Teacher Dedicates life to education

Stacey Judice
Special to Acadiana Weekly

Joel Hilbun is a technology teacher at Carencro High School. Hilbun, who grew up in Vermillion Parish, received his college degree in education from LSU in 1976.

He then received two Master’s degrees, one in 1981 in educational technology and the other in computer science in 1986.

Teaching and education is tightly interwoven into all facets of Hilbun’s life.

“My mother and both of her parents were teachers,” he said. “Teaching for me is a career choice that lets me help our society.”

He even met his wife through teaching. It was 1984 at Louisiana Association of Educators’ convention.

“My wife was a teacher and she also comes from a family of educators,” Hilbun said. “Our three sons have teachers as parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents.”

Hilbun has been teaching at Carencro High since 1988. He teaches senior-level computer classes, database, advance web classes and video game design classes.

“I enjoy teaching in the technology field because I can teach them not only to use problem solving skills but creativity as well,” he said.

Carencro High School offers the Academy of Information Technology, for which Hilbun acts as co-director.

“This program has been in operation for four years and the enrollment for students keeps growing,” he said. “This program is a huge success for students who are involved through the Schools of Choice Program in Lafayette Parish.”

Hilbun enjoys spending time with his family and visiting local tourist attractions when he is not teaching.

“I believe in teaching my children about the Cajun culture,” he said. “Life is richer if you embrace the arts and your culture.”