![Louisiana Education Superintendent John White submits resignation](https://media-cdn.socastsrm.com/wordpress/wp-content/blogs.dir/2176/files/2019/02/John-White-1.jpg)
State Superintendent of Education John White announces he is stepping down from the post he’s held since 2012. Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says John White pushed for and oversaw significant changes in public schools.
“He had a tremendous focus on higher academic standards, things that raise the expectations for our students, better teacher preparation, and the continued expansion of charter schools,” said Erwin.
The resignation is effective March 11, to give the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education time to find his successor.
White’s support for charter schools and a bigger emphasis on standardized test scores in teacher evaluations made him unpopular with teachers’ unions. Erwin says that comes with the job.
“When you are a superintendent and you are trying to make change, that is part of the fallout you expect,” says Erwin.
White’s support for Common Core also drew the ire of many Louisiana parent organizations.
Louisiana still ranks poorly in most educational metrics, and the job will not be easy for whoever takes it next, but Erwin believes White built a foundation future superintendents will rely on.
“We’ve got the highest graduation rate that we have ever had in our history, we’ve got more kids going to college, more kids earning TOPS scholarships, so we are seeing progress,” says Erwin.
In his resignation letter, White called his eight years the “greatest blessing and privilege of my career and Louisiana is a better-educated state than any point of its history. Improved standardized test scores and a record-high graduation rate is evidence.