Administrative
Broussard, Tricia
Dean of Students/Formation Director & 6th/8th Math
B.S. Electrical & Computer Engineering
M.S. Mathematics
Mrs. Tricia Broussard was adopted into a loving Catholic family and grew up in Port Allen, LA. She graduated from Redemptorist High
School in Baton Rouge. She enjoyed playing sports in high school, playing first base in softball and forward in basketball. She received
her Bachelor of Science degree from LSU in Electrical and Computer Engineering. As an undergraduate, Tricia taught as a lab assistant
in the Math Department and enjoyed teaching so much; she obtained her Master of Science degree from LSU in Mathematics. After
receiving her degree, she continued to teach as an instructor as LSU and UNO. During this time, she continued her work as a software
engineer, authoring several technical computer programs, including a 3-D graphics program used to model piping in chemical plants that
was sold throughout the United States. In 1997, she discovered Cypress Heights Academy and decided to dedicate herself to helping the
school grow. She has worked full time at Cypress Heights as a volunteer ever since.
Tricia and Gerard Broussard were married in August of 1980. Their marriage has been blessed with eight wonderful children and two
others who God called home early in the pregnancies. Four of her children graduated from Cypress Heights and her two youngest
daughters are currently enrolled. She has two grandchildren and looks forward to the day that they can attend Cypress Heights.
Madden, Ashly
Administration/Art Teacher
BS - Education
Mrs. Madden is a native of Fort Collins, Colorado. After finishing high school, she enrolled at Colorado State University. Mrs. Madden
transferred to LSU after being awarded a Board of Supervisor’s Scholarship. She graduated from LSU with honors and holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in Education, 1st – 8th grade. Ms. Forgue earned the ETS Recognition of Excellence for her performance on the Praxis II
test. She has extensive training in the areas of Differentiated Instruction and Learning Centers. She has also completed Safe Environment
Training with the Diocese of Baton Rouge. Mrs. Madden has taught 5th grade at Twin Peaks Charter Academy in Longmont, Colorado.
She also has experience teaching 1st grade at Jefferson Terrace Elementary, 2nd grade at the LSU Lab School, and Pre-Algebra at
Sherwood Middle Magnet and Dutchtown Middle. Mrs. Madden recently wed Mr. Brad Madden on March 5, 2011. They attend St. Agnes
Catholic Church and are very dedicated to the Catholic faith.
Perdue, Rhonda
Business Manager
Mrs. Rhonda Perdue is retired from the Louisiana Municipal Association with more than 20 years experience and held the position of
Senior Accountant. She has been a member of Louisiana Government Financial Officers Association, is a 2006 graduate of Leadership
Ascension and is currently a member of Louisiana Association of School Business Officials. She is also a member of Baton Rouge
Republican Women and Louisiana Federation of Republican Women where she recently completed a two year term as state treasurer for
the federation and is very active in the Gonzales Committee of Cultural Affairs, where she has had the opportunity to travel through
Europe as a delegate for the City of Gonzales. A member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Prairieville, Mrs. Perdue is very
active in the church and community and is past treasurer of the Baton Rouge Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. She is currently
participating in the Religious Studies Institute with St. Joseph’s Seminary College. Mrs. Perdue has been a member of Beta Sigma Phi
Sorority since 1979 where she has held various board positions. She was awarded the honor of Woman of the Year as well as chapter
Sweetheart. Mrs. Perdue is married to Tim Perdue, and they have one son and one daughter and a total of six grandchildren.
Preston, Dr. Sean
Principal/Head of School
Dr. Preston has taught in both public and private schools for 13 years before moving into administration. He has been a private school
Principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and has completed three graduate degrees in Educational Leadership,
including a Ph.D. In addition, Dr. Preston has taught at the college level, written curriculum, and conducted a number of professional
development organizations. He has a contagious enthusiasm and genuine desire to continue the strong Catholic tradition and rigorous
curriculum currently found at our school.
