Henderson Lewis, Jr., PhD is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the
School of Education. His research interest includes mentoring first-generation scholars
of color, instructional leadership in urban environs, and decentralization. Dr. Lewis
has served as an educator in Louisiana for over 25 years with services extending across
the southern region of the state. Dr. Lewis began his career as an educator in his
hometown of St. Bernard Parish. He served his community in the role of a mathematics
teacher, curriculum coordinator, and later as an 11-year elected school board member.
Dr. Lewis continued his career journey by the assuming role of a charter school and
district leader in New Orleans. His career journey afforded him the opportunity to
serve the residents of East Feliciana Parish as the Superintendent of Schools. Dr.
Lewis has served his last 7 years as the Superintendent of NOLA Public Schools, where
he oversaw the historic 2018 unification of public schools in New Orleans with those
schools run by the state of Louisiana and created the first decentralized school district
in America.