Brandon LeGroue: A Passion for Kids

After graduating from Denham Springs High School, Brandon LaGroue entered LSU and earned a degree in biochemistry. It seemed like the logical thing to do. Several members of his family were physicians, and a career in medicine seemed like the next step. Or perhaps he would earn a PhD in biochemistry.
The problem was, Brandon LaGroue had little interest in medicine and less in biochemistry.
“I had always played sports growing up but what I really enjoyed was coaching the Biddy baseball team or mentoring in kids!” LaGroue, now 36, said Saturday, just after learning the news that Central Supt. Jason Fountain had named him the new principal at Central High School.
“What I really wanted to do was teach and coach!”
Brandon’s grandfather and grandmother had moved to Central in the 1950’s, and his dad graduated from Central High School in 1977. Brandon often visited his grandparents in Central, and he always thought Central was special.
An opening came at Starkey Academy. He was armed with his degree in biochemistry. Headmaster Steve Whitlow said, “You will be our science and math department!”
Right away, he was named Starkey’s head girls basketball coach, head softball coach, and assistant football coach. “I took every opportunity they threw at me!” he said. “That was also the year we had our first child. So there was very little sleep.” He was making a little over $20,000. “Frankly, I loved it and would have worked for free if I could!” he said.
Unfortunately, Starkey closed, and Brandon was left looking for a job. The Central school system had been created the year before. He was hired to work in a summer program at Central High. Not as a teacher but just to help out.
He worked out of the same office as then principal Ronnie Devall. Some of the students were involved in a summer science program but didn’t have a teacher. LaGrone stopped in and started answering their questions and teaching them science.
It wasn’t long after that that Mr. Duvall and the new principal, Bob Wells, offered him a job at Central High. He was also coaching football, baseball, and basketball.
Eager to take on responsibilities, he made himself available wherever needed. Teaching at Central High meant he would have to go back and be certified through an alternative certification program that was being offered. He weighed into that, eventually also getting certified in administration.
He became a familiar face to students and also to parents because he was coaching so many sports.
In 2012, the Central school system considered creating a 9th grade academy and moving it to the old Starkey Academy location.
LaGroue loved the idea of the 9th grade academy but hated the idea of moving the kids off the campus. He felt it would cut them off from the mainstream of student life at Central High School.
When a public forum was called on the issue, LaGroue bucked protocol, went to the meeting, and spoke out strongly against moving the 9th grade academy off campus.
His passion and courage gained the attention of then-Supt. Mike Faulk, Mr. Wales, and other school leaders. When the 9th grade academy was established, Brandon LaGroue was named administrator of the 9th grade academy, a position he enjoyed.
During 2017-2018, he was promoted to assistant principal at the high school. Then when Central principal David Prescott announced he was retiring, Brandon was one of three applicants for principal. Supt. Jason Fountain and a team of administrators interviewed the applicants.
Late Friday afternoon, Fountain announced LaGroue was chosen.
In an interview Saturday, Brandon LaGroue talked about his reaction to the announcement:
• “Dr. Fountain said we are going to be a world class school system, and that’s the way it should be!”
• “Central is a storied community. People are proud to say they are from Central. With hard work, guts, and courage, we can show the world what we can do!”
• “This is a great opportunity to be a servant-leader to everyone in the school and the community!”
• “We’re here to give back!”
• “Can you imagine if we could all put aside self? When it’s not about self, we can fly!” • “There is no cap on what we can do together.”
• “It’s about being part of a team. Not only football or basketball or baseball, but also the band or the cheerleaders. The entire school. If we think of ourselves as a team, we can overcome any obstacle.”
When LaGroue was shown the article on Page 16 by Todd Lasseigne, he said, “I had the privilege of coaching Todd for four years. He’s a great kid but, more than that, he’s the ultimate teammate. He’s a great athlete but didn’t really get to play much in the State Championship. Yet, that didn’t matter. He saw himself as a part of the team. He cheered for every other player on and off the field. He sees the community as a team. That’s what Todd Lasseigne is all about.”
Brandon said one of his goals is to be like his grandfather, who was a deacon at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church. “He never met a stranger. He recognized the importance of other human beings. He was a people person and saw the importance of human interaction. I’ve had great parents and grandparents! They work hard and have strong values. I just want to be like them!” Principal LaGroue will announce some of his plans in the coming weeks.