he has guided since its establishment fifteen years ago, and SJA is one of the
few schools in the river parishes which maintains the student government as an active
member of the Louisiana Association of Student Councils; and
WHEREAS, he serves as a member of the Archdiocese of New Orleans office of SR NO. 177 ENROLLED
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Catholic Schools' Principals' Steering Committee for Best Standards and as cohort leader for
the six Catholic elementary schools in the river parishes area; and
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois also represents the Catholic elementary schools of the
river parishes as their moderator on the Principals' Committee for the Catholic Schools
Athletic League; and
WHEREAS, he maintains active membership in the National Catholic Educators
Association, the National Council for Social Studies, the Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development, the National Geographic Society, the Louisiana Middle School
Association, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, the National
Association of Secondary School Principals, Phi Alpha Theta, Phi Kappa Phi, and Kappa
Delta Phi; and
WHEREAS, a life-long love for history and the theater, led Larry Bourgeois to
become a member of the River Road Historical Society and the Friends of the St. John
Theatre at their inception twenty-five years ago and his membership continues to this day;
and
WHEREAS, he is a parishioner of St. Peter Catholic Church in Reserve, where he
has been a member of the Msgr. Jean Eyraud Knights of Columbus Council #3426 for over
thirty years; and
WHEREAS, Larry Bourgeois is a fourth degree Knight in the Archbishop Blenk
Knights of Columbus Assembly and he serves as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy
Communion at both St. Peter Church in Reserve and St. Joan of Arc Church in LaPlace.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend Larry Bourgeois upon his retirement after thirty-four years of
extraordinary service at St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace, Louisiana.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Larry Bourgeois Jr. through St. Joan of Arc Catholic School in LaPlace.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE