Through its WellSpot Designation Program, Well-Ahead Louisiana works with schools to help them meet wellness benchmarks.  These benchmarks include things like creating a School Wellness Committee, incorporating physical activity energizers in the classroom, and implementing Smart Snacks. 

Becoming a School WellSpot is a great first step to implementing the WSCC model at your school.  There are many resources that can help your school implement WSCC components and WellSpot Benchmarks. Visit our school resources webpage to learn more.

Most US children attend school for 6 hours a day and consume as much as half of their daily calories at school. The school nutrition environment and services is part of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong healthy eating behaviors.

CDC recommends that schools implement policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. A healthy school nutrition environment provides students with nutritious and appealing foods and beverages, consistent and accurate messages about good nutrition, and ways to learn about and practice healthy eating throughout the time children spend on school grounds—including before- and after-school.

Schools are in a unique position to help students attain the nationally recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Physical education and physical activity is one component of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model and can help shape lifelong physical activity behaviors.

CDC recommends a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all available opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the nationally-recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. This approach is referred to as a Comprehensive School Physical Activity Program (CSPAP). The goal of CSPAP is to increase physical activity opportunities before, during, and after school and increase students’ overall physical activity and health.

Lawmakers cleared the air for every student in the state last year by passing Act 351. The legislation prohibits smoking across more than 1,400 schools statewide. Talk about breathing room! Click here to learn more about implementing a tobacco-free policy at your school. 

While cigarette use has steadily declined among youth, new vapor (or e-cigarette) products targeted to youth have changed the tobacco landscape. In Louisiana, vaping increased by 48% among high school students (from 8.3% to 12.3%) and 65% among middle school students (from 5.2% to 8.6%) between 2015 and 2017!

Check out Well-Ahead Louisiana’s Memorandum for School Administrators, School Nurses, Health Educators, and Coaches to learn how you can be a leader in stopping the vaping epidemic and ensuring a healthy and bright future for Louisiana’s youth! Vaping and tobacco resources can also be found here.

Louisiana Healthy Schools Grantee Meetings: September 23-24, Baton Rouge

​District and local school health teams from Ouachita, Calcasieu, St. Landry, Lafayette, East Baton Rouge, and Tangipahoa Parishes will gather to receive professional development to support the Louisiana Healthy School Communities Grant. To learn more about the grant, click here. 

School Nutrition

The Krewe provides professional development to schools and school district on the implementing policies and practices to create a nutrition environment that supports students in making healthy choices. 

• Local Wellness Policies
• Smart Snacks
• Celebrations & Rewards 
• Food and Beverage Marketing 
• Healthy Eating Learning Opportunities
• Staff Role Modeling
• Healthy Eating Before and After School

Louisiana Team Nutrition, in partnerhip with the Louisiana Culinary Institute, has launched a regional culinary skills training series in that is focused on enhancing food preparation skills and knowledge of school food service professionals. The training has traveled the state, reaching Baton Rouge, Monroe, Bossier Parish, Lake Charles, Marksville, and the surrounding areas.  The next training will be in Baton Rouge in the 2019-2020 school year. To learn more, visit Louisiana Fit Kids or contact Stephanie Jodeir at Stephanie.Jodeir@la.gov 

Physical Activity and Physical Education 

The Krewe provided professional development on implementing a multi-component approach by which school districts and schools use all available opportunities for students to be physically active, meet the 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be physically active for a lifetime. 

• Physical Education 
• Recess
• Classroom Physical Activity 
• Physical Activity Before and After School 
• Staff Involvement Family 
• Community Engagement 

Management of Chronic Conditions (Coming in the 2019-2020 School Year)

The healthcare needs of children with chronic illness can be complex and continuous and include both daily management and addressing potential emergencies. Health services in schools are a key component of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child model. Ensuring that students have the health services they need in school to manage their chronic condition is important in helping them stay healthy and ready to learn.

Health Education (Coming in the 2019-2020 School Year)

Health education is integral in providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to become successful learners and healthy adults. Health education that provides students with the knowledge, attitudes, skills, and experiences needed for lifelong healthy eating and physical activity. 

Below is a current listing of content leads for the Healthy Schools Training Krewe. 

Joanna Faerber, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

JiJi Jonas, MSE

Area of Expertise: Physical Activity/Physical Education 

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Christina Courtney, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Erica Gilliam, MS

Area of Expertise: School & Employee Wellness, Smarter Lunchrooms, Physical Activity

Location: Bossier City, LA

Emily Pineda, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Activity, Out of School time, and School Wellness

Location: New Orleans, LA

Stephen Guccione, MA

Area of Expertise: Physical Education, Health, and Wellness

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

Stephanie Jodeir, BS

Area of Expertise: Nutrition

Location: New Orleans

Dr. Ben Kern, PhD

Area of Expertise: Physical education pedagogy

Location: Lafayette, LA

Dr. Chuck Duncan, PhD

Area of Expertise: Physical education pedagogy

Location: Lafayette, LA

Joannie Miller, MS

Area of Expertise: ICN Trainer/Consultant, CNP Trainer/Consultant; Smarter Lunchrooms,  School & Employee Wellness

Location: Bogalusa, LA

Jen Duhon, MS, RDN, LDN

Expertise: School Health and Wellness programs, School Nutrition Program, Grant writing, Agriculture promotion, FUTP 60 program

Location: Opelousas, LA

Tina Griffith, MS

Area of Expertise: Health Education and Health Promotion Programs

Location: New Orleans, LA

Angela Simonton, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education and Health Education

Location: Baton Rouge, LA

K-Lynn McKey, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education and Health Education

Location: Breaux Bridge, LA

Kerri Lee, MS

Area of Expertise: Physical Education

Location: Zachary, LA

Education: B.S. in Kinesiology, M.S. in Kinesiology

Andre Dicharry, M.Ed.

Area of Expertise: Physical Education and Physical Activity

Location: Shreveport, LA 

Danielle Guillory, RN, MSN  

Area of Expertise: Management of Chronic Conditions

Location: Calcasieu, LA 

• Louisiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (LAHPERD):Founded in 1934, the aim of this organization is to improve the quality of life through health and fitness and recreational activities. LAHPERD is an affiliate of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
• Louisiana School Nurse Organization (LSNO): LSNO is proudly celebrating almost 40 years of serving the health needs of school-age children in Louisiana and advancing the practice of school nursing.
• The School Nutrition Association of Louisiana (SNAL): SNAL is a nonprofit professional organization founded in 1954. SNAL has 77 local chapters across the state of Louisiana and more than 3,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the state of Louisiana. SNAL brings a unique, firsthand perspective to child nutrition issues.