When it comes to leading a school district, timing is everything.
Monroe City Schools Superintendent Rev. Sam Moore, III is still relatively new on the job, but some decisions can’t afford to wait. The delay in naming principals for Carroll and Neville High Schools—two flagship campuses in the district—has created an atmosphere of uncertainty that could jeopardize the start of the upcoming school year.
These vacancies didn’t emerge overnight. They’ve been anticipated for months, and the clock has been ticking ever since. Other school systems in the area, including Ouachita Parish, have already announced a full slate of appointments for the new academic year. In contrast, Monroe’s flagship high schools still have “To Be Announced” on their leadership lines.
According to Rev. Moore, interviews for Carroll High School are finally scheduled for July 16, less than three weeks before teachers are due to report back on August 4.
Leadership transitions always come with challenges, but those challenges are magnified when appointments are made at the last minute.
A principal is not simply a figurehead—they are the backbone of a school’s operations, the tone-setter for faculty, and the anchor for student success. Without that leadership in place, preparing staff, finalizing class schedules, filling key instructional vacancies, and setting a clear vision for the year becomes a near-impossible task.
It’s one thing to be thoughtful. It’s another to be unprepared.
Rev. Moore’s desire to conduct a thorough and fair selection process is understandable—and commendable. But the fact remains that this process could have started sooner. The finalists for Carroll were introduced at a well-attended public forum, which suggests that much of the groundwork had already been laid.
What remains is a decision. And delaying that decision until the eleventh hour does not serve the students, teachers, or families who rely on strong leadership.
Adding to the frustration is the superintendent’s announcement that he is on vacation this week, the week before final interviews, leaving the district in limbo during a critical time.
Though he made clear the cruise was planned long ago and unrelated to the principalships, the optics are less than ideal.
School communities need to know that their leadership is fully present and engaged—especially when key decisions remain unresolved.
At its heart, this issue is not just about personnel. It’s about priorities. The start of the school year is not just another date on the calendar. It is a launchpad that determines the momentum of the entire academic journey. Naming a principal two weeks before school starts doesn’t give anyone—the leader or the led, a fair chance to succeed.
