Meet the Higher Education Graduates

Angela Bradley, PhD, graduated with her doctoral degree in the PK-12 Educational Leadership Program in the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education in December of 2023. Her research examined the relational aspect of trust, a characteristic of servant leadership, in the teacher-principal relationship. More specifically, she examined the role that trust plays in enhancing a school’s culture, how trust is established and maintained among principals and teachers, specific indicators that trust is present on a school campus, and trust’s effects on collaboration and organizational commitment. Her study was titled, Investigating the Relational Element of Trust in Teacher-Principal Relationships: An Autoethnographic Case Study. Currently, Dr. Bradley serves as a Pre-K – 8 school principal in the Jefferson Parish Public School System.

Bonnie Chelette, PhD graduated with her doctoral degree in the PK-12 Educational Leadership Program in the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education in December 2023. Her research, titled A Comparative Analysis of Models of Cybersecurity in Louisiana Public School Systems, examined cybersecurity models in K-12 school systems to understand their specific needs and solutions including the importance of secure practices, diverse threat management, and the interplay of technical, procedural, and human factors in cybersecurity. Currently, she serves as the Director of Educational Technology for the Louisiana Department of Education.

Ellen Brupbacher Daugherty, PhD graduated with her doctoral degree in the PK-12 Educational Leadership Program in the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education in December 2022. Her research examined how Reading Recovery training transformed the way teachers understood and taught reading and her study was titled, An Exploration of Trained Reading Recovery Teachers’ Perceptions about the Program and Subsequent Influences on Select Teachers’ View of Reading Instruction. Currently, she serves as the K-2 Academic Facilitator at the LSU Lab School.

Nathan Wayne Hite, PhD graduated with his doctoral degree in the PK-12 Educational Leadership Program in the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education in December 2022. His research examined critical components of principal preparation fieldwork, and his study was titled, Experience That Works: An Investigation Uncovering Essential Elements of Field Experiences and Internships within Principal Preparation Programs that Significantly Impact and Contribute to Principal Effectiveness. Currently, Dr. Hite is serving as Principal at Westdale Heights Academic Magnet (WHAM) with East Baton Rouge Parish School System.

Bridget Zeringue Lemoine, PhD graduated with her doctoral degree in the PK-12 Educational Leadership Program in the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education in December 2023. Her research, titled New Standards versus New World: An examination of select South Louisiana teachers’ experiences with Next Generation Science Standards in a Virtual Context, examined certain changes made to the science standards in Louisiana and examined how the pandemic interrupted NGSS implementation in the classroom both with teachers who were familiar with the new standards and those new to the science classroom and the new standards. Currently, she serves as an Instructional Coach at Central Middle School in Ascension Parish School District.

Channing Parfait, PhD graduated with his doctoral degree in the PK-12 Educational Leadership Program in the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education in May 2022. His research examined how co-planning can expand expertise for mentors and mentees engaged in a yearlong teacher residency, and his study was titled, Exploring Co-planning Conversations as a Professional Development Activity for Mentors and Mentees at the Beginning of a Yearlong Residency. Currently, he is the assistant dean for the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences at Nicholls State University. He also serves as an assistant professor in the P-12 educational leadership program at Nicholls State University.

Whitney Presley, PhD is an educator and entrepreneur native to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Research from Louisiana State University. Whitney is a licensed education leader and a Certified Mathematics Content Specialist. Whitney holds several other professional certifications, including Education Specialist and Content Leader Program Provider. Whitney is passionate about volunteerism and serves as a member of multiple organizations, including Junior Executive Board Member of Fork Cancer and Club Blue. Whitney has also received several notable recognitions, including being named District Elementary Teacher of the Year and being recognized as one of the local Forty Under 40 honorees.

Vickey R. Silas began her doctoral journey in Fall 2020, focusing her research on the field of Leadership in Policymaking. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of New Orleans, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Paralegal Studies. Vickey pursued a Master of Science in Secondary Education from William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She also completed an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Cambridge College in Boston, Massachusetts as well as a 2nd Education Specialist degree in Educational Leadership from Louisiana State University. Vickey's primary research interest lies in examining gender, race and intersectional identities in policymaking. With a focus on the lived experiences of Black women as education policymakers. Vickey is currently the Chief of Staff at the Louisiana Department of Education.