StM News

St. Martin’s Episcopal School is delighted to present this year’s Dorothy Porter Service Award (DPSA) to one of the most dedicated and caring members of the school community: Margaret Perret Budde. Since joining the St. Martin’s faculty in 1984, Margaret has generously shared her time and talents in countless ways—impacting students in the classroom and working tirelessly to help keep the St. Martin’s community connected.

“Throughout the nomination process, I heard many stories about Margaret and the various roles she has held at St. Martin’s,” said Head of School Whitney Samuel Drennan ’94. “I’ve enjoyed getting to know her as a substitute teacher, and I am so grateful for all the work she has done to help our retired faculty stay connected to the school and to one another. Her years of service—and the way she continues to give so much of her time—made her an easy choice for this award.”

Margaret has served as a Second, Third, and Fifth Grade teacher as well as the Lower School art teacher. She remains a familiar and cherished presence on campus, regularly substituting in the Lower School and serving as a representative for Louisiana’s Agriculture in the Classroom program. She often visits classrooms to read books and lead “ag-tivities” that help students understand the vital role agriculture plays in our world.

A certified reading specialist and school librarian, Margaret is a past member of the Jefferson Reading Council, the Louisiana Reading Association, and the International Reading Association. She is also the parent of two St. Martin’s alumni—Cindy Perret ’95 and Jonathan Perret ’99—and has contributed to the broader school community as a member of the St. Martin’s Day committee and the Arts Department.

Beyond St. Martin’s, Margaret is active in her church community at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church. She serves on the Louisiana Ag in the Classroom State Committee and supports the blanket drive for New Orleans Medical Mission Services (NOMMS).

“Margaret Perret Budde is a role model for the school’s commitment to Faith, Scholarship, and Service,” said longtime teacher and coach Linda Trevino, a previous DPSA recipient who, along with retired teacher and administrator Debbie Scalia, nominated Margaret. “She is a Saint through and through and continues to give her heart and time to St. Martin’s. She is thoughtful, caring, and always shows wisdom.”

In her retirement, Margaret started a beloved tradition with fellow retired teachers: the “Oldies but Goodies” annual luncheon, which brings together longtime faculty, administrators, devoted parents, and friends to celebrate the lifelong bonds formed at St. Martin’s.

“She has been the backbone of this effort to get all of us retired teachers together and to keep us informed about one another and what’s going on at school,” said Linda Trevino. “This year, instead of hosting it in someone’s home, Margaret organized our annual luncheon at the Van Slate House, and it was amazing—it will be a new tradition!”

Join us as we celebrate during Alumni Weekend!

The 2024–25 Dorothy Porter Service Award will be presented during Alumni Chapel on Friday, May 9 at 10:00 a.m., in the Dan and Frances White Chapel. This year’s ceremony will be a special celebration, as Margaret will be traveling abroad. Her children, Cindy and Jonathan, will accept the award on her behalf and share Margaret’s heartfelt thanks with the St. Martin’s community. Margaret will also be honored at the annual Alumni Spirits Party on Saturday, May 10 at 5:00 p.m. on the Alumni Lawn at the Van Slate House. 

The Dorothy Porter Service Award was established in honor of a beloved longtime teacher who was part of St. Martin’s from its beginning. Even after her retirement in 1983, Mrs. Porter remained actively involved with the school. She exemplified grace, commitment, deep historical love for St. Martin’s, and an enduring spirit admired by all who knew her. She was the inaugural recipient of the award that bears her name.

With this award, St. Martin’s honors Mrs. Porter and her legacy of service. The recipient must be an exemplary member of the St. Martin’s community who has consistently served the school with time, talent, and treasure—and who represents the school’s motto, philosophy, and mission: Faith, Scholarship, and Service.

Past recipients of the award include: Dorothy Porter (2002), Jim Marsalis ’62 (2003), Belle Johnson (2004), The Rev. Gedge Gayle (2005), Eileen Beckman (2006), Bill Rosenbaum (2007), Wally Porter ’76 (2008), Janet Russo (2009), The Rev. John Stone Jenkins (2010), Lynn Coatney (2011), Karen Sullivan (2012), Linda Trevino (2013), Marian and Larry Gibbs (2014), Julie Dieth (2015), Warren Lind (2016), Coach Chick McGeehan (2017), Pedro Perez (2018), Donna Lewis (2019), Perry Eastman ’62 (2022), Diane Greer (2023), and Tootie Conway (2024).