Author: Emily Gautreaux

Louisiana State’s Honor Roll Recognizes Early Learning Centers

On November 5, 2019, Louisiana Believes announced that the Louisiana Department of Education declared that nearly 400 early learning centers have earned a spot on the state’s “Honor Roll” as a result of their performance in 2018-2019. This announcement came the day before the state released its annual early childhood performance profiles and K-12 school report cards in the Louisiana School and Center Finder.

“Louisiana took a great step forward when it began publicly reporting the performance of early childhood centers alongside their counterparts in K-12 systems. The Honor Roll released today complements that effort by recognizing and rewarding the sites that achieved remarkable success this past year. We applaud these sites for providing families, particularly those who are economically disadvantaged, with access to high-quality care and for acting as models for excellence and growth.” said State Superintendent John White.

“These standout sites really highlight the great work being done throughout Louisiana in early education. We are caring for our earliest learners in safe, emotionally supportive, and educational environments, preparing them for success in school and life,” said Tony Davis, a member of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. “Our state is being well served by its investment in early childhood education, and I proudly continue to advocate for additional funding to expand these kinds of gains.”

The early childhood programs, which include early childhood centers, Head Start, and pre-kindergarten, that were recognized were placed within three categories:

  • Excellent: the highest possible rating, the centers with this rating are among the best in the world.
  • Birth to Three: sites in this category provided high-quality instruction and care to the state’s youngest learners, children from ages birth to three.
  • Top Gains: centers within this category significantly improved their scores from the previous year.

In total, 363 sites made the Honor Roll, which is up fro 277 sites from 2017-2018. 113 of these were recognized in the “Excellence” category, 216 were in the “Birth to Three” category, and 57 were in the “Top Gains” category.

The sites and centers that were recognized on the Honor Roll span over 51 early childhood education community networks, many who oversee multiple sites on the list. For example, Rapids Parish oversees 63 sites that made it onto one or more of the lists. The network was one of the first early childhood education networks to establish a “Ready Start Community Network” and is one of the most improved in the state.

“The Ready Start Community Network” has steadily improved the quality of early care and education to our youngest children. In 2015-2016, Rapides has only 48 percent of our sites achieving Proficient. In 2018-2019, 95 percent of our early education sites are Proficient, and over 53 percent of those are High Proficient or Excellent. Our community network has much to celebrate because of the tireless work, energies, and single-purpose to provide excellent early childhood educational programs for Rapides children birth to age 5. We want every child in Rapides Parish to receive a high-quality learning experience that promotes student achievement and school readiness. These youngest citizens are our future and deserve our best efforts in creating quality classroom environments in which to reach their maximum potential.” said Cindy Rushing, early childhood coordinator for the Rapides Parish School District.

Each site and center on the Honor Roll will receive a special badge on their performance profiles on the Louisiana School and Center Finder and a state certificate.

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Cajun vs Creole Food: What’s the difference?

If you aren’t from Louisiana, it can be confusing to understand the difference between Creole and Cajun food. It can’t be too different…right? Well, much like many things in Louisiana, not everything is what it seems to be.

In short, Creole dishes are considered by some to be “city food”, while Cajun dishes are referred to as “country food.” But in order to really get to know the two cooking styles, you have to get to know the person behind the apron. Most of Louisiana’s talented chefs learned how to cook from their parents and grandparents, all while also acquiring unique stories and history behind the cuisines.

While the food itself has plenty of similarities, the culture behind the cuisine is distinctly different. Thanks to Louisiana Travel, visitors to Louisiana can learn the true difference between Cajun and Creole Food.

Cajun Food

The word “Cajun” actually originates from the French term “les Acadians”, which was used to describe French colonists that had settled in the Acadia region of Canada. The Acadia region now consists of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia.

During the British Conquest of Acadia in the early 1700s, the Acadians were removed from their homeland in an event known as the Le Grand Derangement (which means the Great Upheaval). Most of the Acadians who were forcibly removed eventually settled in what is now known as Acadiana – a swampy region of Louisiana. Four unique regions of south Louisiana were settled by the Cajuns, all with different resources and influences. These regions are Lafourche and Teche (the levees and bayous), Attakapas Indian land (the prairies), Atchafalaya Basin (swamplands), and New Orleans area and Houma (coastal marshes).

The Acadians combined the flatlands, bayous, and the wild game of South Louisiana to create an entirely unique local cuisine. Many of the current Acadiana residents have Native American, German, French, or Italian roots and live a life extremely influenced by Cajun culture.

