March Baton Rouge Teacher of the Month Winners: Udana Green & Francesca Braud

Every month, we get to do something we genuinely love. We stop and say thank you to the teachers who show up for our kids, our schools, and our community, day after day, often without nearly enough recognition for the work they do.

Teachers carry a lot. They manage classrooms full of students with different needs, different home situations, and different starting points. They stay late. They plan ahead. They invest in kids who don’t always make it easy. And most of the time, they do all of it without fanfare.

That’s exactly why we created the 225 Bulletin Board.

What Is the 225 Bulletin Board?

The 225 Bulletin Board is Gordon McKernan’s monthly program to recognize outstanding teachers and school staff across the greater Baton Rouge area. The name comes from our area code, because this program is about our community, full stop.

Each month, we select two winners who go above and beyond for the people around them. Every winner receives $250 and the honor of being featured on a billboard right here in the city they serve. It’s a small gesture in the big picture, but we believe public recognition matters. These educators deserve to be seen.

Nominations come from the community itself: students, parents, colleagues, and neighbors who want to shine a light on someone making a real difference. If that sounds like someone you know, keep reading.

March Winner: Udana Green, Capitol High School

This March, we are proud to recognize Udana Green of Capitol High School.

Capitol High holds a special place in Baton Rouge history. Founded in 1950 as the second public high school for African Americans in the city, it has carried generations of students through its doors. After more than a decade under state control, Capitol returned to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in 2023 with renewed purpose. The school now runs a growing medical focus program in partnership with Baton Rouge General, preparing students for careers in healthcare from the time they enter ninth grade.

Teaching at a school navigating that kind of transition takes real commitment. It takes someone willing to invest not just in the curriculum, but in the students themselves, and in the broader mission of rebuilding something worth believing in. Udana Green brings that investment every day, and we are honored to celebrate her this month.

Congratulations, Ms. Green. The Capitol High Lions community is lucky to have you.

March Winner: Francesca Braud, Woodlawn Elementary School

Our second March honoree is Francesca Braud of Woodlawn Elementary School.

Woodlawn Elementary serves more than 700 students across Baton Rouge, with a student body that reflects the diversity and resilience of this city. The school offers a Gifted and Talented program alongside its core curriculum and consistently performs above the East Baton Rouge Parish average in both reading and math. That kind of result doesn’t happen without dedicated teachers who take their work seriously.

Elementary educators carry something unique. They meet children at the very start of their academic lives, often before kids have developed the habits and confidence they’ll carry forward for years. The impressions made in those early classrooms stick. A teacher who shows warmth, patience, and genuine belief in her students during those foundational years leaves a mark that outlasts any lesson plan.

Francesca Braud does that work with care, and that is absolutely worth celebrating.

Congratulations, Ms. Braud. Woodlawn Elementary is a better place because of you.

Know an Educator Who Deserves Recognition?

Nominations for the 225 Bulletin Board come from people just like you. If there’s a teacher, coach, counselor, or school staff member in the Baton Rouge area who goes the extra mile, we want to hear about them. Visit our nomination page and tell us their story. Next month’s winners could be someone you know.

Gordon McKernan Is Proud to Serve the Baton Rouge Community

Recognizing great educators is one part of how we give back to the community that has trusted us for more than 30 years. Our commitment to Baton Rouge goes well beyond the courtroom.

If you or someone you love has been injured and needs legal help, our team is here for you. Call us at (888) 501-7888 or fill out our online form for a free consultation.

No fee unless we win.