Preston, Jillian
Admissions/Marketing
Jillian Preston is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She completed her Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education with a minor in
Psychology at Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida and is now pursuing a Master's degree in Psychology with a concentration in Youth
Counseling. She has taught 1st grade and has a passion for children and learning. Jillian has also held a variety of positions in Human
Resources.
Mrs. Preston, just recently moved here from Atlanta to be apart of Cypress Heights Academy. Jillian will be heading up the school's
marketing endeavors and grant writing as well as assisting with admissions.
She loves spending time with her husband Sean, daughter Ella, and their Scottish Terrier named Cooper. In her free time she enjoys arts
and crafts, traveling, and exercising.
Early Childhood & Pre School
Faulk, Becky
PreK-4 Aide
Isaacs, Asha
Early Childhood Aide - PreK-2
Asha Isaacs is a New York City native and recently moved to Louisiana. She attended St. Joseph’s college where she studied Early
Childhood Education and Special Education. She plans to attend Nicholas State University to earn a degree in Elementary Education.
She is very excited for her first year in Louisiana and at Cypress Heights Academy.
Ms. Isaacs enjoys music and art and spending time with her son, Aydan, her dog Ace, and other family and friends.
McArthur, Gery
Early Childhood Teacher- PreK-3
Miss McArthur, a Baton Rouge native, Is a graduate of St.Joseph's Academy and LSU. She travelled for a year as a castmember of the
group Up With People during which she spent four months in Spain. Upon returning she received a BA in Spanish. Miss McArthur has had
a life-long love of young children and was so pleased to teach 3 year olds at University Methodist Preschool on the LSU campus. She was
employed there from 1987 to 2006. She joined the CHA staff in the 2006-2007 schoolyear teaching Spanish to the Pre-K,K, and 1st grade
and helping with aftercare. She served as an aide in K and Pre-K 4 during the next three school years. The Early Childhood Program
began in the fall of 2010 at which time she returned to teaching 3 year olds. She says it was like coming home after a long journey.She is
grateful to share in these little ones' first experiences in school and hopes to encourage their love of learning as well as their love for
others.
Pafford, Christi
Early Childhood Director & PreK-2 Teacher
Christi Pafford is a native of The Woodlands, Texas. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Speech Pathology with a minor in Child and
Family Studies from the University of Louisiana Lafayette. She has worked in the Early Childhood industry for over five years and
continues her passion as Early Childhood Director at Cypress Heights Academy.
Mrs. Pafford also, has a passion for athletics and is an active member of Crusader Athletic board as well as Cheerleading coach. She is
married for over 2 years to husband, Michael and currently reside in Ascension Parish.
Quiroga, Robin
PreK-4
Robin Quiroga is a native of the Midwest. She brings seventeen years of teaching experience to CHA. In April 1988 she graduated from
Saginaw Valley State University, located in University Center, Michigan; with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and a minor in
Developmental Learning. After spending several years in New Hampshire, Robin and her husband relocated to Louisiana. In Shreveport,
Robin taught preschool and kindergarten at a local Montessori School for several years.
Upon relocating to Baton Rouge in 1997, Robin taught preschool and kindergarten at a private Montessori School in Baton Rouge and
prekindergarten in the East Baton Rouge Parish Public Schools. She also taught prekindergarten for two years and served two additional
years as assistant director at St. Jean Vianney Learning and Growth Center. In August of 2004 Robin joined the CHA staff and taught
kindergarten for two years. She has spent the past five years teaching prekindergarten. Robin has attended the ICIF pedagogy
conference in Atlanta several times and has also attended numerous Early Childhood Education Teaching Conferences and Workshops.
In addition to holding a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education, she holds an International Montessori Teaching Diploma for
Preschool/Kindergarten from the North American Montessori Center.
Robin and her family are active members of St. Jean Vianney Parish.
