Provencal Elementary/Junior High School Selected as Finalist for National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s Founder’s Award, $10,000 Cash Prize
February 4, 2025
School one of five nationwide recognized for outstanding efforts to foster educator excellence and advance student success, contending for a $50,000 grand prize
Provencal, LA (February 4, 2025) - The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) announced today that Provencal Elementary/Junior High School in Natchitoches Parish School Board, Louisiana, won $10,000 for its selection as a finalist for the NIET Founder’s Award. The prestigious Founder’s Award was created by Lowell Milken in 2008 to honor one school in the United States each year for exceptional implementation of NIET’s principles to build educator excellence and advance student success. Provencal Elementary/Junior High School is among five schools nationwide under consideration for the $50,000 grand prize, which will be announced at NIET’s national conference on February 27.
“Under Principal Diana Curtis, Provencal Elementary/Junior High School has experienced historic growth in student achievement and closing learning gaps,” said NIET Founder Lowell Milken. “These accomplishments are the result of strong instructional leadership, daily dedication to the needs of teachers and students, and a long-range plan to sustain success. We applaud Principal Curtis and her talented team, and Natchitoches Parish School Board Superintendent Dr. Grant Eloi, for their commitment to building a culture of excellence in the district and broader community.”
Founder’s Award finalists are selected by NIET based on several factors, including improving classroom instruction and student academic growth; creating high-quality professional learning and coaching systems focused on the real-time needs of teachers and students; and engaging teacher leaders and school leaders in building a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
NIET’s partner schools have improved outcomes for educators and students. Provencal Elementary/Junior High School has continuously improved teaching and learning using NIET’s tools and resources to support instructional excellence and student success. Between 2022 and 2024, their School Performance Score (SPS) improved by 12 points. Provencal Elementary/Junior High received an “A” letter grade in 2024, reflecting the school’s dedication to excellence and the hard work of students, educators, and the community.
"The leadership team at Provencal Elementary/Junior High School has built a foundation for long-term success by focusing on what matters most: strong, effective teaching in every classroom,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “Their efforts are creating a lasting legacy, one where every student has access to high-quality learning experiences."
What Makes Provencal Elementary/Junior High School Unique?
Located just under an hour northwest of Alexandria, Louisiana, Provencal Elementary/Junior High School is a rural pre-kindergarten through eighth-grade school that serves approximately 400 students, 90% of whom are economically disadvantaged. In partnering with NIET, the school has transformed its culture into one focused on growth. With a dedication to meeting the needs of each teacher and student, Principal Diana Curtis and her leadership team have fostered a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Provencal Elementary/Junior High first partnered with NIET in the 2021-22 school year to increase teacher capacity and student achievement. The partnership initially focused on strengthening instructional practice with the NIET Teaching and Learning Standards Rubric and creating teacher leadership roles. Provencal Elementary/Junior High expanded their NIET partnership in the 2023-24 school year to further increase educator effectiveness and student achievement by implementing the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement.
“Working with NIET has taught us to focus on understanding each student’s current level and their potential for growth,” said Curtis. “Our school culture is built around growth. We believe in the ‘power of yet’—we may not be there yet, but we will get there. We are confident in our ability to succeed because we have the right structures and support in place.”
The school’s shared leadership model has been a major factor in their success. Provencal Elementary/Junior High now has five teacher leaders who are part of the instructional leadership team alongside school leaders. The teacher leaders field test instructional strategies and then model the successful strategies for classroom teachers during cluster meetings. This ensures that strong instruction takes place in every classroom on campus, meaning that the learning needs of each student are met.
“Our teachers have a deeper understanding of their students and are better able to differentiate instruction to meet their needs,” said Curtis. “When I walk into classrooms, I see this in action as teachers group students and collect exit tickets to guide their teaching.”
Provencal, Louisiana is a small, close-knit community that has thrown its support behind the Elementary/Junior High School. Local businesses and churches consistently donate supplies to the school, and community members can often be found volunteering at the school. Several retired teachers and a former principal volunteer to work with lower-performing students to improve their reading skills. This community involvement has created a supportive culture around the school’s educators and students.
“We are deeply passionate about our school and our students. There is a clear understanding and culture here that every day, we are showing up to open the doors and give our students the chance to compete with others across the state and the nation,” said Curtis. “We are building a strong educational foundation within these walls, and NIET is the support and backbone that helps make it all possible.”
Provencal Elementary/Junior High School joins fellow finalists Eastside Elementary School (Warren County Schools, Tennessee); Shenandoah Elementary School (Shenandoah School Corporation, Indiana); Somerset High School (Somerset Independent School District, Texas); and Waterloo Elementary School (Laurens County School District 55, South Carolina) in contention for the $50,000 Founder’s Award grand prize.
For images of Provencal Elementary/Junior High School and more information about the NIET Founder’s Award, visit the NIET newsroom. For interviews and more on the Founder's Award announcement, please contact Laura Blank (laura@keylightcommunications.com) or Katie Elliott (katie@keylightcommunications.com). Follow conference news – including the Founder's Award – on social media using @NIETteach or #NIET2025.
About NIET
The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) is a national nonprofit based in Phoenix, Arizona that serves states and districts nationwide. For 25 years, NIET has partnered with schools, districts, states, and universities to build educator excellence and give all students the opportunity for success. NIET’s initiatives, including the TAP System, teacher and leader development, school improvement, rubric and observation systems, and educator preparation, have impacted more than 350,000 educators and 3.5 million students across the U.S.
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are proud to honor our partners’ success and share the results of intentional, sustained investments in educator effectiveness. Learn more in our anniversary report, Building Educator Excellence: 25 Years of Impact.