Because of the early settlers’ lack of access to modern-day luxuries, like fridges, the Cajuns had to learn how to utilize every part of their slaughtered animals. Boudin, a Cajun sausage consisting of pork meat, rice, and seasoning, also often contains pig liver for flavoring. Tasso and Andouille are two other types of Cajun pork products.

Cajun food is famous for its flavoring with seasonings like cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme, file, parsley, garlic, and so many more. Most Cajun dishes also begin with the “holy trinity of Cajun cuisine”, onion, celery, and bell peppers.

Creole Food

The term “Creole” was coined to describe the population born to early settlers in French colonial Louisiana, mainly in New Orleans. Creoles mostly consisted of descendants from the upper French and Spanish class that ruled over the city in the 18th century. Over time, “Creole” was also used to include native-born African slaves and free people of color. “French Creole” was used to describe someone of European ancestry that was born in the colony, and “Louisiana Creole” was used to describe someone of mixed racial ancestry.

Much like its creators, Creole cuisine is a mixture of the many cultures of Louisiana, including Spanish, Italian, African, German, Caribbean, Portuguese, and Native American. Compared to Cajun food, Creole food is considered to be higher-brow and typically contains many ingredients and takes time to prepare. Creole dishes also tend to have more variety because of easy access to exotic ingredients and spices.

If you want to see for yourself the difference between Cajun and Creole dishes, the only place to find true recipes is in Louisiana (or in the kitchen of a Louisiana native).

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Seven Tours You Can Take In New Orleans

What better way to get to know New Orleans than to take one of these tours? New Orleans is filled with rich culture and heavy history, so using a tour guide who is well versed with all the ins and outs of the city, coupled with a hefty knowledge of all the ‘ghosts of New Orlean’s past’, is a great way to see the sites.

Louisiana Travel put together these tours in New Orleans so you can get better acquainted with the Crescent City.

Step Back in Time: History Tours

New Orleans doesn’t have just any old history. This city has experienced it all – massive fires, cultural melting pots, a few spells, mischievous personalities, and so much more. If you know the right places to look, you’ll find that New Orlean’s past is represented all around you. Finding the perfect guide to enlighten you on the stories that are (literally) under your nose.

Eat Your Way Through New Orleans: Culinary Tours

Is it even truly New Orlean’s if there isn’t food? You can take one of many culinary tours that will take you to a few classic New Orleans restaurants and learning the history behind it. If you want a more hands-on experience, check out one of the city’s cooking schools, where you can try your hand at making jambalaya, corn and crab bisque, or barbecued shrimp.

Ride in Style: Carriage Tours

What better way to see the city than a carriage tour? Call for your carriage to pick you up from your hotel or head down to the Decatur Street side of Jackson Square and hop in! All you have to do is sit back in awe as your driver narrates stories from the French Quarter or Jackson Square.

Choose to Cruise: Riverboat Tours

Choose between the Creole Queen or the Steamboat Natchez and experience New Orleans history at it’s smoothest. Pick between a relaxing evening with dinner and a side of Jazz from the Dukes of Dixieland while cruising up the Mississippi River, or dive into history with the Chalmette Battlefield cruise, which starts at the site of the 1815 Battle of New Orleans and visits other historical combat sites.

Spook Yourself Silly: Ghost Tours

Get prepared to have a spookingly good time, because New Orlean’s has lots of ghosts. These nighttime adventures will take you to French Quarter locations best known for their paranormal activity. If you want to tour an actual haunted house, check out the Mystère Mansion/Haunted Mortuary, a neoclassical mansion built in 1912 with nine resident ghosts.

Walk Among the Dead: Cemetery Tours

Between cowboys, African slaves, and plenty of voodoo, New Orleans definitely doesn’t have a shortage of cemeteries. On one of these tours, you can wander historic cemeteries, visit graves, and learn about voodoo, including its root in West African cultures, Catholic influences, and its modern-day practices.

Distinguishing Designs: Architecture Tours

Mixed in with New Orlean’s rich and dynamic culture, you’ll find colorful houses, plant-filled balconies, and wistful courtyards. You will see influences from French, Caribbean, and Southern American styles and architectures, resulting in a unique style known from New Orleans. On one of these tours, you’ll see structures that range from modern to the late colonial era.

