The Chevron/Saints Teachers of the Week honored at the Saints' pre-season home games were local educators affiliated with the Teach for America program.  Two outstanding teachers were recognized during an on-field presentation during the pre-game ceremony at each game, and will continue the same pattern throughout the regular season. 

The honor was awarded to Ms. Hilah Barbot and Mr. Kwame Webster at the Saints vs. 49ers pre-season home game on August 12th.

Hilah Barbot grew up in Richmond, Virginia and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art & Religious Studies from the University of Virginia.  Now entering her third year at KIPP Central City Academy, Hilah's 6th grade students achieved 2.1 years of growth in Science.  On the I-LEAP test, 87% of her students earned a basic or above, compared to 51% in the district and 68% statewide.  

Kwame Webster is a native New Orleanian who attended Ben Franklin High school, but graduated from Berkley High School in California after having to evacuate as a result of Hurricane Katrina.  He later graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in African-American Studies from Oberlin College in Ohio before returning to New Orleans to become a Science teacher at Jefferson Chamber Foundation Academy.  Kwame's 9th-12th grade science students achieved an overall mastery of 76% of their grade level expectations and of all of the state of Louisiana's learning expectations.

At the September 1st pre-season home game versus the Tennessee Titans, the honor was awarded to Mr. Patrick McHugh and Ms. Meghan Strutner.

As a Saints fan who grew up in Nashville, Patrick McHugh spent the last four years teaching 4th grade students at Woodland West Elementary School in Harvey.  Having earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Ethics, Politics, & Economics from Yale University, he has been a contributor in helping his school achieve the highest SPS growth in the past three years, where his students averaged almost a mastery on the LEAP test last year.  Patrick also re-wrote the "Response to Intervention" program, and co-leads a group to keep young teachers in the Greater New Orleans Area.

Meghan Strutner, a Pebble Beach native, graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History and minored in Psychology and International Relations from Cal-Poly University before settling in New Orleans as a Kindergarten teacher at Arise Academy in the Lower 9th ward. By the end of her first year of teaching, 95% of her students were reading on a 1st grade level, and almost 90% of her students achieved mastery of their sight words and math units.  She is known for providing her students with rigorous content and always makes herself available for one-one-one tutoring.   

Congratulations again to Hilah Barbot, Kwame Webster, Patrick McHugh, and Meghan Strutner, Chevron/Saints Teachers of the Week!