State Superintendent of Schools John White tours St. Mary Parish school

State Superintendent of Schools John White spent several hours visiting Hattie Watts Elementary on Monday. This was the first time since he became superintendent in 2012 that White has visited a St. Mary Parish public school, and only the second time in a decade that any state superintendent has visited a school in the parish, St. Mary Superintendent Donald Aguillard said. White toured the school with Sen. Bret Allain, R-Franklin, and Rep. Sam Jones, D-Franklin; parish education leaders, school administrators, teachers and students. Those students demonstrated and explained the seven habits they have been embracing as part of the “Leader in Me” program. New to the school this year, Hattie Watts incorporated a program based on Stephen Covey’s “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.” Niki Fryou, Hattie Watts principal, told White the community raised the $30,000 needed to fund the first year. The program is three years and will cost $80,000 when complete.