Helix Community Schools is pleased to announce the appointment of Denise Armstrong as its finance director. 

In her new role,  Armstrong will be responsible for overseeing financial operations, implementing best practices, and contributing to the school’s overall growth and success.

Armstrong, a Baton Rouge native, brings expertise in operational accounting,  project management, and process improvements with more than 15 years of experience.

Before joining Helix, she served in accounting roles at the City of Houston, Direct Energy, Deutsche Bank, Shell Oil, Calpine Industries, and ExxonMobil. Notable achievements in her career include leading efforts to stabilize new applications, developing cost-saving plans, and implementing dashboards for insightful reporting and analysis.

“We are thrilled to welcome Denise to our leadership team,” said Preston Castille,  Helix’s president and CEO.  “Her extensive experience, strategic mindset, and proven track record of success make her a valuable addition to our organization. We look forward to her contributions in driving financial excellence and supporting our mission of empowering students.”

Armstrong earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Southern University.

Helix Community Schools is a homegrown network of public charter schools headquartered in Baton Rouge, Louisiana which includes Helix Mentorship Academy, Helix Aviation Academy and Helix Legal Academy. Helix is also set to open two new schools in Opelousas, Louisiana – Helix Artificial Intelligence and Medical Academy in August 2025 and Helix Energy and Agriculture in 2026. At Helix, we are committed to exposing students to innovative academic choices in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM). We also provide college and career pathways for our students in aviation, legal, and STEAM professions.