A Vision of Joy: Superintendent LaMont Cole’s Mission to Transform EBR Schools
East Baton Rouge Superintendent LaMont Cole is on a mission to bring joy, inspiration, and curiosity back into the classroom. As the newly-appointed Superintendent, Cole has a transformative vision for the school system that will ignite passion in students, staff, and the community.
When he was younger, Superintendent Cole always loved school, leading him to pursue a lifelong career as an educator. His earlier aspirations consisted of wanting to become the principal of Capitol Middle School. His dream came true early on and unlocked what he describes as his true purpose: helping shape the future of education.
Superintendent Cole credits the guidance he received along the way as encouragement to pursue his passion. He shares, “I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have received guidance from some of the most remarkable leaders in Baton Rouge. People like Herman Brister, Dujan Johnson, and Sherry Brock really pushed me to pursue leadership roles. They saw potential in me that I didn’t see in myself at times. It is now my mission to pass that along to the next generation of leaders.”
His vision for the future of East Baton Rouge Schools is what will help achieve this goal. “Kids need to feel safe, cared for, and supported. That’s first and foremost. From there, it’s our job to ensure they are on a learning adventure full of energy, wonder, and joy. Learning should be fun. When we create spaces that are lively and engaging, students naturally want to learn. But it’s not just about educating students; when our teachers and staff are inspired, that excitement flows into the classroom.”
Superintendent Cole acknowledges that the journey to transforming the school system won’t be easy. There will be times when unpopular decisions are made. However, he shares that “every decision and change we make will be centered around what is right for our students.”
In order for the goal to become a success, Superintendent Cole wants to have boots on the ground at the schools in the parish. He explains, “Each morning I try to visit a few of our schools to engage with students and listen to the leaders who are on the ground every day. I will show up for this team and this community every day. I just ask that you do the same. We need to be lifting up our students, staff, and schools. Be asking what you can do to show your support, and let them know you are cheering them on to success.”
There’s a lot of excitement in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, and with Superintendent Cole leading the charge, great changes to support our students, families, and educators are on the way.
“I feel extremely blessed to take on this role. The way it all came together was certainly unconventional, but this story isn’t about me. It is about every single family in Baton Rouge having access to world-class, tuition-free education. Growing up, the neighborhood public school was the heartbeat of that community – we’re getting back to that and we’re going to take it to an entirely new level,” shares Superintendent Cole.