Louisiana Academy of Production (LAAP) is a new groundbreaking, high-concept charter high school set to open in August of 2026 at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge, the largest purpose-built film and television production facility in the Gulf South.

Katie Patton Pryor has served as the Baton Rouge Film Commissioner since appointed by Mayor Sharon Weston Broome in April 2017. Katie works to attract, retain, and grow the creative economy and industry support in Baton Rouge and across Louisiana.

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Katie is passionate about storytelling's power and its influence on culture, society, history, politics, and the individual. She is a film advocate and regular speaker at film festivals and markets around the world. Katie is the co-founder of Film USA, a national 501(c)6 trade organization of state and regional film commissions across the country that promotes the US film industry worldwide. The organization's mission is to increase global competitiveness, expand industry access, and maximize economic benefits.

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She has been an adjunct professor at the Louisiana State University film program since 2020. She served on the Mayor's Transition Committee for Women's Advancement in 2015 and currently serves on the Board of the Louisiana Film and Entertainment Association. She serves by the Governor's appointment on the Naval War Memorial Commission.

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Katie received the Excellence in Sales & Marketing Award from Sales & Marketing Executives (SME) in 2021. In 2022, Katie was honored as one of the Baton Rouge Business Report Forty under 40. In 2023, she was named one of the influential community leaders of The Capital Region 500 and selected for the 2023-2024 Alliance for Students CHANGEMAKERS cohort.

Brandon Lagarde is a Tax Partner at EisnerAmper. He specializes in tax planning and consulting for businesses of all sizes across various industries. He has deep expertise in navigating complex tax landscapes, including the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the CARES Act, and Louisiana state and local tax regulations.

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Prior to joining the firm, Brandon held leadership positions at Postlethwaite & Netterville and a national law firm. He is an active member of the AICPA and the LCPA, where he serves in leadership roles.

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Brandon is a frequent speaker on tax-related topics and has been recognized for his expertise. He was named to the Baton Rouge Business Report's Top 40 Under 40.

Kenny Nguyen is the CEO/Co-Founder of ThreeSixtyEight, a creative agency whose mission is to challenge common thinking to create an uncommon future. Over the last five years, the agency has helped underdogs advance their causes through uncommon interactive experiences. Through the success of the agency’s work, ThreeSixtyEight aims to help the perception of their hometown of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a city known as the underdog, become known as the creative epicenter of the south.

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Prior to ThreeSixtyEight, Kenny co-founded Big Fish Presentations, a company that focused on ridding the world of boring presentations through high-quality presentation design, presentation coaching, and speechwriting.

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During his time at Big Fish Presentations, he co-authored the McGraw-Hill-published book The Big Fish Experience: Create Memorable Presentations That Reel in Your Audience, now published in three different languages.

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Outside his agency, he is an investor in Soji: Modern Asian restaurant, a frequent speaker, and an advocate for AAPI professionals looking to find their voice in leadership.

Stevee-Rayne’s journey began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she graduated from Southern University with a degree in English and Liberal Arts. While working part-time, she discovered her passion for film through workshops at the New Orleans Video Access Center (NOVAC). This led to an internship, and eventually, the management of NOVAC's partnership program with HBO, connecting local talent with production opportunities.

Her passion for community-based hiring and dedication to connecting local crews with productions have driven her career forward. Today, she is proud to have built relationships with major networks like HBO, HBO Max, and Warner Bros.

Clint Ebey is a results-driven educational leader with over two decades of experience in academic leadership, strategic development, and school management. As the Executive Director of Strategic Development for GEO Academies in Louisiana, Clint spearheads statewide initiatives in policy advocacy, school expansion, and strategic partnerships to drive educational innovation.

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His extensive career includes serving as Managing Director of School Strategy at New Schools for Baton Rouge, where he led high-impact initiatives to expand high-quality educational opportunities. Prior to that, he served as Director of Charter Accountability at the Louisiana Department of Education, where he played a pivotal role in ensuring policy compliance and fostering collaboration between charter networks and state education leaders.

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With a track record of success in school leadership, Clint spent several years as CEO and Principal of Slaughter Community Charter School, where he guided the school to statewide recognition, secured major facility investments, and implemented data-driven academic improvement plans. His leadership philosophy centers on innovation, accountability, and student success.

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Beyond his professional achievements, Clint is a dedicated husband and father to three school-aged children. His firsthand experience as a parent fuels his passion for ensuring all students have access to high-quality education and opportunities for success.

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Holding advanced degrees in business administration and educational leadership, Clint continues to shape the future of education in Louisiana and beyond.

Darrell Roberson is a Co-Director for Digital Media Arts at Southern University and A&M College, where he has been instrumental in developing the new Digital Media Arts Degree Program. Since joining the university in 1996, he has served as a media engineer, instructor, and studio manager, spearheading initiatives such as the campus’ first closed-circuit TV channel, the web-based student radio station "The Bluff," and the first ESPNU broadcast collaboration with ESPN and a Historically Black University.

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A veteran in television production, Roberson began his career at WVLA-TV in Baton Rouge while still in college. His dedication to professional development includes participation in prestigious seminars and fellowships, such as the International Radio and Television Society, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, and NATPE. He is a recipient of the 2017 Pioneering Journalist Award of Excellence from the Baton Rouge Area Association of Black Journalists and has presented at events like the 2023 Broadcast Education Association’s ON-Location conference.

