By JIM BUTLER

Three Rapides Parish educators are among 67 moving a step closer to being named the state’s best.

The Louisiana Department of Education announced that;  Becky Warren, Principal of Nachman Elementary, is a State Principal of the Year Semifinalist;  Bill Foley, Brame Middle School, is a New Middle School Teacher of the Year Finalist;  Michelle Queen, leader at Bright Beginnings, is an Early Childhood Leader of the Year Finalist.

The DOE program recognizes that great teachers and school leaders are critical to student success.

All semifinalists will be honored at the annual Cecil Picard Education Excellence Awards gala in July at the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

Picard, state superintendent of education for 11 years at the time, died at age 69 of ALS in 2007.

He was a state legislator (terms in both chambers) prior to becoming superintendent.