Who is Dr. Sito Narcisse
Sito Narcisse was born and raised in New York City, the son of a cab driver and waitress. He and his two brothers were raised speaking only Creole with their Haitian immigrant parents until they enrolled in NYC public schools and began learning English. It was that experience that put education in young Sito’s focus and continues to this day.
Narcisse, 47, held various teaching positions and education leadership roles in Pittsburgh, Boston, Maryland, Tennessee and Washington, D.C. In early 2021, he was elected superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish Schools system, the second largest district in Louisiana comprised of nearly 40,000 students.
Upon arriving to the Bayou State, Narcisse quickly took note of the abounding natural and industry resources propping up the economy and lending to unlimited, but untapped potential. Upon learning about the dire need for a skilled, technically savvy workforce, he quickly developed relationships and partnerships with community stakeholders, business and industry leaders and dedicated political dignitaries all keen on advancing public education from the cradle to career. The successful restoration of schools stood as an obvious win-win for children and the economy.
With that Focus, Narcisse crafted a cohort group including the Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Workforce Development and industry experts to develop the Pathways to Bright Futures program. For the first time in EBRPSS district history, all high school students can now take advanced placement, college credit courses, and industry-based certification classes. So students are more prepared for post-graduation transition with a huge cost savings for college or career paths.
Additionally, Narcisse combined forces with specialized industry leaders to create Focus Choice Schools, which further school choice options by providing innovative, theme-based programs such as Technology, Construction and Manufacturing, Medical and Pre-Med, Transportation and Logistics and Liberal Arts and Management. Each school is supported by a community partner who provides specialized expertise for each model. The success of the program has catapulted student interest and provided educational experience beyond buildings and books.
Another historic, fundamental and glaring deficit in EBR schools that stood out to Narcisse was in literacy, as has been the case in so many U.S. urban school districts. Dr. Narcisse enlisted national specialists to partner with the EBR Mayor’s education task force to create the Literacy Blueprint. This detailed guide has become the impetus for early childhood reading advancements and has seen pre-k matriculation to kindergarten with a nearly 90% proficiency.
The combination of these programs from the earliest stages through graduation have provided a new lens to learning opportunities that have elevated student progress by proportions that were unattainable until Narcisse took the helm.