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8 Of The Best Holiday Travel Hacks

With Thanksgiving and Christmas here, everyone is rushing to find the best holiday travel deals. Traveling during the holidays can be really stressful, regardless if you’re going cross-country or a few hours away. Luckily, Travel + Leisure asked some of their editors for their favorite holiday travel hacks, and they definitely delivered!

  • Fly at odd times

“While setting an alarm for 4 a.m. may seem extremely painful the night before, booking a really early flight on notoriously busy days has often helped me avoid the relentless holiday crowds. Arriving with the very early risers will often yield a much quieter and more serene airport experience, in contrast to the mayhem that sets in by 10 a.m. around the holidays. Additionally, if you don’t mind flying on the morning of Christmas Eve or New Year’s Eve, the crowds are likely to be less chaotic than they would be on December 22nd or 23rd.” — Bailey Bennett, Audience Engagement Editor

  • Ship your gifts ahead of time

The TSA swears it’s okay to bring your beautifully wrapped gifts through airport security, but I don’t like taking any chances. And if you’re thinking about bringing a fancy Wüsthof knife set for your in-laws, you should know TSA will absolutely confiscate it: wrapped or otherwise. To be safe, ship your gifts before you leave. — Melanie Lieberman, Associate Digital Editor

  • Roll your clothes

“If there’s any time you’ll need more space in your suitcase, it’s during the holidays. Finding room for gifts—both the ones you’re giving and receiving—is the ultimate struggle, but one packing strategy that I find works pretty well is rolling my clothes. Instead of folding and stacking, roll and layer each item. You’d be amazed at how much you can pack into a carry-on. As a matter of fact, the technique works so well that I actually use it every day when storing clothes in my dresser.” — John Scarpinato, Editorial Assistant

  • Be prepared

“Whether you’re headed somewhere sunny or anticipating a white Christmas, winter travel is tough on your skin. Don’t just assume Mom will have everything you need waiting for you — stock up on helpful travel-sized products like moisturizers, hydrating facial sprays or oils, and sheet masks. (And be sure to hide them from prying siblings upon arrival, unless you feel like sharing.)” — Nina Ruggiero, Senior Digital Editor

  • Plan a staycation after the holidays

“Even a great family visit can be exhausting. Before you head back to the office, give yourself a day at home to catch up on laundry, go to the grocery store, binge your favorite show, or do absolutely nothing at all. You’ll feel much more rested and ready for the New Year than if you jump right back into work.” — Jessica Plautz, Deputy Digital Editor

  • Find a deal

Mr. Chrish Tkaczyk recommends this travel hack, “If your schedule is flexible and you’re not flying long haul, look for fares on the actual holidays, such as Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Eve, and you might find a valuable deal. Travel agents also have access to fares that you might otherwise not find doing a typical web search on KAYAK or Google Flights. And if you need a same-day flight, use the Get the Flight Out app (iOS only) from fare tracker Hopper.” — Chris Tkaczyk, Senior News Editor

  • Fly mid-week-travel hack

“Fare gurus have long suggested flying mid-week, as travelers can often score the best flight deals if they’re willing to travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday. This tip can also help beat some of the intense crowds that pack airports on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (both of which fall on the weekend this year). When I know I’ll be able to pass through security and board my flight without the crush of a few hundred added travelers in J.F.K. Airport, I’m able to relax and begin preparing mentally for the festivities and familial spats of the holiday season.” — Jess McHugh, Digital Reporter

  • Arrive super early 

“I tend to fly the day after Christmas (always in the a.m.) and in order to avoid ever missing a flight due to the snaking TSA security lines, I forgo an hour or two of sleep and get to the airport really early. That way you have more wiggle room in case there’s either traffic or lines. You might be tired, but there are plenty of lounge chairs to curl up in and coffee shops to grab a double espresso when you’re in the terminal. Definitely better than sleeping in and missing your flight home.” — Kira Turnbull, Photo Assistant

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Two Louisiana Educators Receive National Honors

According to Louisiana Believes, Steven Gamache and Jennifer Williams, two Louisiana educators, received the 2019-2020 prestigious, nationally recognized Milken Educator Award as well as the accompanying unrestricted check for $25,000. The two language arts teachers are among 40 educators nationwide to receive this year’s award.

Steven Gamache is an eighth grade language arts teacher at Paul Habans Charter School in Orleans Parish. He obtains a bachelors in English from Fordham University and a master’s in adolescent education from the College of Saint Rose. Aside from being the school’s lead ELA teacher, Gamache is also the coach to sixth and seventh grade ELA interventionists.

