THE ZACHA Y
ADVOCATE& T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
State teacher of the year takes unlikely journey to the classroom BY CHARLES LUSSIER Staff writer
When Regena Beard was recently named Louisiana Teacher of the Year, her mother was the most surprised. “If you had told me that you were not only going to be a teacher, but state teacher of the year,” she recalls her saying, “I would have swore you were lying.” In a career that has spanned 21 years, Beard has taught science to thousands of fifth- and sixth-graders in Zachary. It was not how she imagined her future. “I was not one of those kids who played class,” Beard said. Despite good grades, she was not energized by school, particularly science, the subject she later came to love so much. “It’s not that I didn’t have great teachers,” Beard recalls. “It just wasn’t my thing.”
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W e d n e s d ay, Au g u s t 13, 2025
$1.00N
11TH YEAR, NO. 44
First day
smiles
Emery Lindow and Eloise Dalferes on the first day of school at Zachary Elementary.
ä See TEACHER, page 3G
On the first day of school at Zachary High, from left, Sydney Canty-Ford, Vicki Nguyen, Vanessa Vo and McKinley Ross visit.
PROVIDED PHOTO
Broncos safety coach Scott Pellegrin
New Zachary High coach moves up after admiring program from afar From the bayou to Bronco Stadium — Scott Pellegrin joins the Broncos. The Zachary High defense has a new coach handling “the back half” this year with the addition 14-year coaching veteran Scott Pellegrin. Pellegrin starts his first season with the Broncos after slowly moving up in elevation from his time playing defensive backs in the swamps at South Terrebonne High Warren (Bourg — elevation 60 feet Brady above sea level) to the high ZACHARY plains of Zachary (elevation SPORTS 110 feet above sea level). After high school Pellegrin earned an undergraduate degree at Nicholls State University (Harvard on the Bayou) in Thibodaux (elevation 13 feet above sea level), where he also was a coach at E.D. White High School. “I was an accounting major to start. Changed my major to education, and a friend in class working at E.D. White got me my first coaching job,” Pellegrin said. He worked with the eighth-grade team. He received a M.S. in educational leadership from LSU in 2017 and was a coach at South Lafourche High School (Cut Off
ä See BRADY, page 3G
PROVIDED PHOTOS
Alicia and Emily Allen on the first day of school, Aug. 7, at Northwestern Elementary School. The mom is a member of ZEPTO.
John Lauer and Corben Thomas smile at the beginning of the first day of school at Zachary Early Learning Center. ä More photos. PAGE 2G
ZACHARY BALLOON FESTIVAL HEATS UP FOR THIRD YEAR
The third annual Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival was held Friday and Saturday at BREC’s Zachary Community Park. In addition to balloons, food trucks, face painting, a car show on Saturday only, a splash STAFF PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON pad and live music were available at the free Crew members hold open the mouth of the Delta Breeze hot air balloon event. as the pilot uses the burner to help inflate the balloon at the third ä More photos from the festival. PAGE 4G annual Zachary Really Hot Air Balloon Festival on Saturday.
Donations sought for Must Luv Dogs Rescue Leila Pitchford AROUND ZACHARY
Must Luv Dogs Rescue is seeking donations for its annual Facebook Auction. Donations so not have to be dog related. Money raised goes toward the group’s medical bills. Email mustluvdogs. org@gmail to make arrangements.
Business Expo set The Zachary Business Expo is set from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 9 at Americana YMCA. To register a booth, call the Zachary Chamber of Commerce at (225) 654-6777.
Chamber ribbon-cuttings
The Zachary Chamber of Commerce is hosting ribbon-cuttings at area businesses. n Zachary Spine and Sports Rehab is holding an anniversary ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Aug. 26 at 1215 Independence Blvd., Building 5, Suite A, Zachary. n Southern Clinical Research is celebrating 15 years of service with a ceremony at 10 a.m. Aug. 19
at 4867 W. Park Drive, Zachary. n Sweet Stirrings, 4342 High St., Zachary, is having a ribbon-cutting at its new building at 3 p.m., Aug. 19.
Zoo to host car show The inaugural Rumble in the Jungle will roll into town from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 1, bringing together car lovers, families and animal enthusiasts. This event will showcase an array of vehicles — from classic
cruisers to custom builds — set against the backdrop of the zoo grounds. Attendees can enjoy a full day of animal encounters, family-friendly activities and cars, included with the price of admission. Vehicle registration is open through Oct. 10. Visit brzoo.org/ rumble for registration details and event updates. Email Leila Pitchford at lpitchford@theadvocate.com.