OPSB Swears In Interim Board Member for School Board District 1

(New Orleans – April 14, 2022) — Surrounded by her family and friends, the Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) officially swore in Mrs. 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.

"On behalf of the board, I'd like to welcome Mrs. Eames to her new role. We are grateful to have someone with so much education experience and such deep roots in the community take on this important position. Her more than 30 years of experience within the school system in New Orleans will serve her well, as she works to meet the needs of her District 1 constituents," said OPSB President Olin Parker. "The board looks forward to working with Mrs. Eames as it seeks to continue to move its vision forward of ensuring all students receive a high quality education."

Mrs. Eames was born and raised in New Orleans and is 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 5^th 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 passionate about public school education, and I look forward to working with the board and the new superintendent to help move this school system forward," said Mrs. Eames. "I'm interested in keeping equity top of mind, working with schools to keep them safe, ensuring schools remain academically and financially sound, as well as in a state of good repair."

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.