INTERNATIONAL DELEGATION DEDICATES HISTORIC BUILDING FOR FRENCH SCHOOL

NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and French Consul General Nathalie Beras headlined a dais of dignitaries Thursday, Nov. 3 in dedication of the historic Alfred C. Priestley school building on Leonidas Street as Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans (LFNO), Priestley Campus.

“We are excited to cut ribbons today on this beautiful building, home to our upper school,” Dr. Chase McLaurin, LFNO CEO said. “It’s a new day at Lycée Français, and this building is a highly visible, tangible example of the determination of so many dedicated people and institutions. We are grateful.”

Priestley is the upper school (8-12th grades) campus of three-location LFNO, the only French-accredited preK-12 public school in North America. A type 2 charter, LFNO accepts children from any Louisiana parish and has faculty from French-speaking nations ranging from France and Belgium to Senegal and Morocco.

The $14.6 million project earned the Excellence in Construction Award from Associated Builders and Contractors of Louisiana for the historic restoration and expansion of the building.

“We are proud of the accomplishments and growth of Lycée Français and those who have made this school exemplary,” said Lt. Gov. Nungesser. “To have the largest, free French immersion program in North America offers an extraordinary educational opportunity for pre-K through 12th grade students.” 

“Through the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana (CODOFIL) program, which is under the Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, at least 175 foreign associate teachers are instructing in French immersion programs in 13 parishes. Forty of those teachers are at Lycée Français,” he said.

With Lt. Gov. Nungesser and Consul General Beras were Olivier Boasson from the French Embassy in Washington, D.C.; Caroline Roemer, executive director of Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools; Peggy Feehan, executive director of CODIFIL; John Donahue III, DonahueFavret Contractors, Inc.; Dr. Shearon Roberts, LFNO board chair; Ashley-Nicole Grosse, Amis du Lycée Français Foundation chair; and Tiguida Mathieu, LFNO representative for French Affairs and head of the upper school.

CODOFIL is Louisiana's French agency, fostering Louisiana's francophone communities through scholarships, French immersion, community and language skill-building programs.

French Consul General Nathalie Beras summed up the occasion, saying, “Vive la France! Vive la Louisiane! Vive Lycée Français!”

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About Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans
As New Orleans’ sole French pre K-12 public school, Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orleans is designing and providing an innovative, world-class French Accredited learning model by immersing students in a culturally and linguistically rich learning environment. LFNO maintains four academic goals school-wide to increase mathematic, reading and standardized testing performance and goal achievement, while also surrounding students with French language, culture and academic life. LFNO.org