(New Orleans – March 31, 2022) —The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) voted today to appoint Leila Jacobs Eames as the Interim School Board Member for District 1. Eames will be filling in for former school board member John Brown. Mr. Brown stepped down from the post when his daughter became a candidate during the NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) superintendent search.
"The board would like to thank Ms. Eames for taking on this important position. Having served the school system in New Orleans for more than 30 years, she is well qualified to meet the needs of the constituents in District 1, and the community can rest assured Mrs. Eames will have their best interest at heart as she carries out the duties of her new role," said OPSB President Olin Parker. "I would also like to thank all the candidates for putting themselves forward to serve. Every single one of the applicants were qualified to serve, and I am so appreciative of their many years of leadership. District 1 is full of tremendous advocates, and I am grateful for their commitment to students."
Mrs. Eames was born and raised in New Orleans and a product of the school system in New Orleans. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Southern University in Baton Rouge with a Master's in Administration. She also earned certification in administration from Loyola University and the University of New Orleans. Mrs. Eames is a retiree of New Orleans Public Schools where she worked professionally for more than 33 years. She served as a 5th grade teacher, Title 1 Resource Teacher, Title 1 Coordinator of Instruction, and Associate Superintendent of Federal Programs, where she managed a $50 million annual budget.
"I'm sincerely interested in public school education, and I will work toward helping move the board's vision forward," Mrs. Eames said. "I also look forward to working with the new superintendent to monitor and review policy, keep equity top of mind, work with schools to keep them safe, as well as ensuring schools remain academically and financially sound, as well as in good maintenance condition."
Even though she is retired, she currently serves as an educational national consultant providing support and assistance to school districts working with teachers, principals, and associate superintendents. Mrs. Eames serves on three non-profit boards: Lake Forest Charter School Board, Eastover Property Owners Association Board, and Non-Flood Protection Management Levee Board. She also serves as the Washington DC Mardi Gras agent for Congressman Cedric Richmond and as a member of The Pontchartrain Links Chapter where she chairs the International Trends and Services Facet.
Mrs. Eames attends St. Maria Goretti Catholic Church and travels once a year to Haiti to supply women and children in a remote village with personal items and food.
Married to Mr. Louis Lester Eames for 51 years, she is the mother of two children and the proud grandmother of five grandchildren. Mrs. Eames enjoys traveling, reading, playing bridge, and shopping.
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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools 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. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 76 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.
For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.