Born and raised in New Iberia, 91łÔąĎ, Noel Migues Boutte has spent her career teaching at her alma mater, New Iberia Senior High.
After earning her bachelor’s in secondary education and math from the 91łÔąĎ, she stepped straight into the classroom — and for more than 15 years, that’s where she’s made her mark.
Boutte had always wanted to be in the classroom. But after a decade, she started to wonder how she could keep growing.
“I was looking at what new goals I could set for myself, and I decided I wanted to get my master’s,” Boutte says.
That goal led her back to UL Lafayette for the Master of Education in Educational Leadership; a hybrid program designed for teachers ready to take the next step in their careers without stepping away from the classroom.
Finding the Right Program Fit
When it came time to return to school, UL Lafayette’s M.Ed. in Educational Leadership stood out for its format.
“I looked into a couple of other programs, but I felt the hybrid situation was best for me,” she says. “I needed to talk to people. I needed to be in a classroom at least once a week.”
In the program, students take two courses each semester, meeting with one class face-to-face each week. On weeks without in-person classes, coursework is completed online.
That mix of in-person and online coursework provided structure and community — both of which made a difference during a hectic season of life.
“I found out I was accepted into grad school on my honeymoon,” she says. “Then I moved, started teaching again, and by October I found out I was pregnant. Within two years, I got married, moved cities, had a baby, and finished grad school.”
Through it all, her professors and classmates provided constant support.
“They gave me grace when I needed it,” Boutte says. “I did an assignment in the hospital the day after having a baby. My professors let me Zoom when I couldn’t drive to Lafayette, and my classmates knew it was my first child, so they helped however they could.”
Growth, Connection, and Leadership
Boutte says the program helped her strengthen the skills she uses daily in the classroom, fostering collaboration and a greater understanding of different perspectives.
“We spent a lot of time learning to respect others’ thought processes,” she says. “Other people have creative solutions, and their thought process is also valid.”
She also valued meeting educators across her district — connections she wouldn’t have made otherwise.
“My favorite part was working with people from Iberia Parish that I wouldn’t have been able to work with if I hadn’t met them through this program,” she says.
For now, Boutte is content in the classroom, waiting for the right leadership opportunity.
“I’m not just going to jump at a position because it’s available,” she says. “I want to wait for the one where I’ll thrive. I love teaching, and I love my students.”
Her advice for future students considering the M.Ed. in Educational Leadership?
“Just do it,” she says. “It’s going to be challenging, and you’re going to have to juggle some things. But if I can do it, anybody can. You’re always going to be busy — but you won’t regret it once it’s done.”
Advance your teaching career with an M.Ed. in Educational Leadership from UL Lafayette.