Sandra LaRose pitches continuity, safety and outreach in Terrebonne Parish superintendent interview

Sandra LaRose, the district’s chief academic officer, told the Terrebonne Parish School Board on Thursday evening she is "ready to lead" as superintendent, citing post‑Hurricane Ida operational experience, recent school recognitions and a five‑point plan that emphasizes student achievement, safety, communication and fiscal strength.

LaRose framed her candidacy around long service in the parish and a record of district gains: she said Village East was named a comeback campus in 2022, Broadmoor and Mulberry Elementary have been named National Blue Ribbon schools, and the district ranks 17th of 69 on the recent literacy screener. "Terrebonne Parish is in my heart," she said, adding that 12 high‑school students will be recognized for perfect scores on English exams this week.

Why it matters: the board is choosing a district leader responsible for academics, facilities and community trust. LaRose told board members she has been involved in rebuilding efforts after Hurricane Ida, has worked with contractors and architects to keep projects on timeline and wants to press forward with safety upgrades such as vestibules where needed.

In her prepared remarks and answers to the board, LaRose outlined specific priorities. On teacher pipelines, she advocated expanding pre‑educator pathways and using programs such as JROTC and the state Fast Forward option to allow students to earn postsecondary credits while in high school. "We need to take advantage of a pre‑educator pathway that is offered," she said. On safety and facilities, she urged timely completion of vestibules and noted that some elements of the district's facility study are now outdated because of post‑storm work.

LaRose emphasized communication as a district priority, recommending more proactive outreach including regular short videos and greater inclusion of support staff voices alongside those of teachers and administrators. On finances, she said the district must prioritize paying down bonds and directing funds toward community needs and workforce development.

Board members pressed LaRose on several issues. When asked about employee feedback, LaGuard (as recorded in the meeting) said results from an employee survey appeared to include concerns about the candidate; LaRose said she had not seen the survey results but agreed that "employees' voices need to be heard" and described town halls and targeted listening sessions as tools to gather input. Mister Ford asked how the district would better serve students with specialized needs; LaRose pointed to the state "Special Ed playbook," promised increased communication with parents and raised plans to relocate the SEC program to Elysian Fields to provide a dedicated facility.

Several board members raised concerns about inconsistent communication between teachers, principals and central office staff. LaRose said the district should diagnose root causes before adding positions and focus on aligning people toward student outcomes. When a board member asked how she would handle direct parent requests for superintendent intervention, LaRose said she often takes such calls personally and will visit schools to observe and gather data before recommending steps.

On community messaging about capital projects, LaRose acknowledged confusion about upgrades to Terrebonne High and work at Ellinger (the transcript uses both 'Ellinger' and 'Elander'); she said some projects are FEMA‑funded and others are district‑funded, and that those funding differences and plans should be explained to residents so they understand why timelines and scopes differ.

The board did not take a final vote on the superintendent position at the meeting. The session recessed for a 10‑minute break after Missus Benoit moved for a recess and the motion was seconded; no roll‑call vote was recorded.

What to watch next: the board's next steps in the search process and any public release of employee survey results or additional candidate interviews.