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Louisiana Policy Institute for Children Executive Director Receives “Friend of Children” Award

NEW ORLEANS — The Louisiana Early Childhood Association (LAECA) recognized Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC) Executive Director, Dr. Libbie Sonnier, for her extraordinary work on behalf of children and their families and presented her the Friend of Children Award at their 56th annual conference in Alexandria, LA on Nov. 4.  

LAECA, a nonprofit early childhood organization for teachers, parents, caregivers, and early care professionals is dedicated to improving the lives of Louisiana's children from birth to eight years of age. The Friend of Children Award is selected by the LAECA board of directors and given to someone who champions Louisiana’s youngest learners and their families statewide.  

“There aren’t many rooms where policies related to the children of Louisiana are being spoken about where the name, Dr. Libbie Sonnier doesn’t come up,” says LAECA President Dr. Debra Jo Hailey. “Through her leadership at LPIC, her work with the Early Literacy Commission and her contributions to the new Louisiana Birth to Five Standards, she drives everyone to believe that a successful Louisiana starts with successful children.” 

Inspired by her nephew, Zane, born with special needs, Dr. Sonnier began her career as an early interventionist working with families who had very young children with developmental disabilities. Since then, she has acquired leadership positions across multiple agencies throughout the South, working in director’s roles for the Mississippi State Department of Health, the Louisiana Department of Education and the Picard Center for Child Development and Lifelong Learning at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Before her appointment as Executive Director of LPIC, she was the acting President & CEO/Vice President of Programs of the Louisiana Children’s Research Center for Development and Learning.

Dr. Sonnier’s leadership, innovative policies, and unyielding advocacy on behalf of children not only in Louisiana, but across the Southern United States guides her mission improving the lives of Louisiana’s youngest children and their families.  

For more information about Dr. Sonnier and LPIC visit PolicyInstituteLA.org.

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*Editor’s Note: High-resolution images available here.

About Louisiana Policy Institute for Children:

Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that Louisiana's young children, from birth to age four, are best prepared for success in school and in life. The Policy Institute develops policy proposals informed by data, research, best practices, and the experiences of other states to improve the outcomes of Louisiana’s youngest citizens, and further provides educational and outreach activities based on recommended policy solutions. The organization works to ensure children are safe, healthy and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.policyinstitutela.org and follow the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 

 

 

Alicia Vial