Option III Administration, Faculty, and Staff

 

 

Ms. Lisa C. Kluka

Principal

The 2008-2009 school year marks the 29th year in education for our School Principal, Ms. Lisa Kluka.  Ms. Kluka graduated from Ponchatoula High School and later received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art Education, a Master’s degree in Special Education, and a +30 in administration from Southeastern Louisiana University.

Ms. Kluka works closely with numerous community partners to secure supplies, services, and internship/job placement opportunities for Option III students.  Within the school, she dedicates a great deal of her time to developing programs to help meet the special needs of each student, create an effective learning environment, and ensure the successes of all students who are serious about their career futures.

A lifelong resident of Livingston Parish, Ms. Kluka proudly serves the community through her professional role as an educator, as well as through her community involvement with her church, family, and friends.

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Patty Brignac

PreGED Instructor

This is her 34th year to teach. She taught 9 years in Washington Parish and 24 years in St Tammany Parish. She lives in Hammond with her husband Dennis. She has a beautiful 23 year old daughter. She teaches math at Option III.

 

 

 

 

 

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Linda Burleigh

Computer Technology

Linda Burleigh serves Option III as the Computer Technology Instructor.  She holds industry based certifications, IC3 and Microsoft Office User Specialist, and has over two decades of experience in office administration.  Mrs. Burleigh is also a Cisco Certified Instructor for IT Essentials and is a participant in the National Science Foundation grant for computer technology.  She is adept in teaching software applications with real-life data scenarios.  Mrs. Burleigh has been instrumental in teaching teachers and staff throughout the parish the basics of computer applications.  She is a Louisiana College graduate and a Louisiana Notary Public. 

 

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Wallace Cocran

Certified Welder Instructor

Mr. Cocran is a welding instructor at Option III.  He earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Secondary Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana.

Mr. Cocran has received Permanent CTTIE certification by the Louisiana Department of Education in Welder/Welding,Technologist.  He also holds Performance Qualifications, 2G and 3G, through Gonzales Industrial X-ray, Inc.Mr. Cocran also has certification in NCCER throught the state Dept Of ED.   Among his other qualifications, Mr. Cocran has also been designated a Certified Welding Educator (CWE) by the American Welding Society for Welding Educators (QC5-01)

As a member of the organization team at Option III, Mr. Cocran helped design a program which exposes welding students to many aspects of skills training for the entry-level welder.  Students who successfully complete the program receive certifications as entry-level welders, recognized by the State Department of Education.   

During the 2006-2007 school year, Mr. Cocran was recognized as Welding Instructor of the year.

 

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Kim Driver

Secretary/Bookkeeper

Mrs. Kim Driver serves Option III as the Secretary/Bookkeeper.  Mrs. Kim is a life long resident of Livingston Parish and a 1985 Walker High School graduate.  She has worked for the Livingston Parish Public Schools as a highly-qualified special education paraprofessional and participates in many extra curricular activities.  She continues to support Westside Jr., having worked there for 6 years prior to coming to Option III in 2005, while serving the students at Option III.  She is the mother of three beautiful children. 

 

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Lisa Gremillion

Counseling/Life Skills

Lisa Gremillion received her bachelor’s degree from LSU and her Master’s degree from USM. She is responsible for teaching Life Skills, Job Prep, and Career Counseling to our students. She also conducts individual and small group counseling sessions. Ms. Gremillion serves as Option III SAPE coordinator and is thrilled to be here!!

 

 

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Mr. Kinchen

Certified Welder Instructor

A resident of Livingston, Mr. Jeremy Kinchen serves Option III as an instructor in the Welding Professional Training Program.  He received his CTTIE certification and NCCER certification by the Louisiana Department of Education as a Welder/Welding Technologist.  He also holds Welding Performance Qualifications, having completed the necessary courses at Gonzales Industrial X-Ray, Inc. He also has been designated a Certified Welding Educator (CWE) by the American Welding Society.   Mr. Kinchen team teaches with two other welding instructors helping students attain a number of welding skills, while also working closely with community partners to provide for internships, post-training employment, and contributions of supplies and services from industrial operations throughout Livingston Parish.

 

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Judy Lovett

Paraprofessional

Mrs. Lovett is a highly-qualified Special Education Paraprofessional. She has always had a desire to work in a school setting and, after retirement from state government, is now fulfilling that dream at Option III. She is married and has two children and three beautiful grandchildren.

 

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Mr. Miller

Certified Welder Instructor

A lifelong resident of Livingston Parish, Glen Miller, is a great asset to the Option III program.  Mr. Glen brings 30 years of certified welding experience and expertise to the welding professional training program.  He is certified in several different alloys including stainless steel, carbon steel, and chrome, as well as specializations in 25heliarc and mig welding processes.  He received his certification at Baton Rouge Local 198 union.  He assists Mr. Cocran and Mr. Kinchen in their hands-on welding instructions.

 

Send an email to Mr. Miller

 

Julie Thomas

PreGED Instructor

Hello, my name is Julie Thomas. I recently moved to this area from Texas, where I have resided for the past 23 years. During that time, I graduated from Lamar University - Beaumont, TX with a BA in Political Science/PreLaw. While in school, my daughter, Ashley was born. She is 19 years old. In 1995 I was hired to teach middle school history at St. Mary Catholic School, where I remained for 5 years. In the meantime, I had 2 more children: Zachary and Jacob. My 3 kids are the light of my life! After 5 years of private school teaching, I applied, and was hired, to teach 4th grade at West Orange CCISD. There I taught all subjects with specialization in Writing/LA, Spelling and Reading.

Throughout the last 20 years, I could be seen doing the following in my community:  Attended First Baptist Church, taught Jr. High Sunday School, Mission Friends, Vacation Bible School, active in Sunday School, Co-Chaired Prayer Ministry, Youth sponsor, etc.

A Total Soccer Mom - All 3 of my kids played competitive soccer, so that is where I hung out alot. My daughter played select level, which allowed us to travel all over the region in tournaments.

We also competed in Upward Basketball, Swim Team, Baseball, Boy Scouts (I was co-leader). So that's where I was most of the time.

However, I found time to do some things that I enjoy: playing with my dogs, cooking and preparing food for people, working on home improvement projects, reading, watching old movies, riding bicycles, fitness swimming, and travelling.

From 2002-2006 I helped found a community-based organization called Project RON (Revive Our Natatorium), which relied on volunteers in the community to help support and improve our public indoor swimming facility. We did research on the benefits of having such a facility, made presentations before various groups, including City Council, solicited petitions, and held awareness fairs and fundraisers.

Now in my 14th year of teaching, I have been hired by LPSB to teach PreGED Writing/Language Arts/Reading and Science content areas.

I am thrilled to be working here, and anticipate a great school year!

 

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Mrs. Tynes

Pre-GED Instructor

    Mrs. Cynthia Tynes has 28 years experience as a certified teacher graduating from Southeastern Louisiana University with a B.A. in Elementary Education and a Masters of Education Degree in Reading Education. Originally from Washington parish, she is married and has three  children and one granddaughter.

 

Click here for Mrs. Tynes's webpage.

 

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