Rapides Parish School Board hires Jeff Powell as new superintendent

The Rapides Parish School Board was on a time crunch to hire a superintendent by the start of the school year. Thursday they met that goal and hired Jeff Powell to be the new Rapides Parish Superintendent.

The board voted, 6-3, to hire Powell.

Powell was one of three finalists along with current Executive Assistant Superintendent Kim Bennett and former Rosenthal Elementary Principal Deborah Heitman. Board members started by voting for their top two. Board member Sandra Franklin did not give a top two vote.

Heitman was eliminated during the first round. In the second round, three board members voted for Bennett: Darrell Rodriquez, Wilton Barrios and Sandra Franklin. Stephen Chapman, Mark Dryden, Linda Burgess, Keith Breazeale, Steve Berry and Willard McCall voted for Powell.

Search Committee Chair Darrell Rodriguez didn't vote for Powell, but was ready to work with the new superintendent.

"The main objective was to get a superintendent, the best superintendent, the best choice to lead our district," Rodriguez said. "The main goal is to continue the great education we have for our children. The idea is to keep our district moving forward and I really think that is going to happen now."

Powell is a Rapides Parish native. He is bringing years of administrative experience to the district. He was an assistant principal at Buckeye, a principal at Tioga Junior High and Chief Academic Officer in Iberville Parish. He said he is excited to come home.

"It's been quite an experience helping me have opportunities to grow as a leader," Powell said. "Learning different ways to connect with communities, connect with parents, connect with employees and really focusing on what it means to build a strategic plan, and help move us forward."

The board will meet again July 2 for their first monthly board meeting with the new superintendent.