By Reba Phelps
On March 31, 2026, Natchitoches Parish School Board Member, District 11, Emile Metoyer was honored for twenty four years of service at the Louisiana State School Boards Association at the 88th Annual Conference in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Metoyer and his family are no stranger to the public education school system. He was inspired by his father who drove a bus for 45 years years for Natchitoches Parish School Board, his mother who taught Special Education for thirty years. He also has many more relatives who were in Public Education.
Mr. Metoyer was first compelled to run for the School Board position to help parents of special needs children, he also wanted to help children obtain the services they needed, to be offered an equitable education. Through the years he has made it a mission to help all parents in need to make sure all children are treated fairly.
Metoyer shared “I am little sad that this is my last year in office. But I do think it’s time that the younger generation step up and serve the public. I was young when I stepped up, I’m still pretty young, (laughs) but it is time for other parents of kids in the system to get involved.”
When I ask what advice he would give to the next person running for District 11 Metoyer said, “Always listen to your constituents and don’t make promises that you can’t keep, there are many laws in place that we have to abide by.”
Mr. Metoyer has now worked with five different school superintendents. When asked who his favorite superintendent was he stated that Dr. Murphy was his favorite, as she was the only female superintendent that Natchitoches Parish has had, with Dr. Grant Eloi climbing the ladder really fast!
“Mr Emile has given so much to NPSB, the students of our parish and has been a great partner to myself and the rest of the Board. His twenty four years is something to be honored and will never be duplicated,” shared current Superintendent, Grant Eloi.
Mr. Metoyer still has plans to continue to serve parents as needed. He said that he will always be an advocate for special needs children and their parents, whenever they have needs that arises.
Reba Phelps jreba.phelps@gmail.com
