In recent weeks, two Ascension Parish Public Schools administrators with nearly 100 years of experience have announced their retirements.
Director of Primary Schools Elizabeth “Libby” Stafford leaves her post after 45 years of service and Assistant Superintendent A. Denise Graves is retiring after 44 years. Both retire June 30.
Both were praised by Superintendent Edith M. Walker for their dedication to the school system and the children they oversaw.
"Libby Stafford’s legacy is defined by unwavering dedication, heartfelt compassion, and a relentless commitment to serving the needs of every child," Walker said. "Her visionary leadership has influenced generations of students and educators alike, and the imprint she leaves on our schools and community will resonate for many years to come.”
Stafford takes unexpected path
Libby Stafford
Stafford, who grew up in Gonzales, was the youngest of four children to parents Frank and Ruth Taylor. At a young age, Stafford was already involved with schools, her mother being an educator at the then-Gonzales High School, now known as Gonzales Primary. She had no plans to pursue a life in education.
“I thought that was the last thing I would ever do,” Stafford said, laughing. “My mama was an educator, always at school, always working. I mean, I was on campuses before I even knew my ABCs. I still remember being just three years old, carrying the homecoming crown on a little pillow down the football field. I told myself, ‘I am not doing that.’”
In 1971, Libby was a senior at East Ascension High School when she married her high school sweetheart, Matthew Stafford. “He was about to be sent to Vietnam,” she recalled. “I was only 17. My mama, she was not having it. She said, ‘You finish college, then you can think about marriage.’ But my daddy … he was my hero. When I told him, he said, ‘Let her do what she wants. If she wants me to give her away, I’m doing it.’”
That moment became even more poignant and tragic when Stafford’s father suddenly died from a heart attack and had his funeral the morning she graduated from high school in 1972.
In 1973, the young couple moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where her husband was stationed, and she attended Baptist College.
When they returned to Louisiana in 1975, Libby found herself drawn back to the career she once resisted. “I realized there’s no better job when you have kids,” she admitted. “You’re off when they’re off, and it just made sense.”
She juggled raising four children while attending LSU, choosing elementary education over secondary because it allowed her to attend classes only two days a week.
She graduated in 1980, pregnant with her fifth child, and started her teaching career the next year at Dutchtown Elementary as a middle school math teacher.
“You just have to care about them,” she said.
For Stafford, middle school was more than just a job — it was joy. “It was the best job in the world. Football games, basketball games, the school fair — it was fun. I loved kids that age.”
While teaching at Dutchtown Elementary, she poured her days into her students and her nights into earning her master’s degree. By 1990, she had graduated from LSU with a master’s in educational leadership.
That same year, Dutchtown Elementary split into Dutchtown Primary and Dutchtown Middle. Stafford applied to be assistant principal at Dutchtown Primary.
After six years as assistant principal, she became principal of Dutchtown Primary in 1996, leading the school for the next decade. In 2006, she took on the role of director of primary schools, but her heart always stayed close to those early, hard days in the classroom.
In her first year as director, she suffered through her granddaughter's traumatic brain injury and the death of her mother.
She credits people like Fran Hidalgo, her supervisor at the time, for “carrying me through that year," and Superintendent Donald Songy, who knew every detail of her struggle. “He was so understanding. When my mama died, I had to arrange everything myself — bringing her from Lake Charles, the funeral home, the casket, all of it. I didn’t know what I was doing. And Mr. Songy called me and asked, ‘Are you by yourself?’ I said yes. And he said, ‘I’m coming.’ He didn’t want me doing all that alone. He’s just a good person.”
That year carved deep scars but also hardened Stafford’s resolve. “Guess what? I survived it. We made it through.”
If there's one thing life has taught Stafford, it's this: "At the end of the day, what really matters are the people God has placed in your life to love and take care of."
Stafford’s journey is one of grit, resilience and rewriting the narrative others tried to give her.
For Stafford, the motivation came from a place of scarcity and hope. "We were so poor," she shared. "I remember thinking, 'I don’t want this to be my life. I don’t want my kids to grow up like this.' And if that meant I had to work twice as hard, go to college, and build a career to change that, then that’s what I was going to do."
In 2020, her husband was diagnosed with prostate cancer. They’re currently watching and waiting — closely monitoring how fast the cancer is replicating. They also bought a motor coach with plans to visit Yellowstone, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands.
Graves leaves her mark
“After many years of dedicated service, Ms. A. Denise Graves will be retiring from Ascension Public Schools on June 30, 2025. Throughout her career, Ms. Graves has risen through the ranks of teacher and coach to school leader and several district leadership positions. Her journey stands as an example of dedication, growth, and impact across every level of our organization. Please join us in congratulating Ms. Graves on her well-earned retirement and wishing her all the best in this next chapter,” Walker said.
Graves' career began in 1981 at St. Amant High School, where she spent 17 years as a teacher, coach and assistant principal. Known for her commitment to both academics and athletics, she taught physical education, health and sociology, while also coaching girls’ basketball, softball, cross-country and track and field. Under her leadership, the girls' track and field team earned its first district championship in 1992. Her passion for student development extended beyond the classroom as she served as sponsor of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Explorers Club and Student Council.
Her journey in educational leadership began with an administrative internship in 1993, and by 1995, she was serving as an assistant principal at St. Amant High. From there, Graves went on to become the principal of Gonzales Middle before moving into a variety of district-level roles: director of Middle Schools, director of Human Resources and director of Administrative Services.
“Denise Graves has done an exceptional job at every level in the Ascension Parish public school system,” Songy said, who served as superintendent from 2006 to 2010. “As a teacher and coach, she inspired many, many young people. As an administrator, she worked tirelessly to make sure that schools and departments worked efficiently and effectively. Our school system owes a tremendous debt of gratitude to Denise Graves, and I wish her a wonderful retirement.”
“I have had the privilege of working closely with Ms. Graves over most of her esteemed career. From our time together as teachers and administrators at St. Amant High to Ms. Graves serving as my assistant superintendent, she has been a strong colleague and friend,” said Patrice Pujol, who served as superintendent from 2010 to 2016. “Ms. Graves has made tremendous contributions to our school system and has devoted her time and talent to ensure the success of the students and families of Ascension Parish. She certainly deserves a wonderful retirement after her many years of dedicated service to Ascension Public Schools.”
In 2010, Graves was named assistant superintendent, and in February 2016, she was appointed interim superintendent. During her 171 days at the helm, Ascension Parish was faced with the historic flood of 2016.
A. Denise Graves.
Graves returned to her role as assistant superintendent in August 2016. She has been honored with the district’s Core Values and Safety and Security Medallions for her outstanding service.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Graves has been an active member of her community, serving on numerous civic committees and boards, including the Ascension Credit Union Board of Directors and the Ascension Parish Charter Task Force. A lifelong volunteer, she has also worked with Habitat for Humanity and serves as the church secretary for Ebenezer Baptist Church in Darrow. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Graves earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Texas at El Paso. She also earned a master’s degree from LSU and 30 additional hours of graduate-level courses from LSU and Southeastern Louisiana University.