We are pleased to announce Sabine Parish Principal and Teachers of the Year.
Principal of the Year
Mrs. Donya Tatum is the principal of Ebarb School (Grades PK-12) in Noble, LA. Mrs. Tatum acquired her Bachelor of Arts in General Studies and Master's Degree in Educational Leadership from Northwestern State University in Natchitoches, LA. She began her educational career as a substitute teacher in Sabine Parish while in college. Mrs. Tatum taught high school English for twelve years in Sabine Parish and three years in Spring Branch ISD in Houston,
TX. She took on the role of graduation coach at Ebarb School in 2019 and was promoted to assistant principal the following school year. After serving as assistant principal for one and a half years, Mrs. Tatum was chosen to serve the Ebarb community as the principal of Ebarb School. She has served the community and Sabine Parish in this capacity since January 2022. She is a member of the Louisiana Association of Computer Using Educators, the Louisiana Association of Educators, and Delta Kappa Gamma. Mrs. Tatum has been an instructional leader for the majority of her career in education. She has served in numerous extra-curricular capacities and as a school technology coordinator. She has presented multiple professional development sessions relating to the use of technology in the classroom and instructional strategies throughout her career. Mrs. Tatum continues to seek opportunities to build her knowledge of instructional practices that promote student success and bridge achievement gaps. She is a Louisiana native and believes we build a better Sabine Parish and Louisiana one student at a time.
Elementary Teacher of the Year
Mary Merritt is a teacher from Negreet Elementary School. She grew up in a loving family of six, which included a life full of love and laughter. Mrs. Merritt has attended many schools and lived in several different places. Ten years ago, she married her husband and moved to Sabine Parish. It quickly became her forever home, where she proudly raised her son. Mrs. Merritt graduated from Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches, and this is her thirteenth year teaching.
She taught first grade for one year, kindergarten for eight years, and second grade for four years. Teaching is a huge part of her life, and seeing her students grow has given her great joy. Her biggest goal as an educator is to build strong and trusting relationships with students. She states, “If children know you care and that they are loved, they can move mountains. Every child has the ability to learn, and it is my job to set individual goals for my students. This provides motivation that will help them thrive as learners. I hope to instill a love for learning that will help my students be successful in their future endeavors”.
Middle School Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Angela Knight is a seventh-grade mathematics teacher at Zwolle High School. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Education, majoring in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from Arkansas State University. Mrs. Knight’s core belief is “To educate the whole child in an environment that supports all students’ learning abilities, and that each child is capable of great things and
must access those capabilities through independence and learning.” Since beginning her teaching career in Sabine Parish, she has had the opportunity to continue to learn and grow as an educator by participating in the Mentor Teacher and Content Leader training. While teaching in Sabine Parish, Mrs. Knight has been named Teacher of the Year for elementary and junior high, served as the Lead Math teacher, sponsor of Senior and Junior High Quiz Bowl teams, sponsor of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Student Council co-sponsor, and served as an on-going member of the schools’ Positive Behavior Incentive System (PBIS) teams. Mrs. Knight brings rich experiences of teaching in multiple districts, schools, and grade levels, which allows her to understand the needs of her students better as they progress through their education. She aspires for excellence in all she pursues and would love nothing more than to spend her career working closely with her students and colleagues to strengthen mathematical and academic excellence.
High School Teacher of the Year
Peyton Arthur is a biology, chemistry, and physical science teacher at Zwolle High School in Zwolle, LA. He is in his second year at Zwolle High School after beginning his career teaching agriscience at Winnfield Senior High School. Mr. Arthur earned a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Extension Education from Louisiana State University-Baton Rouge in 2019 and is pursuing a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
He uses an experiential-based curriculum in his classroom regardless of the teaching subject. He believes this approach to education cultivates student learning by meeting the students where they are and building on prior knowledge. One of his primary philosophical principles is that highly engaged learning happens when an educator meets the students at their current level. When students are highly involved in learning, their learning potential becomes infinite.
In addition to teaching, Mr. Arthur serves Zwolle students in other ways as a junior class sponsor, the dual enrollment supervising teacher, a member of the school's Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) committee, a 4-H Club sponsor, and the assistant girls’ basketball coach. In his experience, students are more likely to excel academically when their teachers support them in the classroom and in extracurricular activities.