The East Baton Rouge Parish School Board has chosen Metro Councilman LaMont Cole to be the new superintendent of the state’s second-largest traditional school district. The decision, made through a unanimous vote on Wednesday, follows a period of deadlock after top candidates withdrew their applications to replace former superintendent Sito Narcisse.
Cole entered the running after initially abstaining from the first round of applications held last month. Following his application in the second round, he quickly emerged as the top candidate. Cole was swiftly selected as the sole finalist and underwent a 90-minute interview shortly after the application deadline.
With 26 years of experience in education in Baton Rouge, including 13 years as the chief academic officer for CSAL Inc., a local charter school network, and previous roles as a principal in middle schools, Cole’s passion for education in the city was evident during his interview with the board. He emphasized his commitment to not only the 40,000 students in the school district but all children in the city, whether they attend district schools or not.
State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley expressed optimism following the board’s decision, highlighting the importance of selecting a capable leader for the district and the challenges ahead in improving education outcomes and addressing staffing issues.
Cole’s path to the superintendent position was facilitated by Narcisse’s withdrawal from the application process just before interviews were set to commence. Adam Smith, who had been serving as interim superintendent, saw his contract expire on Tuesday, leading to legal uncertainties for the district.
In response to a query from a board member, Cole committed to withdrawing from seeking re-election to his council seat and initiating the process of leaving the Metro Council, should he be hired as the new superintendent. Cole was appointed to the council in 2016 and is currently serving a term that concludes in December.