Rhoddy, Ashley
Early Childhood Aide - PreK-2 & PreK-3
Stafford, Molly
Early Childhood Teacher - Prek 2
Mrs. Stafford is a native of Zachary, Louisiana and recently moved with her husband and daughter to Denham Springs, Louisiana. Mrs.
Stafford graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from LSU. She previously taught fourth and fifth grade
in the Zachary Community School System. She is very excited to start her first year at Cypress Heights Academy teaching the two year
old children.
In her free time, Mrs. Stafford enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling.
Zeringue, Monica
Early Childhood Aide - PreK-2
2011 marks Monica Zeringue's second year at Cypress Heights Academy. Monica is a native of Falls Church, Virginia. She holds a
bachelor's degree in Theology and a concentration in Philosophy from Christendom College.
Monica is very happily married to her wonderful husband, Joshua. They are expecting their first child in November of 2011.
In her spare time, Mrs. Zeringue loves reading, arts and crafts, and spending time with her husband. She also enjoys caring for and
working with children.
Extracurricular
Boucvalt, Gail
Technology
Burges, Lawrence
Music & Physical Education
Mr. Lawrence Burges is our Music and Physical Education Teacher. As a graduate of the LSU School of Music, he enjoy all things
music. He also enjoys teaching Physical Education at the standard of The Presidential Physical Fitness Test requirements. He shares his
love of music, the arts, and sports with the students from Pre-K to 8th Grade. Every Christmas season, he directs a Christmas musical that
every Pre-K-8th grade student participates in.
Mr. Burges truly enjoys the gift of music. He also gives private lessons in guitar, piano, and voice at Cypress Heights Academy through
his music company known as SuperMusic. He also shares his gift of music at his church, Healing Place Church, where he has been
serving since 2002. Mr Burges has been serving as a musician in church since he was 13 years old. He began playing keyboard in the
music team at Kid's Club, the children's ministry of Bethany World Prayer Center.
Lawrence Burges is a recording artist. He produced a music CD entitled Free The Humans which debuted on iTunes in 2010. It is his joy
and passion to teach the students of Cypress Heights Academy. He emerges himself in the development and progression of not only the
school but the students as well.
Richey, Jessie
Kindergarten Aid/Spanish
Mrs. Richey is from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is married to Dan Richey. Mr. and Mrs. Richey met while attending Loyola University in
New Orleans in 1974. Mr. Richey was in law School while Mrs. Richey was an undergraduate student majoring in Sociology and
Psychology. They graduated from college in 1975, and married in January of 1976. Mr. and Mrs. Richey have four children (Will, Aida,
Joseph and John Paul) and two grandchildren (Mia, age 7 and Sienna, age 5).
Mrs. Richey’s first experience in education was in 1981, when she opened a pre-kindergarten program in Ferriday. Her oldest son, Will,
and Aida were students in the program for 5 years. Mrs. Richey also worked in St. George's and St. Andrew's pre-school programs in
Baton Rouge. She has taught her native language, Spanish, from the pre-school level to middle school for approximately ten years.
Mr. and Mrs. Richey both volunteered at Cypress Heights in the mid-1990s. Mr. Richey served as principal and Mrs. Richey taught
Spanish. Their two youngest children, Joseph and John Paul, attended CHA for 5 years. Mrs. Richey returned to CHA in 2008 when our
granddaughter, Mia enrolled in the 4-year-old class.
Mrs. Richey’s hobbies include spending time with her grandchildren, family members, and friends. She also enjoys cooking, learning
about nutrition, taking long walks, and making various types of crafts. Mrs. Richey also enjoys teaching Catechism (CCD) in her parish, St.
Agnes Catholic Church, and planning family and youth formation activities.
Lower School (K-5th)
Assad, Mary Beth
3rd Grade
Mary Beth Assad is a native of New Orleans. She attended parochial schools from K – 12th grade. Mary Beth received a BA in
Elementary Education from the University of New Orleans, specializing in special education. She is certified in K -8th. She student
taught for one year in both regular and special education classes. Mary Beth also attended the NCE pedagogy courses in Atlanta as a
teacher and administrator. She is certified to teach Spalding. After completing the basic course work in the Baton Rouge diocese, she is
also certified to teach religion.
