Nine people have submitted their resumes and applications for the interim superintendent position with the Lafayette Parish School System.
We posted their names yesterday, but today the school system completed their redaction of private information from the applications and provided us with copies in response to our public records request.
We’ve pulled some details from each person’s application, and scanned their cover letter and resume/CV:
- Brian Thomas Binggeli of Lucas, TX
Binggeli has a bachelor of science in secondary social studies education from Miami University in Ohio; a master’s in educational administration and supervision from Virginia State University and a doctorate of education in educational leadership and policy studies from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
His most recent position ended in 2017; he was superintendent of the Plano Independent School District in Texas. He resigned abruptly and did not give a reason for doing so, local media reported at the time.A board member later said it was due to “differing leadership philosophies.” Binggeli attached a statement regarding this to his application packet.
Binggeli also served as superintendent of Brevard Public Schools in Viera, Florida for six years, and assistant superintendent of Fairfax County Public Schools in Falls Church, Virginia for three years. Other previous positions include Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Director of Middle Education, Principal, Assistant Principal and teacher. Over his 37-year education career, he has worked in school districts in Texas, Virginia, Florida and Ohio.
- Isaac Carrier of Spring, Texas, who currently is an assistant professor at the University of Louisiana at Monroe.
Carrier holds a bachelor of science in agriculture and a master’s in educational leadership from Stephen F. Austin State University, as well as a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University.
Prior to his position at UL Monroe, Carrier served as assistant superintendent of high schools for the Spring Independent School District in Houston. He also has served as the executive director of school leadership for the Dallas Independent School District, and as a principal in the Aldine Independent School District in Houston and a teacher for the Hardin-Jefferson Independent School District in Sour Lake, Texas.
- Larry E. DiChiara of Auburn, AL, who currently is an education consultant.
Dichiara holds a bachelor of science in special education, a master’s in special education and a doctorate in educational leadership, all from Auburn University.
His most recent position with a school district ended in 2015, when the state takeover of Selma City Schools ended. Dichiara was appointed chief administrative officer and acting superintendent of that school system by the Alabama State Board of Education. The takeover followed a state investigation into academic and management issues, local media reported at the time. After a year of restructuring and clean-up led by DiChiara, the system was returned to local control.
Prior to that, Dichiara was superintendent of Phenix City Schools in Alabama, a position he held for nine years. His board bought out his contract, and he filed suit against them, local media reported at the time.
During his 38-year education career, Dichiara also has served as director of administrative services, principal, assistant principal and teacher at school systems in Alabama.
- Dee Oscar Fowler of Madison, AL is currently retired.
Fowler holds a bachelor of science from Lipscomb University in Nashville, a master’s from Vanderbilt University and a doctorate of education from the University of Alabama.
When he retired in January 2018, Fowler was deputy state superintendent and chief of staff for the Alabama State Department of Education. Prior to that, he served as Superintendent of Madison County Schools, a position he held for nine years. In that Alabama school district he also served as assistant superintendent, director of administration, principal, assistant principal, teacher, coach and community education director.
- Jerome Puyau of Erath, who is the current superintendent of Vermilion Parish School System.
Puyau holds a bachelor’s and a bachelor’s of fine arts, as well as a masters of education, all from UL. He has spent all of his 27-year education career in Vermilion Parish, where he has also served as supervisor of facilities and maintenance, assistant principal and special education teacher.
Puyau has been at odds with his some members of his school board but also has overseen a district that consistently posts top scores in state testing. To see stories about that, click here and here.
- C. Michael Robinson, Jr. is an educational speaker and consultant from Thibodaux.
Robinson holds a bachelor’s in elementary education from Southern University, as well as a master’s in educational leadership from Troy State University and educational specialist and doctorate in educational leadership from Argosy University in Florida.
His most recent school system post was Superintendent for the Pine Bluff School District in Arkansas, a position he held for two years. His board bought out his contract, but no reason was given for that action, local media reported at the time.
Prior to that job, he served as instructional director in Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland, and as a principal in Maryland and Georgia schools. He was an assistant principal and teacher in Georgia and Texas schools, and began his career as a teacher for the Lafourche Parish School System.
- Camacia Smith-Ross of Baton Rouge, currently Executive Director of Pre-College and Outreach for Southern University.
Smith-Ross holds a bachelor’s in elementary education from Southern University, a master’s of education from the University of New Orleans and a doctorate in organizational leadership from NOVA Southeastern University in Miami.
Smith-Ross also applied for the Lafayette superintendent position back in 2011, when the board ended up hiring Pat Cooper.
Prior to her current position at Southern, which she has held since 2018, she serves as Interim Vice Provost for Academic Affairs at Southern, a post she held for a year. Prior to that, she was Dean of the School of Education for Louisiana College for two years. While in that position, her contract was not renewed, and she was placed on administrative leave until it expired. She sued the college over that action, alleging discrimination; she was one of three LC faculty members to do so during that period, a tumultuous time in the college’s history. Her case was dismissed.
Also while at LC, Ross served as associate dean of the school of education and director of the teacher education graduate programs. Prior to that, she was director of Upward Bound at Dillard University for five years. She is a tenured professor of education at Southern University and has worked as a Title 1 Coordinator for Orleans Parish, and as a teacher for Rapides Parish.
- Bart Thibodeaux of Church Point, current director of Special Education for LPSS.
Thibodeaux holds a bachelor’s in English from UL, and a master’s of education from UL. He also has a Ph.D. in English from UL, and his +30 from McNeese. During his 28-year education career, he has worked as an assistant director of special education, transition coordinator, secondary special educator, and teacher for public and Catholic schools in Lafayette and Acadia parishes.
- Irma Trosclair of Eunice, who is currently assistant superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at LPSS.
Trosclair holds a bachelor’s from McNeese State University and a master’s of education from LSU. She has been in education for 35 years. Prior to the assistant superintendent position, she served as the Lafayette school system’s school improvement administrator. She also served as an elementary school principal in Acadia and St. Landry parishes, as a librarian in St. Landry Parish and as a teacher in St. Landry, Allen and Jeff Davis parishes.
