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Previously, Baudoin served as assistant principal and principal of Hyattsville Elementary.

His goals for Tulip Grove are to maintain the high academic standards and achievements at the school, encourage parental involvement, and focus on the upkeep of the school building.

‘‘From a professional standpoint, I was really excited to be part of that culture of success,” Baudoin said of his new position.

Baudoin has already met with representatives from Tulip Grove’s PTA and said he is looking forward to meeting all the Tulip Grove parents.

‘‘Parental involvement, as I look at it, is the lifeblood of any school,” Baudoin said.

He also plans to focus on maintenance of the 45-year-old building. Recently, the building has been painted, trees have been trimmed, and parents organized a day to help beautify the school’s grounds.

Born and raised in Lafayette, La., Baudoin, 47, knew education was his life’s calling during high school, and earned an education degree from the University of Southwest Louisiana. After graduate school at the Catholic University of America, Baudoin decided to stay in the area.

His experience in teaching music to every child at Mt. Rainier Elementary and interacting with other teachers and parents led him into the role of an administrator.

‘‘I just looked at it as an extension of the teaching role,” he said.

Yet even with 20 years of experience, his favorite aspect of his job remains interacting with students.

Because of his Louisiana upbringing and exposure to Cajun culture, Baudoin has carried the concept of ‘‘joy” with him and approaches each day with a sense of joy and happiness.

If he temporarily loses his sense of joy, Baudoin always knows a way to get it back.

‘‘If I’m ever feeling down, which is not very often, I go to the kindergarten room and sit with the children,” Baudoin said.

He said with so much focus in education on test scores and accountability, the goal of an educator should always be child-focused.

‘‘You’re really planting the seed,” Baudoin said of teaching. ‘‘We literally touch the future with every interaction you make with the child.”

Tulip Grove’s Parent Teacher Association President Carmie Naleski said she has met with Baudoin and is looking forward to working with him and the Tulip Grove staff this school year.

‘‘I love the enthusiasm he has,” Naleski said. ‘‘He just seems so positive about the upcoming year and working with the students. I’m really eager to see how things play out.”

E-mail Megan King at mking@gazette.net.

Brian Baudoin

Age: 47

Hometown: Lafayette, La.

Residence: Crofton

Education: Bachelor’s degree in education, University of Southwest Louisiana (now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette); master’s degree in education, Catholic University of America.

Experience: Music teacher at Mt. Rainier Elementary School, 17 years; 2 years, assistant principal at Hyattsville Elementary; 3 years, principal at Hyattsville Elementary.

Family: Wife, Robin; Children: Katherine, 19; Brian, 17; Allison, 15, and Juliette, 4.

Hobbies: Cooking for family and friends, especially Cajun fare, and working on his golf game.

Currently reading: ‘‘Thinking for a Change: 11 Ways Highly Successful People Approach Life and Work,” John Maxwell.