Mayor Friday Ellis

❤️❤️Proud Husband Moment❤️❤️

Louisiana Delta Community College is now the state’s leading producer of Associate of Science in Teaching graduates, accounting for nearly 40% of all graduates in Louisiana. Even more telling, the Teacher Apprenticeship Program, TAP, is seeing a 75% retention rate compared to a state average of just 17%.

To call this model successful is an understatement.

What Ashley and team has built is changing the way we approach the teacher shortage.

A lot of programs try to solve this challenge by recruiting harder. This one solves it by rebuilding the pathway.

TAP meets people where they are in their lives. It is built for nontraditional students who cannot quit their jobs or step away from their responsibilities to go back to school full time. These are paraprofessionals, long term substitutes, and classroom aides already serving students every day.

This program works because it turns the people already serving in our schools into certified teachers. It removes barriers, provides real support, and allows them to stay rooted in the communities they already serve.

You learn while you earn. You stay in your community. And you build a meaningful career as an educator.

This program is not built apart from school districts. It is built with them. Districts are identifying their own people, investing in them, and creating a pipeline of trusted educators from within. When teachers come from the communities they serve, they are far more likely to stay and lead long term.

And as Ashley says, you are not behind. You are becoming.

Students range from their mid 20s to their 50s, proving there is no one path into education. What matters is having a pathway that works and the support to see it through.

With a seamless partnership with University of Louisiana Monroe and alignment with local workforce boards, TAP is not just preparing teachers. It is replacing them with a sustainable, community driven pipeline.

Ashley, I am incredibly proud of you and the impact you are making in communities across Louisiana. ❤️

Each time I travel and represent Monroe, I’m reminded of the responsibility and trust placed in me when I was elected mayor… an honor that continues to shape every decision and every conversation about the future of our city.

From the White House to the halls of Congress, I am proud to advocate for the City of Monroe… highlighting the transformative impact of Meta’s Hyperion data center and addressing both the opportunities and challenges it brings to our economy, infrastructure, and long-term growth.

Today, our meetings with the White House Intergovernmental Staff, and on Capitol Hill with Congresswoman Julia Letlow, Senator Bill Cassidy, and key federal partners focused on advancing critical infrastructure priorities and positioning Monroe for sustained growth and innovation.

As Mayor of Monroe, I understand we are not an island. We are the economic driver, healthcare hub, and educational center for a 10–12 parish region. That reality requires us to think bigger, plan smarter, and lead with a broader perspective. While my first responsibility is to the people of Monroe, I am also advocating for the strength of the communities around us… because when our region thrives, Monroe thrives. The opportunities before us are too important to pursue alone, and our future will be built by working together.

From City Hall… to Baton Rouge… to Washington, D.C., I carry the responsibility of representing Monroe with purpose and resolve. It is both a privilege and a profound honor to serve the people of this city and to help shape a future worthy of their trust.

The best is still ahead for Monroe.

Our city crew and contractors continue the storm debris removal efforts…. As you can see… the numbers are staggering.

Happy Mardi Gras, Monroe! 💜💚💛

City of Monroe crews and Southern Disaster Recovery have removed over 4,684 tons of storm debris so far. To put that in perspective, that’s the weight of around 4.6 million king cakes! 👏

That’s a lot of cleanup and a lot of progress. The work continues, and the results are adding up across our community!

Fun Fact: That's also about 937,000,000 Mardi Gras beads! 😉