Lafayette, LA (May 29, 2025) – The Lafayette Parish School System is proud to announce the appointments of Catherine Cassidy as Director of Food Services and Dr. Erin Atkins as Principal of Ovey Comeaux High School.
Ms. Cassidy brings to her new districtwide role 26 years of experience in education, with 24 of those years devoted to LPSS. She began her career in the classroom, teaching and coaching for 12 years, before moving into school leadership. After serving four years as assistant principal at Acadiana High School, she was named the founding principal of Southside High School in 2017, where she built a strong academic and cultural foundation over seven years. Most recently, Ms. Cassidy served as principal at Ovey Comeaux High School.
Dr. Erin Atkins has been appointed principal of Ovey Comeaux High School, bringing with her nearly two decades of educational experience, including over a decade at Comeaux. For the past year, she has served as Assistant Principal at Ovey Comeaux High, following previous roles as instructional leader, library media specialist, and science teacher at the school. Dr. Atkins earned her Doctorate of Education from the American College of Education, where her research focused on teacher retention in Louisiana high schools. She holds multiple certifications, including Educational Leadership and Library Information Science.
Superintendent Francis Touchet expressed his confidence in the appointments: “Both Ms. Cassidy and Dr. Atkins are proven leaders whose dedication to students, staff, and our school system is unwavering. Their experience and vision will be instrumental in continuing to strengthen LPSS and provide exceptional opportunities for all students.”