Mary Beth has owned and operated a licensed day care. She has a variety of teaching experience ranging from pre-school to 4th
grade. She had the opportunity to home school a terminally ill 4th grader which was her most memorable year of teaching. She was
the Dean of Academics at CHA for two years and has been teaching for over 20 years.
Mary Beth has been married for 30 years to her husband, John. They have three grown sons. She enjoys sports, walking, reading,
cooking, traveling, and spending free time with family and friends.
Bieser, Margaret
2nd Grade
Mrs. Bieser joined Cypress Heights Academy in August of 2006. She has taught second grade since this time.
Mrs. Bieser was born and raised in New Orleans. She is a graduate of Loyola University in New Orleans with a B. S. in Elementary
Education. Mrs. Bieser taught grades third and fourth at a parochial school, St. Pius X in New Orleans, then moved to a sixth grade
teaching position at James Madison for one year. She relocated to Europe and took a position teaching at an American school in
Kaiserslautern, Germany for one year. When Mrs. Bieser returned to the United States, she taught Math at John Quincy Adams Middle
School. After which, Mrs. Bieser traveled to California to visit friends and decided it was too beautiful to leave. She taught seventh and
eighth grade at La Paz Junior High in Mission Viejo, California until she became pregnant with her second child.
Mrs. Bieser is married to Larry Bieser. They have two married daughters and five grandchildren. Mrs. Bieser met her husband while
teaching in California. Mrs. Bieser and her family moved to New Orleans in 1987 and lived there until August 2005. After hurricane
Katrina, Mr. and Mrs. Bieser relocated to Baton Rouge. They are delighted with Baton Rouge and its' inhabitants. Mr. and Mrs. Bieser
still have family and friends who reside in New Orleans.
Eads, Kay
Kindergarten
BS - Elementary Education
Ms. Kay Eads received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education at LSU, where she was on the Dean’s List, a member
of Kappa Delta Epsilon and is completing requirements for an Alternate Certification in Early Childhood. After obtaining a 4.0 from the
Spalding Educational Foundation, Ms. Eads was certified as a Spalding Tutor and taught extensively both in her home and in other
schools including the Community Association for the Welfare of School Children (CAWSC) in Baton Rouge and Guardian Angel’s
School at St. Louis King of France.
Ms. Eads also worked at Overbrook Academy in Warwick, Rhode Island, an ICFusa/NCE international boarding school for young girls, as
an ESL Teacher, Drama Teacher, and in Supervision. Ms. Eads experience working with youth over the years includes: Catechist for
Kindergarten (16+ years), 3rd and 5th grades; founding group Blue Army Cadets at St. Isidore; founding group ECYD/Louisiana (early
Conquest/Challenge groups); founder Nucleus of Christian Life (NCL-high school and college faith study groups); St. Isidore 4-H Club
Leader; St. Agnes Youth Group Leader; organized, directed, and attended Youth for the Third Millennium (YTM) Missions; founding
YTM Louisiana Mission; organized and assisted youth retreats and summer camps. Ms. Eads was also invited to be part of the founding
World Youth Day Team for the Vocation.com Coffeehouse in Toronto, Canada, as well as for other WYDs that followed in Germany and
in Australia. She also directed a vocational women’s team, who volunteered their time and effort in promoting vocations to the
priesthood and religious life.
Ms. Eads has participated as guest speaker at several women’s conventions: Youth for the Third Millennium (YTM) in Houston, Texas;
Cypress Heights Academy in New Orleans; Nucleus of Christian Life (NCL) in Cheshire, Connecticut and San Antonio, Texas. In
addition, she also attended several ICIF Pedagogy Courses in Michigan and Texas, where she received guidance on her various roles
with Cypress Heights over the years (Chairman of the Board, Principal, Vice-Principal, Development, Dean of Students, Formation
Director, Teacher, and Co-Founder).
