Plaquemine

The Plaquemine community is made up of two second-year teachers and four first-year teachers serving two different Catholic schools.

Tom Bodart
University of Notre Dame, 2006, Mechanical Engineering
Ascension Catholic High School, Physics, Physical Science, Religion

Alison Laycock
University of Notre Dame, 2010, English and Spanish
Ascension Catholic High School, English and Spanish

Stephen Rosenthal
Northwestern, 2010, English and Creative Writing
St. John Interparochial High School, English and Religion

Amy Kirkpatrick
Loras College, B.A. Spanish and English with a minor in Catholic Studies
St. John Interparochial High School, Spanish

Maura Shea
University of Dallas, B.A. English and Theology with a minor in Classics
Ascension Catholic, HS English

Allison Kochis
Villanova University, 2010, Biology
St. John Interparochial High School, Biology and Religion

What is unique about your community?

The name says it all… not many people have had the opportunity to live and/or work in Plaquemine, Louisiana. As a community of six, the ACEPlaquemine house has an opportunity to make its presence known in this small Louisiana town. With no movie theater, chain restaurants or shopping mall nearby, we learn to exercise our creative capacities and say “yes” to the invitations our friendly neighbors extend to Mardi Gras balls, craw fish boils, and LSU football games. With our own parking lot, LSU pool table and piano lounge, Satsuma tree and charming patio, we are well equipped to entertain others as well.

Provide a brief description of Plaquemine:

Plaquemine is a small town (population approximately 7,500) in rural Louisiana. It is only 30 minutes from Baton Rouge and the ACE community there. According to the description on its website, “Plaquemine lies nestled in the arms of scenic Bayou Plaquemine, a historic waterway used by the early French settlers and traders. It is mentioned in Longfellow’s epic poem, ‘Evangeline,’ and the water ceremony of the International Acadian Festival re-enacts Evangeline’s arrival in Plaquemine in search for her lover, Gabriel. A waterfront part now lines the northern shore of Bayou Plaquemine.”

What do you like most about the city in which you live?

Plaquemine is a friendly, traffic-free, one-of-a-kind place. Any and all visitors are treated to the opportunities that no other town can offer… the drive-thru daiquiri depot, lunch at Fat Daddy’s, watching LSU and Notre Dame football with the locals on Saturdays, early morning Cajun French radio, and fresh boiled crawfish purchased road side. The families in our neighborhoods and schools go out of their way to extend a warm, Southern welcome, inviting us into their homes and making sure that we don’t leave without an authentic Louisiana experience. This experience is, of course, replete with the food that has made Louisiana famous. Not many ACE teachers walk away from their two-year commitment having tasted alligator sauce piquante, crawfish beignets, seafood gumbo, and white chocolate bread pudding. Finally, Plaquemine is a short drive from New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Mobile, Biloxi, and the Cajun/Zydeco music capital of America, Lafayette; all of which serve as nice day trips or weekend excursions and boast endless petroleum/crawfish/strawberry/Cajun and Zydeco/Mardi Gras/Jazz festivals!

Schools served in Plaquemine

St. John Catholic High School
Ascension Catholic High School