Lindsey Vicknair - St. John the Baptist Parish School Board, District 11

08/04/2026

After much prayer, reflection, and many conversations with my family, I have made the difficult decision not to seek re-election to the St. John the Baptist Parish School Board.

This decision has not come easily. In fact, up until last week, I was still going back and forth. Serving the students, families, staff, and taxpayers of St. John has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and walking away from something you care so deeply about is never easy.

Over the past four years, my children have grown, and so have their schedules. They are involved in more than ever before, and I don’t want to miss these years. They go by far too quickly, and right now, they need me to be present in the stands, on the sidelines, and at home.

While this chapter is ending, I leave incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. Since hiring Dr. Perry as superintendent, our district has experienced tremendous progress. We’ve made difficult but necessary decisions to become more fiscally responsible by closing underutilized buildings, consolidating spaces, reimagining our organizational structure, and placing unused properties up for auction. We transitioned to a fully self-funded employee health plan, saving the district millions while providing better healthcare options for our employees. Our campuses and buses have never looked better, and there are exciting plans already underway to continue improving them.

Most importantly, our students are succeeding.

Being recognized as one of Louisiana’s top-growing school systems for the past two consecutive years doesn’t happen by accident. It is the result of exceptional teachers, dedicated support staff, strong administrators, hardworking students, supportive families, and a school board willing to make decisions with children at the center of every conversation.

That is why this decision weighed so heavily on me. I wanted to know that District 11 would continue to have someone who would always put students, employees, and the future of our school system first. I prayed constantly for clarity, and last week, I finally received the peace I had been praying for.

I am incredibly proud to endorse Lance McCormick as the next District 11 School Board Member.

Lance is a husband, father of seven, and proud grandfather of four. Born and raised in New Orleans, he attended public schools from kindergarten through graduation at John F. Kennedy Senior High School before earning his degree in Mathematics from Southern University. He then dedicated 24 years of his life to serving our country through the Air Force, Navy, and Army before continuing his service as a teacher.

Today, Lance continues serving others as a Criminal Intelligence Analyst with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, a position he has held for nearly four years.

Education is truly a family calling for the McCormicks. His wife, Lauren, has dedicated the past 29 years to teaching, and together they have spent their lives investing in children, serving families, and strengthening their community.

Lauren is a friend, and was my partner teacher when I was an early interventionist in St. John. Because of that friendship, I have had the privilege of getting to know Lance personally. I have seen his heart for people, his integrity, his humility, and his servant leadership. More importantly, I know he understands that every decision made by a school board should begin and end with one question: “Is this what’s best for kids?”

I have every confidence that Lance will help continue the incredible trajectory our district is on while always keeping students and employees at the forefront of his decisions.

To everyone who trusted me with your vote four years ago, thank you. Thank you for believing in me, encouraging me, challenging me, and allowing me the privilege of serving this community that I love so much.

Although I won’t be seeking another term, I will never stop cheering for St. John the Baptist Parish Schools. I am excited to watch our district continue to grow, and I look forward to supporting our students, educators, and families in whatever ways I can.

I hope you’ll join me in supporting Lance McCormick -for- St. John School Board District 11 on Election Day.

Thank you. 💚🍎

07/17/2026

💚💚💚

07/16/2026

🍎💚 Teachers, we want to support YOU! 💚🍎

As we get ready for a new school year, I’d love to help connect our incredible St. John the Baptist Parish teachers with community members who want to make a difference.

📚 Teachers: Drop your classroom wish list in the comments. Then, reply to your own comment with:
• Your school
• The grade or subject you teach

This will help keep the comments organized while making it easy for community members to find a classroom to support by copying and pasting your wish list into their own browser!

❤️ Community: Take a look through the comments and, if you’re able, consider purchasing an item (or two!) to help our teachers start the year strong. As a former classroom teacher, I can assure you that every little purchase makes a difference.

Our educators pour their hearts into our children every single day, and it shows. St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools has been recognized as one of Louisiana’s top-growing school systems for two consecutive years, and that’s a testament to the dedication of our teachers, students, families, and staff.

Let’s show our teachers just how much this community appreciates them. Together, we can help make sure every classroom is ready for an amazing year! 🍎💚

07/10/2026

Check out who’s a “Top Growing School System” again! Congratulations St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools!!

The 2026 LEAP results don't just recognize the highest scoring school systems; they also highlight the systems that made the biggest strides. "Top Growing" systems are those with the largest year-over-year increase in their overall Mastery+ rate (grades 3-12), and this year's top mover improved by a full 6 points!
This kind of growth shows that real, meaningful progress is happening in classrooms across our state no matter where a system started. Congratulations to every system pushing forward and moving the needle for Louisiana students.

06/29/2026

Since I have gotten some messages, I wanted to make a statement publicly. I understand we have some employees that are disappointed with the outcome of the Board not voting to extend the negotiations of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and then voting to let the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expire on June 30, 2026, and I respect their right to express their concerns. However, there are always two sides to every story, and unfortunately, there has been a great deal of speculation and incomplete information circulating. While I cannot discuss the confidential proposals that were presented during negotiations, I can say that the way I voted was based on careful consideration, the guidance of our legal counsel, and what I believe is in the best interest of our students and the district as a whole.