Ms. Eads is very active at her parish, volunteering as a Catechism Teacher, RCIA Sponsor, and RENEW Group Leader, Lector and
assists with the RCIA Program. She also started and led an adult catechism study group called Faith, Family and Beyond. She has four
incredibly wonderful children and five precious grandchildren, who are the joy of her life!
Gauthier, Allison
5th Grade
Allison Gauthier was born and raised in Sorrento, LA. She has a love for an active lifestyle, including dancing, running half-marathons,
and sports of all sorts. She attended Catholic schools through her senior year of high school, including St. Theresa of Avila and St.
Joseph’s Academy.
She is a recent graduate from Louisiana State University (Dec 2010) from which she earned her Bachelors degree in Elementary
Education and is awaiting her Early Childhood certification. This is her first year as a full-time teacher and has been substituting at
various schools throughout the area to enhance her skills.
She is a practicing Catholic and a member of St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Sorrento. She has attended and passed “Safe Classroom”
seminars for the Diocese of Baton Rouge.
Stewart, Amy
4th Grade
Amy Stewart was born and raised in Baton Rouge. She attended St. Thomas More Elementary and Bishop Sullivan High School. She
graduated cum laude from LSU in 2007, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and a minor in English. After graduating
from university, Amy spent a year as a Catholic missionary, working in Houston, TX with the Challenge program--a club for girls ages 10-
16, which works to build virtue and leadership skills. After returning to Louisiana, Amy began her teaching career at Cypress Heights. In
2009, Amy completed the LRCE consortium, earning her teaching certification in Elementary Education for grades 1-5. This is Amy's
4th year teaching 4th grade at CHA.
Tanner, Tricia
1st Grade Teacher
Mrs. Tanner has a great love for children and for teaching; she views each child as a beautiful gift from God who deserves great love,
kindness, and respect in a nurturing and disciplined environment. Students in her class learn about God's great love for them and about
our call to be apostles of His love to others. Students in Mrs. Tanner's class are encouraged to practice virtue in imitation of Jesus, the
Good Shepherd; likewise, we are all called to be His loving lambs.
Mrs. Tanner's love and care for children began in her own family because she was the oldest of five children and frequently helped at
home. During her attendance at St. Rosalie Catholic Elementary School in Harvey, La, she learned about God's love and care through
the teachings of the Dominican sisters. Later Mrs. Tanner graduated from Ursuline Academy High School in New Orleans where she
became acquainted with the plight of the underprivileged through the teaching and example of the Ursuline sisters. After graduating
from the University of New Orleans with a secondary education degree in science, Mrs. Tanner taught at Mount Carmel Academy High
School in New Orleans for three years teaching ninth grade Biology and twelfth grade Advanced Biology.
For the next twenty-one years, Mrs. Tanner stayed home to raise her nine children, Erich, Mark, Michael, Therese, Stephen, Robbie,
Mary, Blaise, and Katie. She home schooled many of her children over a fifteen-year span. In 2004, Mrs. Tanner returned to the
classroom to teach Pre-Kindergarten for four years at St. Peter Catholic School in Covington, La. She simultaneously obtained her
Master's Degree in Elementary Reading Specialty, from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, La. After successfully
completing three Praxis teacher examinations Mrs. Tanner obtained full certification for grades Pre-K through twelfth.
In August 2008, Mrs. Tanner began teaching at Cypress Heights Academy with a year in the fifth grade classroom and now three years
at the first grade level. She greatly enjoys teaching the precious students at Cypress Heights, and she is very pleased to have her two
youngest children, Blaise and Katie, with her at school.
