Shelton Smith New District 9 SBPSB Member

[L-R]: Diana Dysart, Doris Voitier, Henderson Lewis, Shelton Smith, and Clifford Englande.

Violet resident Shelton Smith will replace Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. as the District 9 representative for the St. Bernard Parish School Board.

After 11 years serving the district, Lewis announced he would step down to focus his attention on his current role as the Superintendent of Orleans Parish Schools.

Lewis will be replaced by Shelton Smith until the November election. Smith owns S&R Trucking in Violet and is a licensed minister at First Baptist Church of Verret.  He attended St. Bernard Parish schools and is currently the father of three small children.

Smith said his strong relationships with students and families in his district will be an asset to the board.

“I think my addition to the board will help strengthen transparency and communication between the students and parents of District 9 and the schools in which they attend,” Smith said.

Smith has worked with the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Department and says that experience can provide some insights into issues like school safety.

“Throughout our country school districts are trying to grapple with the realities of school safety, and I think my time in corrections and serving as a reserve deputy might provide some additional insights as we consider school board policy and next steps.”

Smith said he appreciates the opportunity and the positive example set by Dr. Lewis.  Lewis, who started his career at Andrew Jackson High School in 1997, said the school was a great training ground for him.

“As a rookie teacher, I  had numerous opportunities to explore my leadership at this outstanding high school,” he explained. “This school system provided me the foundation necessary for me to become the leader I am today.”

Lewis thanked his fellow Board Members and administrators in the room who supported him through his educational journey.

Lewis signaled out his former supervisor Tommie Powell for teaching him the value of listening and Superintendent Doris Voitier for her mentorship and guidance.

Superintendent Doris Voitier said Lewis’s exceptional leadership potential could be spotted early on.

“We know that he will be extremely successfully in unifying the Orleans School System and will bring many of the values and principals he has learned from us as he works towards the betterment of children in our neighboring parish,” Voitier said.

“We also want to welcome Mr. Smith to the Board and know he will faithfully represent the people of District 9.”

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