Just six months after leaving, former East Baton Rouge Parish school superintendent Sito Narcisse is looking to get back the job he held for three years.
Narcisse announced that he's applying for the job Tuesday night, an hour after the parish School Board voted to reopen applications to fill the job Narcisse vacated in January. The move came after a contentious superintendent search that has fallen into a stalemate and compelled State Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley to intervene.
"I am blessed to have been able to call Baton Rouge home for over three years and it's a community I remain deeply committed to," Narcisse wrote in his announcement. "I look forward to the potential of becoming the superintendent again and working with stakeholders across all neighborhoods and parts of the community."
Narcisse is one of an uncertain number of new applicants who have until noon Wednesday to apply. The board is scheduled to interview as many as three finalists, starting at 4 p.m. that same day, and make a final selection immediately afterwards.
Narcisse has worked in many school districts throughout his career, holding high level positions in places such as Nashville and Washington, D.C. In January 2021, Narcisse narrowly edged out in a 5-4 vote in-house favorite Adam Smith to take over the state's second largest traditional school district, home to more than 40,000 students.
During his three years at the helm, Narcisse proved an ambitious but divisive leader, supported by some community and business leaders, but disliked by many rank-and-file employees. His job was made more difficult after the 2022 elections installed six new members to the board. He also upset some locals when he applied to be superintendent of Broward County, Fla., in May 2023, where he was a finalist but fell short of landing the job. He also weathered heavy criticism last August when an unexpected student transportation crisis plunged the school district into weeks of turmoil.
Conflict with board members led the board in December to vote 5-4 to not renew Narcisse’s contract. Six weeks later, Narcisse accepted a voluntary buyout.
Smith, who first joined the school system in 1996, immediately stepped in as interim superintendent with a six-month contract which expired Tuesday. Smith was one of 17 applicants for permanent superintendent this go-around but fell one vote short of being named a finalist. Nevertheless, Smith supporters mounted a pressure campaign, without success, to try to compel five holdout board members to hire Smith to the top job.
One of those holdouts, board member Mike Gaudet, also opposed the three finalists for the job, all of whom who've since dropped out. Gaudet was bitter about Narcisse being forced out and has described Narcisse as a "visionary."
In his announcement letter, Narcisse lists several accomplishments from his time as superintendent, including expanding early child care, a big expansion of dual enrollment, student internships and expansion of Advance Placement and industry-based certifications.
"Given my knowledge of the system, budget, and current initiatives I would "hit the ground running" and would be eager to work with the EBR team to ensure a strong start to the 2025 school year," Narcisse writes.
