New principal brings varied skills to Stephensville Elementary

The new principal for Stephensville Elementary School brings with him a varied background, full of skills and experiences making him eminently suited for his new job in this small but highly rated rural school.

Bryan Staton was raised in New Iberia, graduating from New Iberia High School in l966. He received his bachelor’s degree in political science and geography from USL, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in l970. He worked for the state in the welfare office and operated his own landscaping business and later a gun shop.

In the late l980s, Staton taught special education and honors Spanish, and later social studies, at New Iberia Middle School. This was followed by five years in St. Martin Parish with JCEP (Juvenile Continuing Education Program) working with students with discipline issues. He taught at Parks Middle School and in 2007 went back to UL Lafayette, where he earned a master’s degree in educational leadership. From 2008 to 2013, Staton was the assistant principal at St. Martinville Junior High.

He moved up to principal at Stephensville Elementary when the former principal, Dr. Daniel Rawls, left in late 2013 to take a job in Webster Parish.

“I am truly blessed to be working in Stephensville where the faculty and staff are caring and friendly,” he said. “I feel very much at home. “

Things are already happening at this B -rated school – one of only two in the parish. In the five weeks since Staton took over, the school has developed an electronic newsletter which will be sent out monthly from the district and weekly from the school. A boys’ baseball team is being formed and the school just received 30 new computers for the students to use.

Stephensville offers a child care program that is available from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on school days. A swim team is being created and there will now be a Jr. BETA club. In March, S.E.S. and Stephensville Fire Chief Adam Acosta will hold a parents workday at the school.

Staton and his wife, Janice, who teaches at Lafayette Community College, live in New Iberia. They have raised one natural son, one adopted son and three foster sons. Since the daily commute from New Iberia to Stephensville is over 100 miles, the Statons are looking for lodging closer to work.

“I’m very excited about being here at Stephensville,” said Staton. “I have two main goals while I’m here: Increase the school population and raise our school performance score even higher. The faculty here is doing a great job but there’s always room for growth.”

Considering the new and exciting programs soon to take place at S.E.S., the future of the school looks bright.

“I look forward to working with everyone in the community to further develop Stephensville Elementary School,” Staton said.