SLS 22RS-608 ORIGINAL
2022 Regular Session
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 10
BY SENATOR PETERSON
COMMENDATIONS. To commend Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. on more than 25 years spent
in public education as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent.
1 A RESOLUTION
2 To commend Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. on more than twenty-five years spent in public
3 education as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent.
4 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis is a native of Violet, Louisiana; and
5 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis' grandfather told him at an early age that school was his job
6 and he has taken that job seriously ever since; and
7 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis began teaching at eight years old; his students were his
8 cousins, his curriculum was the worksheets his aunt brought home, and his chalkboard was
9 the wall; and
10 WHEREAS, while attending St. Bernard High School, he tutored students during the
11 summer and later graduated as salutatorian; and
12 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis earned a bachelor's degree in secondary mathematics
13 education from Southern University at New Orleans, a MEd in educational leadership and
14 administration from the University of New Orleans, and a PhD in educational leadership and
15 administration from Mississippi State University, all before the age of thirty; and
16 WHEREAS, in 1999, Dr. Lewis began his career as a professional educator as a
17 teacher and for the next seven years he worked in the St. Bernard Parish Public Schools; in
18 addition he served for eleven years he on the St. Bernard Parish Public School Board; and
Page 1 of 3 SR NO. 10
SLS 22RS-608 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, in 2006, Dr. Lewis left the St. Bernard school system to serve in a
2 variety of roles for the Algiers Charter Schools Association, the first charter management
3 organization to open after Hurricane Katrina; and
4 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis served as their director of academics and instructional
5 technology, the assistant principal for Alice Harte Elementary Charter School, and as a
6 founding principal of Algiers Technology Academy charter school; and
7 WHEREAS, in 2012, Dr. Lewis was appointed superintendent for East Feliciana
8 Parish school system; and
9 WHEREAS, during his tenure with East Feliciana Parish school system and as a
10 result of his four-year strategic plan and leadership, he raised the bar for classroom teaching
11 and evaluation, and made significant gains among low-income students; and
12 WHEREAS, as a result, East Feliciana Public Schools were recognized by the
13 Louisiana Department of Education as second in the state for elementary student academic
14 growth; and
15 WHEREAS, in 2015, at age forty, Dr. Lewis began his tenure as one of New Orleans
16 schools' youngest superintendents in its nearly one hundred and ninety year history; and
17 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis has been at the helm of New Orleans Public Schools for over
18 six years, leading the historic 2018 unification of public schools in New Orleans under local
19 control, the establishment of the district as a supporter of the local school community while
20 holding each operator to high education standards, and celebrating through it all, the
21 achievement of its teachers, support staff, and students; and
22 WHEREAS, under Lewis' leadership, the district's awards to disadvantaged business
23 enterprises increased, its minimum wage for food service employees rose to fifteen dollars
24 per hour, and its graduation rates increased; and
25 WHEREAS, also under Lewis' leadership, in 2019 the school district was able to
26 procure a commitment of five million dollars for technology at the start of the pandemic,
27 helping schools deliver thousands of laptops and hot spots to New Orleans families; and
28 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis brought all his experiences to bear building partnership, using
29 data to drive decisions, and overseeing New Orleans Public Schools during unprecedented
30 times; and
Page 2 of 3 SR NO. 10
SLS 22RS-608 ORIGINAL
1 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis is the longest serving African-American Superintendent in
2 New Orleans; and
3 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis has received many accolades, including being named a
4 "Chiefs for Change" inductee in 2018 as well as a "Distinguished Board Member" from the
5 Louisiana School Boards Association; and
6 WHEREAS, Dr. Lewis is a member of the Council of Great City Schools, the
7 Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.; and
8 WHEREAS, throughout his tenure as an educator, Dr. Lewis has not wavered from
9 his mission as a protector of family and students' rights and a thoughtful steward of public
10 resources; and
11 WHEREAS, throughout Lewis' illustrious career, he has served as a superintendent,
12 a school board member, an academic's director, a school principal, an assistant principal, a
13 teacher, a mentor, an instructional coach, and a curriculum expert; and
14 WHEREAS, an educator is one who helps others and influences lives forever and
15 educating our kids to become intelligent citizens is one of life's most esteemed callings; Dr.
16 Lewis has helped and influenced an entire generation of Louisiana students and made the
17 state a much better place due to his efforts both in and outside of the classroom.
18 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
19 does hereby commend Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. on a distinguished career spanning more
20 than twenty-five years in public education as a teacher, administrator, and superintendent.
21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
22 Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by James Benton.
DIGEST
SR 10 Original 2022 Regular Session Peterson
Commends Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. on 25 years spent in public education as a teacher,
administrator, and superintendent.
Page 3 of 3