Henderson LewisJr on Clubhouse

Bio

On March 18, 2015, Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. became one of the youngest superintendents ever in the 180-year history of New Orleans public schools. With almost 25 years of educational experience as a teacher, mentor, assistant principal, instructional coach, curriculum expert, principal, and school district leader, Superintendent Lewis brings a unique, classroom focused perspective to the table.

He brought all his experience to bear this year, building partnerships, using data to drive decisions, and leading NOLA Public Schools through the COVID-19 pandemic. That work has helped NOLA PS lead the way nationally when it came to reopening schools, gaining access to COVID testing, and securing access to vaccines for teachers and staff. His quick work in March of 2019 led to the commitment of $5 million to support schools at the start of the pandemic, delivering thousands of laptops and hotspots to New Orleans families.

Dr. Lewis has been at the helm of NOLA PS for six years, overseeing the historic 2018 reunification of New Orleans public schools with those schools run by the State of Louisiana. Throughout his tenure, he has not wavered from his mission as a citywide regulator of schools, a protector of family and student rights, and a thoughtful steward of public resources.

Thanks to his team and his leadership, New Orleans’ community of schools is better structured today than ever before. Our kids are learning and in 2019, nearly 80% of district schools scored an ‘A’ or ‘B’ for progress1. But he will be the first to point out that the work is not finished, and much more must be done to support every child, every day.

Before leading New Orleans’ school district, Dr. Lewis was a celebrated superintendent for East Feliciana Parish, which is just north of Baton Rouge. Under his leadership, the district was recognized by the Louisiana Department of Education as 2nd in the state for elementary student academic growth.

Prior to becoming superintendent in East Feliciana, Dr. Lewis worked for the Algiers Charter Schools Association for six years, serving as the founding principal at Algiers Technology Academy. He taught for seven years at neighboring St. Bernard Parish Public Schools and represented District 9 on the St. Bernard Parish Public School Board for 11 years.