Ascension Episcopal School Honors the Life and Legacy of Founder Dr. Jeanette Parker
LAFAYETTE, La. — Ascension Episcopal School is mourning the loss of its founder, Dr. Jeanette Parker, while celebrating a legacy that has shaped generations of students, families, and educators.
Dr. Parker, a visionary leader and passionate educator, founded Ascension Day School in 1959 as a ministry of The Episcopal Church of the Ascension, beginning with just 17 kindergarten students. Her dream was to create an Episcopal school rooted in faith—one that would form the whole child through the integration of mind, body, and spirit. That vision became the foundation of a school that continues to guide its mission today.
From those humble beginnings, Ascension has grown into a thriving PK–12 college preparatory school serving hundreds of students across multiple campuses, known for its commitment to educational excellence and Christian formation.
Dr. Parker was widely recognized for her contributions to gifted education and her belief in the transformative power of thoughtful teaching and meaningful learning. Even in recent months, she remained closely connected to the life of the school—offering encouragement, wisdom, and steadfast support to its leaders, faculty, and students.
School Board Chairman Dr. Michael Peebles reflected on her enduring influence, noting that her vision and faithfulness “continue to guide us today,” and that her leadership helped shape not only the school’s beginnings but its lasting strength and direction.
As the Ascension community prepares to celebrate her life, there is a shared sense of both grief and gratitude. Dr. Parker’s absence will be deeply felt, but her presence endures—in each of us she inspired and the lives she helped shape.
Her legacy is not simply remembered; it is lived. In the faith she cherished and the mission she began, Ascension moves forward with purpose—committed to carrying her vision onward, faithfully and boldly, for generations to come.
Read more about Dr. Parker's life here.
Dr. Jeanette Plauche' Parker Memorial Fund
Read more about Dr. Parker's life here.
Dr. Jeanette Plauche' Parker Memorial Fund
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Notice of Nondiscriminatory Policy
The Episcopal Church of the Ascension School (Ascension Episcopal School) admits qualified students without regard to race, religion, sexual orientation, or national origin. We are a welcoming community.