[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 53 (Thursday, March 24, 2022)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





      TRIBUTE TO RETIRING SUPERINTENDENT HENDERSON LEWIS, JR., PHD

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. TROY A. CARTER

                              of louisiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 24, 2022

  Mr. CARTER of Louisiana. Madam Speaker, Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. has 
served as the Superintendent of NOLA Public Schools since March 18, 
2015, becoming one of the youngest and longest tenured leaders in the 
180-year history of public education in New Orleans. With over 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.
  Dr. Lewis first 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. Dr. Lewis then went on to become 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 second in the state for 
elementary student academic growth. Throughout his tenure at New 
Orleans Public Schools, 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.
  Superintendent Lewis has been at the helm of NOLA-PS during a pivotal 
time in the school system's history. He oversaw the 2018 unification of 
public schools in New Orleans with those schools run by the state of 
Louisiana. NOLA-PS now has 76 schools under the oversight of the 
Orleans Parish School Board.
  Thanks to his team and his leadership, New Orleans community of 
schools is better structured today than ever before. NOLA-PS 
established an accountability framework that holds charter schools to 
high standards. During his tenure, Dr. Lewis has worked to add strong 
school options to the portfolio, including new and innovative school 
models, transformations, and replication of successful school models to 
provide the best possible options for students.
  During his time as Superintendent, he faced the challenges brought on 
by the COVID-19 pandemic. He helped NOLA-PS lead the way nationally by 
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 with 
adequate technology, gaining access to COVID testing, and securing 
access to vaccines. Dr. Lewis also coordinated the district-wide 
commitment to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required 
vaccinations for students five years and up.
  His dedication to promoting equality and equity led to the renaming 
of 21 school buildings in 2021 to separate the school system of today 
from the dubious honors bestowed in the past to slaveholders and 
segregation sympathizers. He also implemented an equity initiative 
within the school district to continue to advance public education as a 
right for all children, no matter their race, gender, or economic 
position.
  At the heart of Dr. Lewis' work remains his unwavering commitment to 
the well-being and high-quality education of every child, every day.

                          ____________________