Superintendent unveils 2026–27 organizational chart as district outlines hiring timeline

Superintendent Dr. Fatima Fulmore presented a proposed 2026–27 organizational chart at the Orleans Parish School Board personnel committee meeting on June 2, telling board members the executive leadership team would shrink from eight chief officers to six and several administrative roles would be merged or redistributed.

The organizational changes accompany the district’s quarterly personnel report, delivered by Miss UTC Dukes, who said the district recorded three new hires (two school-based, one school psychologist) and seven separations from March through May. "Our current one-year retention rate for this year is 90% while our three-year average retention rate is 87%," Dukes said. She added that retention among sped and regular education teachers rose from 75% in 2024–25 to 96% this year.

Dukes provided additional staffing detail: the district listed 26 teachers in the certificated teachers category, 18 of whom are certified; eight were uncertified and seven of those are enrolled in the TNTP certification program. She said one teacher had been awarded a practitioner license, three had passed a practice exam and submitted applications to the state, one was awaiting test results, and two still needed to complete testing requirements.

On recruitment, Dukes said the district uses targeted strategies based on position difficulty and reported an average time-to-fill of about five weeks for most roles and six weeks for hard-to-fill positions. She described hiring steps that include position approval and job-description review, posting on the district website to build a candidate pool, screening, performance tasks for finalists, and phone interviews to narrow larger pools.

Board members asked whether the district notifies candidates who are not selected. Dukes said candidates receive an update after the position is filled; the district waits until an offer is accepted before sending some communications to avoid reopening pools unnecessarily.

Dr. Fulmore described how the chart realigns work across divisions. Instructional work and LEA school supports — including the Leah Chase School — will sit under the deputy superintendent to improve cohesion. She said communications staff will include dedicated support for the Leah Chase School and that a principal hire for that school has been made and "we would announce [it] on Thursday at the board meeting," pending finalization.

The superintendent also outlined changes in accountability, saying Dr. Jordan will focus on schools and accountability functions (data systems, portfolio work, progress monitoring and annual site visits). The systemwide needs program and college-and-career strategy will be embedded in accountability to emphasize career readiness, she said.

On finance and operations, Dr. Fulmore said the district has a vacant executive director of finance role and is repurposing an existing position to add an accountant under the comptroller (William Joseph) to strengthen internal controls. Operations will be reorganized under a smaller leadership hub (noted as reporting to the chief of operations, Tracy Merkadel), and the district plans to add two in-house capital project managers to reduce reliance on external contracts.

Dr. Fulmore referenced broader staffing counts and reclassifications, noting a reduction described in the transcript as "181 FTS" from last year and saying some roles were reclassified or had salary adjustments; she said the org chart would be updated on the district website and take effect July 1.

Board members pressed for clarity on which moves were promotions versus reclassifications. Dr. Fulmore confirmed Miss Jones’ move was a promotion (from executive director to deputy chief) and said the administration would reshare detailed lists of reclassifications and updated job descriptions with the board.

The committee took no formal personnel votes during the meeting; it adopted routine minutes and adjourned at 1:56 p.m. The superintendent and staff were directed to post or make positions live to align with the July 1 effective date for many changes and to provide the board with the requested reclassification and job-description documentation.

The committee will review any further adoption steps for the organizational chart at upcoming board sessions, and the superintendent indicated the Leah Chase School principal hire would be publicly announced at the full board meeting later that week.