Meet The Staff 

​Mr. Thomas Braud serves as Director of Bands at Ponchatoula High School in Ponchatoula, La. Mr. Braud previously served as the Director of Bands at Hammond High Magnet School in Hammond, La. and Director of Band and Choir at Archbishop Hannan High School in Covington, La. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Southeastern Louisiana University in the Fall of 2012. As a percussionist, he performed as a member of the Wind Symphony, Symphonic Band, Orchestra, Jazz Combos and the Spirit of the Southland Marching Band while attending Southeastern Louisiana University. Mr. Braud has performed professionally with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, additionally. he has made stage appearances in the productions Les Misérables and This Stage of Love. He is an alumni member of the Delta Omega chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Music Fraternity. Mr. Braud is also a member of the Percussive Arts Society,  Louisiana Music Educators Association, and National Association for Music Education. 

Ms. Courtney McFadden is a graduate of Slidell High School, class of 2019. She currently resides in Ponchatoula with her fiancé, Brenan. She is studying an Early Childhood Education at Southeastern Louisiana University. Ms. McFadden has been involved in Color Guard for 8 years. She began her career in  9th grade, after graduating high school she performed with Crescent City Color Guard. She loves sharing her passion for spinning with her students and strives to develop all of her into wonderful performers both individually and a team. Ms. McFadden is very excited to join our team at Ponchatoula High School. 

Mrs. Deidra Chavers has lived in the Ponchatoula community for over eight years. She began teaching at Ponchatoula High in the fall of 2022 where she teaches English I.  Mrs. Chavers is not new to the classroom, she has has been invested in education for over thirteen years. She has been married to my husband Chris for twenty years and has two children, one attends PHS and the other is attending SLU. At PHS, Mrs. Chavers also serve as a sponsor for Beta and assistant coach for cross country. She loves being involved with the school outside of the classroom because it provides a sense of belonging.  Please contact Mrs. Chavers with an color guard questions.