Jennifer Williams, a sixth grade language arts teacher at John Q. Adams School in Jefferson Parish, received her bachelor’s in elementary education from the University of New Orleans. She’s also the organizer of her school’s “Test Fest”, one of the schools biggest events.

Both Gamache and Williams were prepared for an assembly, celebrating their schools’ wonderful academic gains, when they were given the surprise of a lifetime as the Milken Educator Awards Founder, Lowell Milken, announced the true reason they were there.

“There are very, very few human beings walking the planet with the commitment, intelligence, sense of humor, thoughtfulness and integrity that Steve possesses. He’s the newest member of a very elite group and he deserves every accolade he received – and will receive – today and going forward.” said Tracy Blowers about teacher Steven Gamache in response to receiving the Milken Educator Award.

Watch the video for Steven Gamache receiving his award here.

Alena Alexeeva says about Williams, “Mrs.Williams is one of the best teachers. She is always thinking about the class and teaches her students well. She helps students understand a new topic easily and motivates her students to never give up. She also has very good methods in her class that make learning easy and fun.”

Watch the video for Jennifer Williams receiving her award here.

Winners of the Milken Educator Award are selected in their early to mid-career, with consideration of what they have already achieved, as well as the promise of what they will accomplish in their career. Aside from the $25,000 prize and public recognition, the award also includes being inducted into the Milken Educator Network, a community of more than 2,800 top teachers, principals, and specialists who have also received the honor of the award.

Winners of the 2019-2020 Milken Educator Award will also attend a Milken Educator Forum in Indianapolis, Indiana on March 26-28, 2020, where they will have the opportunity to network with their new colleagues and peers and elaborate and exchange ideas with both state and federal on the future of education.

The Award’s “Why Not Us” program will pair each 2019 recipient to a Milken Educator veteran mentor so they can explore, collaborate, and prepare new ideas for expanded leadership roles that better and solidify education practice and policy.

For more education related information, click here.

The Best Ever Chicken Fajita Chowder Recipe

This winter, replace Taco Tuesdays with this delicious chicken fajita chowder recipe! It’s unbelievably filling and hits the spot on the cold, dark days of this season.

The best part about this recipe is you can make it two different ways! Taste of Homeshared their way of making this recipeusing a dutch oven, and this versionof the chowder can easily be made in a crockpot so all you have to do is throw the ingredients together and let the crockpot work its magic.

For your chicken fajita chowder, you’ll need the following:

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound chopped boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 medium green pepper, chopped
  • 1 sweet red pepper, chopped
  • 1 yellow pepper, chopped
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 4 cups of water
  • 2 cups of frozen corn
  • 1 cup uncooked brown rice
  • 10 ounces (1 can) green enchilada sauce
  • 4 ounces (1 can) chopped green chiles
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • Tortilla chips, optional
  • Minced fresh chives, optional

Place your dutch over medium-high heat and add the olive oil, chopped chicken pieces, peppers, and onion and stir until the vegetables are crisp and tender.

Next, stir in the water, uncooked brown rice, frozen corn, the entire can of green enchilada sauce, chopped green chiles, and salt. Bring this mixture to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until rice is cooked and tender, approximately 35-40 minutes.

Once the rice is cooked, remove the dutch oven from heat. Stir in the Mexican blend cheese and sour cream until the cheese is melted. Top with chives and serve with tortilla chips.

If you wanted to add a twist to the ingredients, switch out the water for chicken stock (4 cups) and replace the rice with black or pinto beans! Yum! Crockpot instructions:

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 1 can enchilada sauce
  • 1 can green chilies
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cups of water
  • 1 pack of frozen corn
  • 1 cup uncooked rice
  • 1 green pepper
  • 1 red pepper
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 cup sour cream

Pour water, enchilada sauce, green chilies, diced onion, and chicken breast into the crockpot. Cover the crockpot, then turn on high for two hours.

After two hours of cooking, make sure chicken is cooked through, then remove the chicken breast, cut into pieces, and place back into soup mixture.

Now, add the frozen corn, uncooked rice, and green peppers. Stir the ingredients together, place lid back on the crockpot and continue cooking on low for three hours.

About ten minutes before eating, add the cheese and sour cream into the soup, and stir until the cheese melted. Serve with tortilla chips.

Want to hear a life hack? You can make this recipe ahead of time (just keep the uncooked chicken separate!), put into a container or Ziploc bag and freeze for later (super easy meal prep!)! To reheat, just pop it into the microwave or a pot on the stove.

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