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St. Bernard School Board unanimously appoints Mary Lamata as superintendent after candidate interview
Summary
After a special meeting and a public interview, the St. Bernard School Board voted 11-0 to appoint Mary Lamata as superintendent and authorized the board president to negotiate her contract. Lamata, an internal candidate with 36 years in the district, outlined priorities including teacher retention, CTE expansion, and student mental-health supports.
The St. Bernard School Board on Friday night appointed Mary Lamata as superintendent following a public interview and an 11-0 vote to confirm her, then unanimously authorized the board president to enter contract negotiations.
Lamata, an internal candidate who said she has worked in the St. Bernard system for 36 years, told board members she has served as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, testing and accountability supervisor, secondary instructional supervisor and for the past nine years as assistant superintendent. "I feel like I've been well prepared to step into this next role as superintendent," Lamata said during her opening remarks.
Board members questioned Lamata across a range of topics before the vote. On teacher recruitment and retention, Lamata described a recently assembled nine-station orientation for new hires—covering systems from student information to learning-management platforms—and said the district must support teachers so they do not leave. "Retention is the best recruitment," she said, stressing ongoing professional support and practical onboarding resources.
Lamata outlined program priorities she would pursue as superintendent, including expanding Career and Technical Education (CTE) work-based internships, launching a small mentor pilot at CF Raleigh Alternative using IDEA funding to support students with behavioral or social-emotional needs, and targeted supports for elementary students who struggle to adapt to school structure. She told the board she plans to be more visible in the community and welcome stakeholder feedback.
On accountability and state testing, Lamata explained how the new rubric assigns proficiency only to mastery-or-above scores and described district work aligning teacher-evaluation rubrics with curriculum to improve student outcomes. She said the district has invested in a "high quality tier one curriculum" and is training administrators to coach teachers to raise both instruction quality and student performance.
Several board members probed budget risks and mental-health supports. When asked what she would do if funding pressures threatened counseling or social-work positions, Lamata replied, "I won't let that happen," calling mental-health services essential to student well-being.
After roughly an hour of questions, Ms. LaMoyne moved to appoint Lamata and Mr. Long seconded. The roll call vote was 11 in favor, 0 opposed. Following the appointment, the board approved a separate motion authorizing the board president and her committee to negotiate Lamata's contract; that motion also passed 11-0.
Board members and district staff offered congratulations. In brief remarks, Ms. Voce—who has worked closely with Lamata in district leadership—praised Lamata's experience and work ethic and welcomed the appointment.
Next steps include contract negotiations between Lamata and the board president's committee; no contract terms were disclosed during the meeting.
