The Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) is pleased to announce several administrative changes throughout the district.
Ms. Elizabeth Sinegal
Principal, Carencro Bob Lilly Elementary School
Elizabeth Bearb Sinegal brings 13 years of experience in education to her new role as principal of Carencro Bob Lilly Elementary School. Most recently, she served as assistant principal at Katharine Drexel Elementary School in Broussard. Sinegal began her teaching career after earning her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, teaching 3rd grade at Ross Elementary in Acadia Parish. She then transitioned to Lafayette Parish School System at Ossun Elementary School where she taught 5th grade for six years.
“Liz Senegal is a leader that brings passion to our Carencro community. She will no doubt have an open door policy involving all,” said Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr.
During her tenure at Ossun, Sinegal was honored as the 2019 Teacher of the Year and earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from McNeese State University. Following the completion of her masters program, she served as assistant principal at Herod Elementary School in Vermilion Parish for three years. Her achievements during this time include being named Region 4 LACUE Leader of the Year and the Kiwanis Club Elementary Principal of the Year. After her tenure in Vermilion Parish, she returned to Ossun Elementary as assistant principal, before assuming the role of assistant principal at Katharine Drexel Elementary School.
Ms. Tracy Sanders
Principal, Broadmoor Elementary School
Embarking on a distinguished career in education in 2006, after earning a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Tracy Sanders has dedicated over 17 years to shaping young minds and fostering a love for learning. Her journey in education has predominantly unfolded within the Lafayette Parish School System, where she has remained committed for the last 15 years. Early in her career, Sanders was recognized for her exemplary teaching, being honored as Teacher of the Year for the 2008-2009 academic year, a testament to her passion and dedication to her students.
Sanders furthered her qualifications by pursuing a specialization in library science, receiving her certification as a library and media specialist from Northwestern State University in 2012. Over the next seven years, she excelled as a librarian, where her efforts to promote reading and literacy were nationally recognized. Her strategies for enhancing students' reading performance placed her on the Accelerated Reader Nation Honor Roll registry in consecutive years, 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. This achievement highlighted her commitment to implementing research-based strategies and achieving significant data points in students' reading advancements.
In a pursuit to impact educational leadership, Sanders completed her Masters of Education in Educational Leadership in 2019. Following this achievement, she transitioned to an instructional leader in 2020, then to assistant principal at Ernest Gallet Elementary, before her recent appointment as the acting principal at Broadmoor Elementary. Throughout her ascending career, Sanders has demonstrated a relentless commitment to education and leadership, showing a remarkable ability to inspire change and foster an environment conducive to learning. Her journey reflects a dedication not just to academic excellence but to the comprehensive development of both students and the educational institutions she has served.
Superintendent Touchet stated, “Tracy Sanders is the right fit for our Broadmoor community. She will engage the community and create a culture of excellence moving forward.”
Ms. Catherine Bricelj
Principal, Prairie Elementary School
Catherine Bricelj, originally from Belgium, is taking the helm of Prairie Elementary School, with a distinguished background in education. She is a graduate of Université Mons-Hainaut, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in the Science of Education. With over 23 years of experience in the field, she began her career as a French Language teacher in Ruston, Louisiana.
After sharing her expertise in Belgium and Canada, Bricelj returned to Louisiana to serve as a French Immersion teacher at Prairie Elementary. In 2014, she transitioned into a leadership role at Audubon Charter School in New Orleans, following the completion of the Leadership Center program and a two-year Montessori training program at the Houston Montessori Center.
In 2017, Bricelj assumed the role of principal at Myrtle Place Elementary in Lafayette. Under her exceptional leadership, Myrtle Place Elementary received the prestigious 2022 Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence award, recognizing outstanding academic performance and progress in closing achievement gaps among student subgroups over a five-year period. Myrtle Place's school performance score surged from 87.1 in 2019 to an impressive 108.1 in 2023.
“Catherine Bricelj brings proven leadership to the Prairie community. Her commitment to educational growth is evident from her past principal tenure,” said Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr.
Bricelj’s accomplishments have garnered national recognition, including the Terrel H. Bell Award for Outstanding School Leadership from the U.S. Department of Education in 2022. Additionally, she was appointed Chevalier de l'Ordre des Palmes Académiques in April 2024, a prestigious French distinction symbolizing excellence and scholarship in education and culture.