(New Orleans – July 26, 2022) —It's official! The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) has officially sworn in the first permanent woman superintendent in the District's 181 years. NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams Orleans took the oath of office amid a room full of dignitaries, school leaders, community partners, and community members.


"I am truly honored, humbled, and excited to have taken the oath of office and officially be part of the NOLA-PS family," said Dr. Avis Williams. "I appreciate the trust and confidence the board has in me. During my first two weeks with the District, I've rolled out my 100 Days plan and look forward to gaining the trust of our families and the community through my ABC (Dr. Avis' Beignets & Conversations) Tours and ongoing engagement, as I work to instill the core values I live by in every facet of the District: Excellence, Equity, and Joy."


"I had to be here to witness history," said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. "I look forward to your leadership… and I encourage everyone to provide the level of support, unwavering support that our leader will need. As the mayor of this city, I say congratulations… and the best is yet to come."


"Dr. Williams is an extremely qualified leader for our District and we are thrilled to have her as our superintendent. Her historic appointment was long overdue, and the board is thrilled to have Dr. Avis Williams as part of its NOLA-PS family," said OPSB President Olin Parker. "On behalf of the board, we look forward to working with her and supporting her initiatives to help create bright futures for our students."


Superintendent Williams comes into the role with more than 20 years of experience as an educator serving as a teacher, a principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and most recently as the superintendent for Selma City Schools in Alabama for the past 5 years.

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB). NOLA-PS currently oversees 72 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Avis Williams, the first woman in the District's 181 years to serve as its permanent superintendent.


For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.