DeSoto Parish Schools is excited to announce that Megan Descant, a Biology and biomedical sciences teacher, and Christina White, a Geometry teacher at North DeSoto High School, have been named 2024 Exemplary Educators by the Louisiana State Department of Education. This annual honor recognizes teachers, teacher specialists, and school leaders who represent excellence in education.
This year, stakeholders across the state submitted recommendations for the 2024 Louisiana Exemplary Educator Recognition Program through a confidential process. The candidates were unaware of their recommendations.
Exceptional educational talent as evidenced by effective and innovative instructional practices and student learning results in the classroom and school;
Exemplary educational accomplishments and leadership beyond the classroom that provide models of excellence for the profession.
Individuals whose contributions to education are largely unheralded yet worthy of the spotlight.
Early- to mid-career educators (minimum of five years) who offer strong long-range potential for professional and policy leadership.
An engaging and inspiring presence that motivates and impacts students, colleagues, and the community.
Mrs. Megan Descant has been an educator for thirteen years. She spent the first four years of her career as a science teacher at Haughton High School with the Bossier Parish Schools System and the past nine years at North DeSoto High School with the DeSoto Parish Schools System.
Mrs. Descant teaches Biology, PLTW Principles of Biomedical Science, and PLTW Medical Interventions. She also serves as the NDHS yearbook sponsor. She earned a Bachelor’s in Kinesiology and a Master of Teaching from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA.
Mrs. Descant says, “Being nominated for Exemplary Educator in Louisiana is a tremendous honor. It’s not just an award; it’s a recognition of teachers’ hard work and dedication to helping students learn and grow. It’s a reminder of the impact teachers can have on shaping young lives and preparing them for the future. I’m proud to be a part of a profession that makes a difference every day.”
Mrs. Christina White has been in education for nineteen years and began teaching in the DeSoto Parish Schools at North DeSoto High School in 2018. She has taught at all levels, from 3rd grade math to her current instruction in Geometry, including Special Education Inclusion. Mrs. White earned a Bachelor of Elementary Education from Northwestern State University in 1999 and completed her secondary math certification in 2019. She coached the first-ever North DeSoto Tennis Team in 2023 and accomplished a winning season with a state tournament qualifier.
Mrs. White says,” I am truly honored to be considered an Exemplary Educator! This means that my love of teaching and math and my love of my students is being translated in a way that reaches people inside and outside of the classroom. Desoto Parish provides a perfect environment for me to grow in my profession and help students reach their goals.”
North DeSoto High School Principal Tamela Phillips offers high praise for these two educators.
“We are so excited for these two wonderful ladies and are blessed to have them serving our students daily. They both exemplify excellence inside and outside of their classroom; they are amazing teachers and embody the DeSoto Difference.”
Exemplary Educators will receive a certificate of recognition, honored during a Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) meeting, and may be invited to participate on advisory boards and task forces, as well as be considered for other state and national recognition programs.
For more information on the Exemplary Educator program visit: