Some people count the days to their retirement. Longtime Riverside Academy math teacher Marie Villere was no different. She retired last May after six and a half years of teaching at RA.

After only eight months off the job, Villere is back in her old classroom, once again teaching Algebra I and II. In February, she replaced Erica Delaneuville, who left RA for another opportunity.

“I really love to teach and I missed it so much,” Villere said. “I was a substitute teacher, but that just wasn’t getting it for me. I was around the students but I wasn’t teaching them. It’s just not the same.”

Riverside students are happy to see the familiar face back in the classroom.

“Mrs. Villere explains the problems and teaches us what we need to know,” said freshman Kye Bourgeois.

“I’m kind of happy about her being back,” said sophomore Kennedy Hughes.

“It’s exciting to be taught by her because she taught my siblings,” said freshman Bailey Epperly.