Patrick Jenkins

St. Landry Parish School District Superintendent Named Louisiana Superintendent of the Year 

DECEMBER 1, 2022

OPELOUSAS, LA  -- Patrick Jenkins, superintendent of St. Landry Parish School District (SLPSD), has been named the 2023 Louisiana  Superintendent of the Year by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS).  This program is designed to recognize the outstanding leadership of active, front-line superintendents.   Nominees are judged on the following criteria: - Leadership for Learning, communication, professionalism and community involvement. 

The award was presented Thursday (December 1, 2022) during the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS) Conference in  Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  “I am so honored and humbled to have been chosen as Louisiana’s Superintendent of the Year,” said Mr. Jenkins, who has been superintendent of the SLPSD for 6  years. Serving as superintendent in St. Landry Parish is a dream fulfilled.  St. Landry Parish is the root of my origins.  I was raised there and went to school there.  This place has a special place in my heart, and I have a strong desire to see the educational successes we can bring about here.  I  am immensely proud of the work we have done and the turnaround we have created for the kids and community that we serve. I am acutely aware that I have the privilege of receiving this award based on the incredibly hard work of everyone in and around our dynamic district. Thank you to my supportive family, the outstanding SLPSD team, and to LASS for this once-in-a-lifetime honor.”

A panel of his peers selected Mr. Jenkins for Louisiana Superintendent of the Year based on the significant turnaround he facilitated in SLPSD, a district of about  13,000 students. When he was hired in 2016, the rural district was in a  financial crisis, had extremely limited technology, and had a very limited list of student opportunities.  After making significant budget cuts, Mr. Jenkins led a successful reformative process that put the district on solid financial footing and paved the way for implementing numerous improvements.  He established a pathway for providing more opportunities for the students of St. Landry Parish through educational initiatives and program offerings, developed numerous partnerships, and developed a strategic plan to ensure a goal-oriented track forward.  He also improved both internal and external communication and strengthened accountability and support for educational leaders in the 

district. His  accomplishments include: 

  • Scored 85B on 2018 Formula – This is up from a 71.7C in 2017 on the old formula (Growth of 13.3 points, most growth in Louisiana)

  • Implemented Augmented Virtual Reality Technology (Z Space ) in St Landry Parish

  • Acquired, implemented, and expanded Head Start and Early Head Start programs for the past four (4) years

  • Increased Head Start and PreK (Early Learning) academic performance

  • Created a District strategic plan and made significant progress in all areas of the 5 year Strategic Plan

  • Provided access to AP Courses

  • Increased qualifying scores on AP exams by 4.2 percentage points

  • Expanded Academic Dual Enrollment to 9th through a partnership with LSUA

  • Initiated and completed a cost-savings analysis for SLPSB finances

  • Balanced the SLPSD Budget for the past 5 years

  • Improved social-emotional supports for students by adopting the Leader in Me program, expanding the district’s counseling department, and implementing policies and procedures focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. 

  • Increased district and school communication with the implementation of a district app

  • First in the state to partner with SLCC to create a Collegiate Technical Academy and to have students graduate from Collegiate Technical Academy with technical degrees

  • Increased the number of credentials earned by all students in SLPS

  • Exceeded the state average for the number of seniors  earning Basic or Advanced IBCs by 7.2%

  • Exceeded the state average for the number of seniors earning Advanced IBCs by 11.7%

  • Purchased Tier 1 Curriculum in Math, ELA, and Science

  • Celebrated a Blue Ribbon School in 2022, 1 of only 7 in Louisiana

  • Worked with Career & Tech Supervisor to increase course offerings in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

  • Increases the graduation rate from 66.6% in 2016-17 to 81.4% in 2021-2022.

  • Increased the graduation rate for African American students from 61% in 2016 to 83.4% in 2022. to surpass the state by 3.7%

  • Increased the graduation rate for economically disadvantaged students to 78.9% in 2022, surpassing the state in this area

  • Increased the graduation rate for students with disabilities to 73.2% in 2022,  surpassing the state by 1.9%

  • Established partnerships with South Louisiana Community College, Louisiana State University at Eunice, Northwestern College, Acadiana Center for the Arts, Louisiana State University at Alexandria

  • Created a Virtual Summer Enrichment Academy district-wide for Grades K-12

  • Integrated and expanded Arts Programs through a partnership with Acadiana Center for the Arts

  • Implemented the Leader In Me (LIM) program in seventeen (17) schools in St. Landry Parish

  • Increased Integration of technology throughout the district and purchased additional hardware and software programs to address the rapid growth in educational technology needs

  • Balanced the SLPSD budget for the past five (5) years and increased its fund balance by 16 million dollars over that period

  • Partnered with Oxford and Reach universities to provide a pathway for employees to become teachers

  • Established Superintendent Leadership Councils to increase stakeholder engagement and input

  • Implemented a new educational leader evaluation system through the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) Leadership Series to empower principals to advance instructional excellence and equity.

  • Initiated the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) that focused on growing successful AP programs that SLPSD previously did not have available to students 

In addition to leading St. Landry Parish School District, Mr. Jenkins is a national speaker, presenter, and award winner. He is passionate about education, which is evident in all that he does, including his professional contributions in numerous settings, which include:

  • Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS) 2023 Superintendent of the Year

  • Southwest Louisiana Superintendent of the Year 2022

  • One Acadiana – 55 By 25 Accelerator Award

  • Louisiana Association of School Superintendents (LASS) – President

  • Louisiana Department of Education Superintendents’ Advisory Council (SAC) - Chairman 2022 -2023

  • US Delegation to Korea: Education Leaders & Innovators National Tour July 2022

  • zSpace District of Distinction: Visionary Leader in Education award for its use of Augmented and Virtual Reality in Career and Technical Education

  • The National Association of University Women – St Landry Parish Branch – Black History Hall of Fame Recipient

  • St. Landry Parish United Way Community Impact Award Recipient

  • Imagine Learning Forum presenter, Provo, Utah: Journey to Superintendent: A Discussion about Leadership Development

  • University of Louisiana at Lafayette / United Way of Acadiana Education Summit: Superintendent Panelist

  • Louisiana Educators of Color Collective (LECC) presenter: A Discussion about Leadership Development

  • Louisiana School Boards Association(LSBA) Level Up League: Future Superintendents Presenter: Superintendent and Board Relationships

  • Centenary College of Louisianan Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Panelist

Mr. Michael Faulk, executive director of LASS, described Mr. Jenkins as a dynamic leader and passionate educator who cares deeply about improving students' lives in St. Landry Parish School District and elevating public education nationwide.  “The Louisiana Association of School Superintendents is pleased to announce the selection of Superintendent Patrick Jenkins of St. Landry Parish as the Louisiana Superintendent of the Year.  Superintendent Jenkins has provided vital leadership for superintendents across the state and has been involved in national and foreign initiatives,” says Faulk.

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