A good gathering of the Winn Parish Retired Teachers Association came together at the parish library for their monthly meeting January 13 to hear Winn native Dr. “J.J.” Bamburg who operates five Behavioral Specialists clinics in north and central Louisiana the serve some 150 children with various diagnostic and developmental concerns.

Monday, he told the group that Behavioral Specialists of Louisiana has the clinical team and staff with  experience working with children and adults with developmental disabilities and behavioral excesses.

“The theme of our association this (school) year is to focus on children who have graduated from Winn schools and gone on to make contributions to society, some of them returning home, some making a difference in other areas,” explained member Laure Derr.  

Also included in this year’s list of speakers are Mrs. Genevieve Gordon, former Sheriff Cranford Jordan, principal Justin Tinsley, Supt. Al Simmons, Judge Keith Gates, Mayor Gerald Hamms, Sheriff Josh McAllister, Keundric Dooley Loucious, Trinity CEO Deano Thornton and architect Lisa Peddy Frontaura.

There are about 50 members of the Winn Parish Retired Teachers Association and 29 were in attendance for the Monday program.  “Our purpose is to stay abreast with trends in education and to assist…be available…with the school system as we can,” said association president Ethel Howell.  “This is an opportunity to continue to meet and stay in touch during retirement.  We are losing so many of our former educators.”

Dr. Jay Bamburg is a 1988 graduate of Winnfield Senior High School.  He received his BS degree in Psychology from Belmont University, his MS degree in Clinical Psychology from NSU and his PhD from LSU in Clinical Psychology.  He has worked in various capacities for the State of Louisiana, done extensive consulting work and served as an expert for the U.S. Department of Justice.  He opened his first Behavioral Specialists office in 2015.