The Orleans Parish School Board (OPSB) elected a new president and vice president on Thursday, January 22, during a regular board business meeting. Leila Jacob Eames will now serve as president of OPSB, with Olin G. Parker elected as vice president. 

Leila Jacob Eames is a New Orleans native and graduate from Walter L. Cohen High School. With an undergraduate and master’s degree from Southern University, certification in administration from Loyola University and the University of New Orleans, and as a retiree of New Orleans Public Schools, Eames is looking forward to stepping into the position. 

“I’d like to thank my fellow board members for their continued support and belief in me. We have a very talented and experienced board, and it’s an honor to serve with you,” said OPSB President Mrs. Eames. “I look forward to working with you and the Superintendent to continue to make our school system stronger and ensure we provide a high-quality education for our city’s children.”

In addition to being a mother, Mrs. Eames has served on several nonprofit boards in the New Orleans area and has worked as a national educational consultant, providing support and assistance to school districts across the country. 

Olin G. Parker previously served in various roles at the Louisiana Department of Education before joining the Orleans Parish School Board, where he currently represents District 3. A former high school math teacher in Louisiana, Mr. Parker has also served as a board member and volunteer for multiple community organizations. He currently sits on the board of several organizations, including the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana, and serves as the Orleans Parish School Board’s representative to the Council of Great City Schools. 

“I’m proud to be on this board and appreciate the willingness of our board members to collaborate, think independently, and be transparent and open about the direction we’re heading in,” said OPSB Vice President Olin Parker. “Thank you, colleagues, for the work you do every day for the children of Orleans Parish.”

To learn more about the newly elected president and vice president, as well as other school updates, visit nolapublicschools.com.