VIDALIA — The self-described “little old librarian” at Vidalia Lower Elementary School has recently been named one of the top three elementary teachers in Louisiana and one of nine finalists for the 2019 State Teacher of the Year Award.

“I’m just a little old librarian,” said Susan Mingee, the library media specialist at Vidalia Lower Elementary. “I’m not used to being in the spotlight.”

Earlier this year, the Concordia Parish School District honored Mingee as the Concordia Parish 2018 Teacher of the Year, and that was just the beginning of her time under the spotlight, she said.

“It was such an honor to be nominated,” Mingee said. “My principal (Sandy Scruggs) and my superintendent, Whest Shirley both encouraged me to move forward and apply for (the 2019) state teacher of the year.”

Mingee started the application process, where she answered questions, wrote six different essays, made an hour-long video recording of herself teaching a lesson and reflected on the lessons she taught.

After being selected as one of the 24 semi-finalists, she was invited to New Orleans with the other semi-finalists for both teacher and principal of the year, where she was named one of the nine finalists and one of the top three elementary teachers in the state. On July 27, her achievement was recognized at the 12th Annual Cecil J. Picard Gala in Baton Rouge, where awards were announced including Spencer Kiper, of Elm Grove Middle School in Bossier Parish, being named the 2019 Louisiana State Teacher of the Year, and Eric Davis, Ph.D, of Wossman High School in the City of Monroe School District, being named the 2019 Louisiana State Principal of the Year.

“The whole teacher of the year process has been a wonderful experience that has afforded me the opportunity to meet and learn from many outstanding teachers and principals from across the State of Louisiana,” Mingee said. “I am honored to have been chosen to represent Concordia Parish School District.”

Finalists received commendations from Gov. John Bel Edwards and from the Louisiana Department of Education, as well as a variety of prizes and an invitation to join the elite National Network of Teachers of the Year Association.