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In addition to his professional accomplishments, Roberson has demonstrated strong academic leadership, organizing study abroad programs and fostering industry connections nationwide. His contributions underscore a commitment to excellence in media arts education and the advancement of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the field.

Tirza Fernandez-Brazier is a passionate and results-driven educational leader with a mission to empower students, families, and communities through innovative support systems and strategic policy implementation. With a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Southern University A&M College, a Master of Arts in School Counseling from Prairie View A&M University and an educational career with over 25 years of experience, Tirza brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the field of education. As a District administrator with the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, Tirza has led, facilitated, and implemented many student support initiatives and collaborated with stakeholders to drive equitable and impactful educational reforms. Throughout her career, she has spearheaded district-wide counseling programs, supervised instructional teams, and championed data-driven solutions to improve student outcomes. A dynamic problem solver and advocate, Tirza is committed to shaping policies that foster inclusive, high-quality learning environments, ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive academically and beyond.

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Her professional affiliations include the Junior League of Baton Rouge, Louisiana School Counseling Association, American School Counseling Association, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. She is the recipient of the Louisiana Counseling Associations 2021 Presidential Advocacy Award.

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Tirza is a member of Mt. Zion Church where she serves as the location administrator for the Baton Rouge Campus. She is married to Wiley H. Brazier, V and they have two sons, Wiley, VI and Tyler Elijah.

Samantha Smith is a Professional Actress, Published Author, Business Owner, and Social Activist. Her film & Television credits include Perimeter (BET+), Diminishing Value of Love (Prime Video), First Christmas (OWN), Iron Mike (Hulu), Marvel's Cloak & Dagger, Pitch Perfect 2, NCIS: New Orleans, Queen Sugar, Arachnoquake, Django Unchained, The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttons, Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins, and more.

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On Sunday afternoons following church, Samantha would sit with her family over Sunday Dinner cooked by her grandfather and after watching the day's sporting events what always came next was “Let's find a good movie”. Her love for story-telling grew as she spent many nights up with her grandfather watching movies of all genres. Film soon became the connection between Samantha and everything that felt like “home” and in 2021 she founded Agape Productions LLC, a production company that focuses on content for Television & Film with a primary focus on storytelling that uplifts humanity. Her activism is cast as a wide net as Samantha has a heart for people.

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Samantha received a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications with a focus in Broadcast Journalism from Southern University A&M College. While at Southern she served 2 years on the Gold N’ Bluez dance team and performed in Super Bowl 46 with Madonna.  In addition, Samantha’s professional experience includes 8 years of experience in the classroom as an educator as on the sets of Guardians of The Galaxy, The Wonder Years (ABC), and Raising Dion (Netflix) as a Studio Teacher.

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Samantha is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Non-Profit Administration and hopes to continue to impact both the entertainment industry and broader society.

Steven Krul has spent over 20 years in the film and television industry, with a focus on supporting creative leaders and emerging filmmakers. Based in New Orleans since 2012, he has worked at  Panavision since 2003, helping the company maintain its reputation as a global leader in camera systems and production solutions. As a Sales/Marketing Executive, Steven combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of production dynamics.

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Before joining Panavision, he studied Film & TV Production at Los Angeles City College while working entry-level production jobs. He later built his career as a freelance professional, taking on roles ranging from production coordinator to Technocrane technician. This diverse experience has given him a comprehensive understanding of both the creative and financial demands of the industry.

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Passionate about supporting the next generation of filmmakers, Steven has collaborated with local nonprofits like NOVAC (New Orleans Video Access Center) and The Cool Cooperative, as well as  IATSE Local 478, to offer workforce training to students and freelance crew members.

Morgan Carter Ripski is the principal of Champe Carter Consulting, LLC, where she advises schools, nonprofits, school districts, and funders on scaling strategies, operational planning, and project management. With ten years of consulting experience, she specializes in guiding organizations through critical growth phases, from startup to rapid expansion.

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Previously, Morgan served as President of Collegiate Academies, securing nine new charter contracts, leading strategic growth efforts, and raising $13.3M to support school expansion. She also held leadership roles at the Foundation for Science and Math Education and New Schools for New Orleans.

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Morgan holds a Master's degree from Stanford University and a B.A. from Bates College. She lives in New Orleans with her husband and two sons and enjoys time at their cabin near Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Angelic Sutherland Keller is a dedicated attorney and advocate committed to empowering women and girls. She is the founder of Sensational Girls, a female empowerment program designed to inspire young girls to embrace their uniqueness, live with purpose, and confidently walk in their truths.

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With a lifelong passion for service, Angelic’s career as a public servant spans education, local government, and state government. She currently serves as the Statewide Program Manager of Training and Staff Development for the Louisiana State Office of Juvenile Justice while also leading as the Managing Attorney of the Sutherland Keller Law Firm.

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A proud graduate of Nicholls State University, and Loyola University New Orleans School of Law, Angelic brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her work. She resides in Gonzales, Louisiana, with her husband, Coach V, and their two youngest of five children.

Sabreen Thorne is a dedicated education leader specializing in alumni engagement, leadership development, and instructional coaching. 

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As the Director of Alumni Strategy for Teach For America Greater Baton Rouge, she fosters strategic connections among alumni, enhances data-driven engagement systems, and builds transformative leadership opportunities. With experience as a teacher, instructional coach, and curriculum consultant, she is committed to advancing educational equity. 

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Sabreen is also a Barton Leadership Fellow, a founding board member of the Louisiana Academy of Production, and an award-winning educator recognized for her excellence in teaching and coaching.

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