LAFAYETTE, LA (April 11, 2025) – The Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) is proud to announce the appointment of Brandon Bonner as the new principal of Charles Burke Elementary School.
Mr. Bonner brings with him more than a decade of experience within LPSS, a strong commitment to academic excellence, and a passion for student leadership and development. A former student-athlete and graduate of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas, Bonner began his educational career as a PE itinerant paraprofessional at Youngsville Middle and Broussard Middle, where he also coached multiple athletic teams.
Within just 18 months, Bonner earned his teaching certification and was named the PE teacher at Broussard Middle School. Over the next six years, he coached football, basketball, and track, consistently emphasizing both academic and personal growth for his student-athletes. His dedication to innovation led to the creation of a Robotics elective, which allowed middle school students to earn high school credit and prepared them for success in the Robotics program at Comeaux High School.
In pursuit of leadership excellence, Bonner earned his Master’s in Educational Leadership from LSU Shreveport. He went on to serve as Assistant Principal at Judice Middle School for two and a half years, playing a key role in raising the school’s performance score and helping the school achieve its current “B” rating.
Most recently, Bonner served as Assistant Principal at Dr. Raphael A. Baranco Elementary, one of the first elementary schools in Louisiana to implement the Accelerating Campus Excellence (ACE) model. In just its first year, the school has shown remarkable academic growth and is now recognized as one of the top ACE model schools nationwide.
Bonner is currently completing his Doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, with a dissertation focusing on the underrepresentation of students of color in K-12 gifted programs.
Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr. expressed his confidence in Bonner’s leadership, stating, “Burke Elementary will benefit from Mr. Bonner’s passion for student growth and dedication to nurturing a culture of success. I’m excited to see him take this next step in his educational career.”
LPSS welcomes Brandon Bonner as he steps into his new role at Charles Burke Elementary and looks forward to the continued progress and achievements the school will experience under his leadership.
