New Director of Middle Schools named

     DONALDSONVILLE – Ascension Public Schools has named Edith Miller Walker the new Director of Middle Schools, effective Jan. 1, 2016. 

     The current director, Gwendolyn Price, is retiring after 30 years in Ascension Parish. At a recent School Board meeting, Superintendent Patrice Pujol recognized Price for her many years of service and introduced Walker to the Board. 

     "Ms. Walker has served in a variety of capacities in our district from a guidance counselor to a high school principal and an instructional leadership partner,” Pujol said. “She is highly skilled, a great team member and will bring great expertise to this middle school role.” 

     Originally from White Castle, Walker started her career as an English teacher at Pointe Coupee Central High School. In 2002, she became a counselor at Dutchtown High School (DTHS) before becoming an assistant principal, associate principal, and then principal of DTHS. In 2014, Walker was promoted to an Instructional Leadership Partner (ILP) for the school district. Her new appointment as Director of Middle Schools will mark her fifth promotion in 14 years with Ascension Public Schools.

     "I am honored to be selected to serve at this level within our district," Walker said. "I have worked in high schools for about 16 years, and I have a unique perspective of seeing what that end result looks like in our students. I look forward to continuing to help our principals build strong, academically challenged,  socially sound and emotionally secure students."

     As one of four siblings who all graduated from college and hold successful careers, Walker credits her parents, and specifically her father, Emile Miller, for instilling a drive to succeed. 

     "He taught me to work hard, treat people well, set goals and meet those goals,” she said. “He is the epitome of a person who is focused, goal and action-oriented, yet compassionate.”

     Walker holds multiple degrees from Louisiana State University including a BA in English and creative writing, a Master's degree in counseling and administration, and an Educational Specialist degree in adolescent counseling.

     She and her husband of 18 years, Kendrick Walker, have a five-year-old daughter named Kennedi.