First term

Our Record

We ran on a simple promise: reconnect, reinvest, and rebuild our schools. Over my first term on the Board, here's what we've delivered for the students, parents, and educators of Baton Rouge. There's still a long way to go, but it's a job well begun.

The record at a glance

Highest performance score in EBR history
Student achievement is moving in the right direction.
Record graduation rate
More students are finishing prepared for what comes next.
Permanent raises — no new taxes
Supporting educators without adding to the tax burden.
Teacher vacancies sharply reduced
More classrooms start the year with a full-time teacher.

What we've delivered

Real gains in student achievement

East Baton Rouge is now among the fastest-improving school districts in the nation — top-12% for math growth and top-20% for reading growth — with the highest district performance score in its history and a record graduation rate.

Sources: Education Recovery Scorecard · EBR record performance scores

Hired a strong superintendent

On the Board, I helped lead the unanimous hire of Superintendent LaMont Cole — a decision praised by Baton Rouge and state leaders.

Source: The Advocate

Teacher & staff raises — no new taxes

We secured permanent pay raises for teachers and staff to attract and keep great educators — funded by reprioritizing existing dollars toward the classroom, without raising taxes.

Sources: The Advocate · WBRZ

Fewer teacher vacancies

EBR opened the 2025-26 school year with 72 teacher vacancies — down sharply from about 200 a year earlier — putting permanent teachers in more classrooms from day one.

Source: Baton Rouge Business Report

Realigned schools around students

I backed the facilities realignment that the Alliance for Students credits with moving about 70% of affected students into higher-performing schools and redirecting roughly $6 million a year into the schools that need it most.

Source: Baton Rouge Alliance for Students

Healthier, later start times

We supported research-backed later start times for older students. In the pilot schools, tardies dropped 44% and students were more alert and focused.

Source: The Advocate

Opened the books

We delivered the most transparent budgeting process in at least two decades and put district contracts up for the public to see — so taxpayers can follow the money.

Source: Baton Rouge Alliance for Students

More choices, easier magnet access

I pushed to simplify magnet enrollment and expand quality options for parents. EBR was named National Magnet District of the Year.

Source: National Magnet District of the Year

Respect for everyone at the table

I've worked to treat every parent, educator, and student who comes before the Board with dignity and respect — and to keep the focus on children, not politics.

The work ahead

We've made real progress — but I ran to finish the job, not to declare it done. Here's the work still in front of us.

  • Keep raising achievement

    Our students are improving faster than most of the country — but they still trail where they should be. The job isn't done until every child in every neighborhood is reading and doing math on grade level.

  • Finish realignment the right way

    Make sure every student, family, and staff member moves through the school changes smoothly — and that closed buildings are reused thoughtfully so they stay assets to their neighborhoods.

  • Strengthen early literacy

    Stand up K–2 foundational learning centers so children build strong reading and math foundations in the earliest grades, when it matters most.

  • Cut red tape for teachers

    We made progress on pay; the harder, unfinished work is clearing away the bureaucracy that wears teachers down, so they can spend their time teaching.

  • Make parent choices even easier

    Keep simplifying magnet and school-choice applications so every family — not just the ones who can navigate the system — can find the right school for their child.

  • Safer schools, better buildings

    Continue improving school safety and the condition of our facilities, so every campus is a place where students and educators can do their best work.

  • Bring the Board to the community

    Keep deepening the partnership with families and neighborhoods — including holding Board business in our schools and communities, not just at the central office.

Want to help get it done? Get involved or support the campaign.

Stronger schools. Real progress. More to do.

I ran to hold our schools accountable and put students first — and it's working. East Baton Rouge is now among the nation's fastest-improving districts. I'm not satisfied yet, and I'm asking for your help to finish the job.