By Tiffany Flournoy
HOMER, La. — The Claiborne Parish School Board honored a state championship football team and recognized the district’s top students and educators during its regular meeting Feb. 5.
The board adopted a formal resolution recognizing the Haynesville High School football team as the 2025 Division IV Non-Select State Champions. The Golden Tornadoes completed a perfect 10-0 regular season and went 4-0 in the playoffs, securing the state title Dec. 11, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.
Head Coach David Franklin thanked the board for the recognition, describing the team as “an exceptional group of young men, not only on the field but off the field.”
He said the championship reflects the hard work put in each year by players and coaches and added that he is proud of the way the team represents the town of Haynesville.
According to the resolution, the team’s accomplishment brought “honor, pride and recognition” to Haynesville High School, the Haynesville community, the Claiborne Parish School Board and the parish as a whole. It also recognized assistant coaches Tony Gantt, Mario Thompson, Jasper Edwards, Ryan Ware and Dallas Lay, along with Principal Lee Simms, faculty and the student body.
In other recognitions, Instructional Supervisor Marco French introduced the district’s Students of the Year, Teachers of the Year and Principal of the Year through a slideshow highlighting their achievements. Superintendent Chris Brooks and Board President Perry Anderson presented each honoree with a trophy and certificate.
Emery Edwards, a fifth grader at Haynesville Elementary School; Sonnie Vinson, an eighth grader at Summerfield High School; and Leyla Slaughter, a senior at Homer High School, were named Students of the Year. Teachers of the Year are Miranda Wingard, elementary teacher at Summerfield; Macy Garner, middle school teacher at Haynesville Jr./Sr. High; and LaFrance Cooper, high school teacher at Homer High. William Simms of Haynesville Jr./Sr. High was named Principal of the Year. All will advance to represent the district at the state level.
The board also approved revisions to policies addressing notification of school board meetings, employee recruitment, dismissal and conduct, all stemming from the 2025 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature. The motion passed 8-0.
Maintenance Supervisor Joey Guillory received approval to seek bids for renovations to the Haynesville auditorium, following prior review by the Buildings and Grounds Committee. The motion passed unanimously.
Board members briefly discussed January 2026 financials and current interest rates on district banking accounts. Further discussion on potentially moving funds due to interest rates is expected at a March finance meeting.