NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

12/05/2006

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES - Northwestern State University will award an honorary doctorate of humane letters to State Superintendent of Education Cecil J. Picard at its Fall Commencement Exercises Friday, Dec. 15.

Picard became state superintendent of education in 1996. His priorities as superintendent have included early childhood education, improving student academic achievement through a comprehensive school and district accountability program and improving K-3 reading skills. He has also worked to provide alternative programs for students with discipline and/or learning problems, promoting the use of educational technology, and collaboration with colleges and universities to improve the quality of teacher preparation programs and to develop programs and initiatives that promote strong school leadership skills.

"Superintendent Picard has been an outstanding leader for elementary and secondary education in Louisiana over the past decade and is richly deserving of this honor," said NSU President Dr. Randall J. Webb. "For 122 years, Northwestern has prepared many of Louisiana's teachers. Because of Superintendent Picard's work, these teachers will have more productive careers and will help our students reach their potential."

As superintendent, Picard worked closely with the governor and the legislature to develop and implement a nationally recognized accountability system that enables the state to identify weaknesses in student and school performance and target resources where most needed to improve student learning. Education Week's 2006 "Quality Counts Report" ranked Louisiana's Accountability System as number one in the nation.

In 2002, Picard's vision of a statewide early childhood education program came to fruition when the LA 4 program was piloted in 11 school districts to serve at-risk four-year-olds. This program has yielded dramatic results and is expanding as funding allows. Picard joined with the chief state school officers in Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi to form a multi-state Early Childhood Education Compact to seek Congressional funding to provide early childhood services to at-risk four-year-olds.

Before becoming state superintendent, Picard served for more than 20 years in the public schools as a teacher, coach, and school principal. He served as a member of the Louisiana Legislature for 20 years, retiring from the State Senate in 1996. He was a long-time member and former chairman of the Senate Committee on Education.

Superintendent Picard's educational leadership has been recognized at the state and national levels. In 2001, he was selected by the National Governor's Association and ZERO TO THREE as one of the 14 "fellows" nationwide that comprised the first class of the State Early Childhood Policy Leadership Forum.

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