Middle School (6-8)
Broussard, Shane
Catholic Formation, Latin, & 7th Grade Math
Mr. Broussard, a new member of our faculty this year, is a graduate of our beloved Cypress Heights Academy. After his graduation from
8th grade here at CHA, he moved on to Catholic High School where he was involved in multiple athletic programs including soccer,
cross country, and track. He moved on to Louisiana State University where he began pursuing pre-medical coursework. After a change of
heart, he moved on to finish his degree in philosophy at LSU, which he completed in December of last year. He has worked for six years
as a tutor of numerous subjects including mathematics, Latin, physics, and several others. He is the son of board member Gerard
Broussard and Dean of Students and Academic Dean Patricia Broussard.
He was recently accepted into Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans for their Lay Theology degree. He looks forward to the new
information and enlightenment his continuing education can bring to his classroom here at CHA.
Millet, Lucas
History & Science
Lucas Millet has been a teacher at Cypress Heights for 5 years now. Three of those years were spent teaching the 2nd grade (and now
current sixth grade) boys. Last year was spent teaching middle school science and social studies. Prior to teaching at CHA, Mr. Millet
taught a technology based reading program to middle schoolers at Westdale Middle School. Mr. Millet attended Louisiana State
University where he earned a degree in Elementary Grade Education and is certified to teach grades 1-8. While away from Cypress
Heights, Mr. Millet has been the Director of "Camp Sunshine", a day camp for children with Autism and other learning disabilites since
2007.
Mr. Millet just celebrated his first year of Marriage to his wife, Kayce. He cannot wait to see what the future holds for Cypress Heights
Academy.
Rico, Cesar
English & Language Arts
Originally from uptown New Orleans, Mr. Cesar A. Rico is a graduate of Brother Martin High School (class of ’99) where he received
numerous awards and scholarships including being selected as a prestigious Brother Martin Golden Crusader. He is a graduate of
Louisiana State University with a bachelor in English/Literature where he was an LSU Ambassador, an active soccer player, and a member
of LSU Student Government. Following his graduation in 2003, Mr. Rico has worked as a counselor and a director for the Baton Rouge
Boys and Girls club. Mr. Rico is a fourth degree knight with the Knights of Columbus at the St. Joseph Cathedral Chapter, is involved with
Most Blessed Sacrament Church, and has attended That Man Is You (TMIY) seminars at St. George Church. In the summer of 2006, he
successfully graduated from the LSU Writing Project which develops educators to become better teachers of writing and reading, and also
gives hours of credit towards a Masters program. Furthermore, he has successfully attended two summer ICIFusa/NCE conferences in
Atlanta where the integral formation pedagogy is taught to educators and administrators. He has also attended workshops led by Harry
Wong and his wife Rosemary T. Wong, the foremost experts on Classroom Management and authors of the book First Days of School: How
to be an Effective Teacher. He has also attended a variety of “technology in the classroom” seminars and workshops both in the Baton
Rouge and Lake Charles area.
In 2008, Mr. Rico was awarded the Wal-Mart/Lowes Teacher of the Year award for the Baton Rouge area. A financial sum was awarded to
the school as well as a small fund for classroom use. Since the summer of 2007, Mr. Rico has also been a Senior Counselor at the
Louisiana Association of Student Councils (LASC) summer workshops in Natchitoches. During these workshops, he has helped develop
future leaders from across Louisiana as well as had the distinct opportunity to work with the top dedicated teachers and administrators from
across the state. Recently in the summer of 2011, Mr. Rico completed a Secondary Education Certification (6th-12 grade in
English/Language Arts) through Louisiana Resource for Educators (LRCE). He has thus passed the Praxis I, and both ELA Secondary
Certification Praxis II exams; and has furthermore taught LEAP Test remediation to a variety of East Baton Rouge Public School students.
Currently, Mr. Rico will begin his eighth year with Cypress Heights Academy. Mr. Rico will also be an active member and player of Baton
Rouge Soccer Association in the fall of 2011 where he will participate in league play. He and his wife, a native of Lake Charles, live near
St. George church with their two young sons. Both his boys will be attending Cypress Heights Academy at the beginning of the 2011
school year.