First term
I ran on a simple promise: reconnect, reinvest, and rebuild our schools. Over my first term, here's what I've fought for — and what it's meant for the students, parents, and educators of Baton Rouge. There's still a long way to go, but it's a job well begun.
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
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
Working with Superintendent Cole, I helped win 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
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
I supported the effort to realign our schools around students — working with Superintendent Cole to close or consolidate nine badly under-enrolled schools and redraw sixteen attendance zones. It moved 2,239 students into higher-quality classroom seats — 71% into higher-performing schools — redirected about $5.7 million a year back into classrooms, and cut the district's F-rated schools roughly in half. In April 2025 the Board unanimously adopted Superintendent Cole's realignment plan.
Sources: EBR Schools · Foundation for EBR · WAFB · Baton Rouge Alliance for Students
Working with Superintendent Cole, I helped bring research-backed later start times to older students. In the pilot schools, tardies dropped 44% and students were more alert and focused.
Source: The Advocate
I pushed for the most transparent budgeting process in at least two decades — and to put district contracts online for anyone to see, so taxpayers can follow the money.
I pushed to simplify magnet enrollment and expand quality options for parents. EBR was named National Magnet District of the Year.
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.
There's been real progress — but I ran to finish the job, not to declare it done. Here's the work still in front of us.
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.
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. The next phase, Realignment 2.0, closes no schools — it focuses on stronger instruction and smarter school schedules.
Realignment 2.0 adds two new foundational learning centers — stand them up and build on them so children develop strong K–2 reading and math foundations in the earliest grades, when it matters most.
Pay is finally moving up; the harder, unfinished work is clearing away the bureaucracy that wears teachers down, so they can spend their time teaching.
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.
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.
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.
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.