Paul Nelson was raised in Concordia Parish and is a proud graduate of Vidalia High School, Class of 1985. He is a retired school superintendent having served as superintendent in both Tensas and Concordia Parishes for 11 years. The former Vidalia Jr. High and Vidalia Lower Elementary principal has most recently worked for the Virtual Academy of Lafourche in Thibodaux where he served as the site director of their St. Mary High School site. The Southern Miss, Ole  Miss, and Northeast Louisiana University graduate has two children, Gracyn and Zachary, who live in Lafayette and Lake Charles, respectively. He also has two grandchildren who reside in Lafayette.  He currently lives in Thibodaux and commutes daily to Baton Rouge.