FERRIDAY — Ferriday Lower Elementary and Vidalia Upper Elementary schools in the Concordia School District will have new principals this year, but both of them are no strangers to the district.

Vidalia Upper Elementary

Elizabeth Walker was born and raised in Vidalia and previously worked as the former assistant principal at Ferriday Upper Elementary School. This year, she is returning to her childhood school, Vidalia Upper Elementary, as its new principal.

“I’ve seen a lot of familiar faces — friends and family that I grew up with — as well as met some new people,” Walker said. “It has been wonderful. … It’s great to be a Viking again.”

Walker said she worked in education for 15 years, five of which she worked in administration. Her reason for teaching, she said, started with her daughter, Kaytlyn McDonald, who is now 26-years-old and also graduated from Vidalia High School.

Walker received her bachelor’s degree in accounting from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux and worked at Concordia Bank in Vidalia. She became a homemaker after McDonald was born. As her daughter grew older, Walker said she began to work at her school in Vidalia and decided then to become a full-time educator.

“I’ve taught in Vidalia for about 10 years, and I’m familiar with a lot of the community, faculty, staff and parents already,” Walker said.

Walker received her master’s degree in education from the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Walker said as much as she loved teaching, she found she could do much more in administration.

“One of the reasons I got into administration is because I enjoy helping people,” she said. “As an administrator, I can help not only students but teachers and parents to come together as a whole and provide the best education we can for our students.”

Walker said it’s important to her that she knows her students, faculty and parents as much as she knows Vidalia Schools.

“The most important thing, for me, is to get to know the teachers and students that I’m working with (more) and make sure that the teachers have everything they need for our students’ academic success,” Walker said. “We also need to include parents as much as possible. We all have to work together.”

Walker said she aims to boost the students’ performance scores on end of course tests and said she most looks forward to meeting each new face on day one.

“I’m excited about meeting the rest of our faculty and staff and meeting our students on that first day,” she said. “Everybody has been very welcoming and very supportive. I’m looking forward to a great year.”

Ferriday Lower Elementary

Sandra Burton is the head principal at Ferriday Lower Elementary this school year after working as the assistant principal last year.

Like Walker, Burton shares ties with both Vidalia and Ferriday schools. She is a graduate of Vidalia High School, received her undergraduate degree at University of Louisiana Monroe and her master’s degree at Jones International University in educational leadership.

She has worked in education for 12 years and said she is a fair, but firm, administrator. Outside of the office, she is a bit more easygoing, Burton said.

“I have a son (Kendric), and I’m very family oriented,” Burton said. “I enjoy helping students get to a point where they’re comfortable in the classroom.”

Burton said she taught math for nine years before becoming an assistant principal and enjoys helping students work through problems.

“Working at a lower elementary school, I will help the kids build a great foundation for learning … that will allow them to be successful in upper elementary, junior high and high school,” Burton said.

She said building a bridge between school and the home is important.

“There has to be a connection between school and home,” Burton said. “I believe our parents can make good community partners in our school.”

Burton said she also hopes to create a passion instilling a love for reading and learning in her young students with the parish’s new elementary reading curriculum.

“I want to make sure my kids are ready for state tests, make sure they have a good foundation … and make sure they understand the importance of an education,” Burton said.