EBR Superintendent Finalists Announced Amid Community Concerns

BATON ROUGE, La. - The search for the next East Baton Rouge Parish School System superintendent has narrowed to two candidates: Kevin George and Andrea Zayas. This announcement follows weeks of intense community speculation and discussions on social media, highlighting the community’s vested interest in the selection process.

Interim Superintendent Adam Smith, among the final five candidates, did not make it to the last round of selections. His exclusion has disappointed some community members, as many had voiced their support for Smith online, advocating for a leader familiar with the district’s unique challenges.

One East Baton Rouge Parish school teacher, who wished to remain anonymous due to fear of retaliation, expressed frustration with the school board's process. "We need a superintendent who understands our district and its unique challenges. It feels like the board is not considering our input and has already made their decision," the teacher said. "It doesn't feel like we really have a voice."

This sentiment reflects a broader concern among educators and community members that their voices are being overshadowed by the board's decisions. The transparency and inclusiveness of the selection process have been called into question, with many feeling their opinions are being disregarded.

Candidate Krish Mohip recently withdrew from the race, citing acceptance of another job offer, leaving Kevin George and Andrea Zayas as the final contenders.

On Monday, George and Zayas will face a superintendent search panel for further questioning. A public meet and greet is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. at the Professional Development Center, allowing parents, teachers, principals, and business leaders to engage with the finalists. This event provides a critical opportunity for stakeholders to interact with the candidates and voice their concerns.

"We need to ask tough questions to ensure these candidates have our best interests at heart and are not just political appointees," the anonymous teacher urged.

Following the meet and greet, the East Baton Rouge Federation of Teachers plans to express their concerns in front of the school board office at 6:30 p.m. This demonstration aims to highlight the community’s desire for a transparent and inclusive selection process.

The school board is set to make their final decision on the new superintendent on July 11. The chosen candidate will be tasked with addressing the district's challenges and meeting the community's expectations for leadership and accountability.