I would also encourage everyone to carefully consider the source of the information they are reading before accepting it as fact. Much of what is being shared online is coming from anonymous or unverified social media accounts, making it difficult to assess the credibility or completeness of the information being presented. Rather than relying on speculation or anonymous commentary, I encourage our community to focus on verified information and the facts that can be shared publicly. I also encourage everyone to consider the broader picture, including the dedication and daily work of the many educators, bus drivers, support staff, administrators, and district leaders who continue to show up each day with the shared goal of serving the students of St. John the Baptist Parish.

That commitment is producing results. Over the past two years, St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools has demonstrated significant academic growth and was recently recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as one of the state’s Top Growing School Systems for exceptional academic growth. That recognition reflects the hard work of our students, teachers, support staff, administrators, and families, and it reinforces why every decision we make must keep student success at the center.

It is also important to understand that collective bargaining agreements are relatively uncommon in Louisiana public education. Louisiana law does not require school boards to enter into collective bargaining agreements, and that decision is left to each locally elected school board. The majority of Louisiana’s public school systems operate very successfully without a collective bargaining agreement.

Louisiana law also provides important protections and established processes for teachers and support staff to raise concerns. Laws that were not in effect when the CBA was first established in St. John the Baptist Parish 40(ish) years ago. Under Louisiana Revised Statute 17:100.4, every city and parish school board is required to maintain a grievance procedure that provides employees with a fair and objective process for resolving complaints and allows them to be represented throughout that process.

Additionally, Louisiana Revised Statute 17:81 establishes the distinct roles of the school board and the superintendent. The Board’s responsibility is to establish policy and provide governance, while the superintendent is responsible for the administration of the school system, including personnel matters. The law also protects the confidentiality of employee evaluations, formal complaints, and grievance records by limiting access except in specific circumstances, helping to ensure fairness and due process.

It is also important to clarify that this decision does not mean there is any intent to change existing employee policies or diminish employee protections. Our goal is to ensure the district can continue moving forward while maintaining the protections already afforded to our employees under board policy and Louisiana law.

I remain committed to listening to our employees and our community. If there are specific concerns that have not been addressed, I encourage anyone to reach out to me directly. While I cannot promise every outcome, I can promise that concerns will be heard, directed through the appropriate process, and thoughtfully considered as we continue working together to strengthen our district for the benefit of our students, employees, and community.

Thank you. 💚

05/14/2026

As someone who usually leans toward “no” when it comes to taxes, I completely understand the hesitation people feel when they see something on the ballot connected to millages. But this Saturday’s vote is not a new tax - it is a renewal that helps keep our schools moving forward.

And right now, our district is moving forward.

This week, St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools was recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as a “District on the Rise” for exceptional growth in mathematics achievement, an honor highlighting the incredible progress happening in our classrooms every single day.

Louisiana was recently ranked:
📚 #1 in Reading Growth Nationwide
➕ #2 in Math Growth Nationwide
🏆 #1 in Overall Academic Growth

And St. John played a role in helping move our state to the top.

That progress does not happen by accident. It happens because of dedicated teachers, hardworking students, supportive families, committed staff, and strong leadership throughout our district. We have wonderful leaders in place, and I truly believe our school system is on the right track.

Proposition 1 supports school maintenance and infrastructure.
Proposition 2 supports employee salaries and benefits and protects retiree health benefits.

Again. - this is a renewal, not a new tax.

Strong schools build strong communities. When our schools succeed, our families, businesses, and parish succeed too. I hope you’ll join me in supporting the incredible momentum happening in our schools by voting YES on Propositions 1 & 2 this Saturday, May 16th.

Let’s keep St. John rising. 💚💛

04/23/2026

THIS IS BIGGER THAN A VOTE.
THIS IS NOT A NEW TAX.

This is about classrooms that shape futures.
This is about safe, well-maintained spaces where students can grow.
This is about opportunities that don’t just exist, but are accessible.

Now, it’s time to stay engaged.
Election Day: May 16 Early Voting: May 2 – May 9
Propositions: 1 & 2

Take a moment. Learn the facts. Understand what’s at stake.

03/04/2026

🎓 Your College Journey Starts Now!

The St. John the Baptist Parish Early College Option (ECO) Program gives eligible students the opportunity to earn an Associate Degree for FREE while still in high school!

📅 Apply March 2 – March 13, 2026
⏰ Deadline: March 13, 2026 at 11:59 PM

Eligible first-time 9th graders for the 2025–2026 school year can choose from exciting pathways in Process Technology (PTEC) or Instrumentation through River Parishes Community College.

📌 Review eligibility.
📌 Complete the online application.
📌 Submit required documents.

Don’t miss this opportunity to get a head start on college and career success!

Scan the QR code or contact your school counselor for more information.