Jefferson Parish Schools Surprised with Prestigious NIET District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness and $50,000 Grand Prize

Selected from among school districts nationwide for sustained commitment to supporting educators

2026 NIET District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness Video

2026 NIET District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness Photo Gallery

2026 NIET District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness: Award Reaction Video

New Orleans, La. (April 2, 2026) - The National Institute for Excellence in Teaching (NIET) announced today that Jefferson Parish Schools, Louisiana, won the District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness. The award celebrates Jefferson Parish’s focus on educator excellence and student success and includes a $50,000 prize. NIET Founder Lowell Milken made the surprise announcement during the 2026 NIET National Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness, awarded this year for only the eighth time, honors an outstanding school district that supports excellent instruction and improves student performance. Jefferson Parish was chosen because of its unwavering commitment to investing in educators’ professional growth, fostering teacher leadership, and increasing student success. 

“Educator effectiveness is at the heart of improving student achievement in Jefferson Parish Schools,” said NIET Founder Lowell Milken. “We applaud Superintendent Dr. James Gray and his team for creating strong systems of teacher leadership and support that prepare students to succeed in learning and life.”

Jefferson Parish Schools, led by Superintendent Dr. James Gray, educates almost 47,500 students, 81% of whom are economically disadvantaged. Over 30 languages are spoken by students in classrooms across over 70 campuses and programs. Jefferson Parish is the largest public school system in Louisiana, and the 96th largest school district in the country. Despite its size and diversity, all students in Jefferson Parish receive high-quality instruction from educators and school leaders who benefit from continuous, individualized feedback and coaching. Teachers and students thrive in the positive learning environments cultivated in Jefferson Parish, as demonstrated by the district’s academic growth. In 2024, Jefferson Parish earned a “B” letter grade from the Louisiana Department of Education and maintained the rating in 2025.

“Jefferson Parish Schools has fostered an environment of excellence,” said NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett. “This has been made possible through a commitment to high-quality instruction and the introduction of teacher leadership. We are honored to celebrate their dedication to great teaching and learning, and their resulting growth in student achievement.”

What Makes Jefferson Parish Schools Unique?

Jefferson Parish Schools is located in southern Louisiana near New Orleans and serves students from preschool through twelfth grade. In 2018, Jefferson Parish partnered with NIET to support the rollout and implementation of high-quality instructional materials. The district, with help from NIET, has created teacher leadership roles and adopted structures that provide teachers with coaching and feedback. As a result, Jefferson Parish now has a cadre of teacher leaders who facilitate professional learning and individualized coaching that meet teacher and student needs.     

The coaching and feedback processes at Jefferson Parish are rooted in student work. School leaders and teacher leaders support teachers in analyzing student work to identify which instructional strategies work best for their students and where refinement is needed. This ensures that teachers' coaching cycles deliver actionable feedback tailored to their students’ needs, regardless of grade level or subject matter. At the district level, administrators also monitor and analyze data to see how district initiatives and support can best advance high-quality instruction.  

Jefferson Parish’s focus on instruction is clear in its academic growth and achievements. In the past year, 70% of the district’s schools have increased or maintained their student performance, with 12 schools increasing their letter grades. Twelve schools earned an “A” rating, and every school that previously earned an “A” rating maintained its status. Jefferson Parish no longer has any F-rated schools, a testament to the commitment of the entire staff to providing high-quality instruction across all classrooms. 

As Jefferson Parish has focused on instructional excellence, the district has also ensured that students have access to extracurricular activities and career-ready pathways. The district’s strong career and technical education (CTE) programs prepare students to work in high-demand fields by offering industry certifications, apprenticeships, and other hands-on learning experiences. In 2024, Jefferson Parish students earned more than 10,000 industry credentials through CTE programs. Graduates of Jefferson Parish leave with a high-quality education, real-world skills, and professional experiences that ensure they are prepared for success regardless of their next steps after high school.

“We have the largest, most diverse population in the state of Louisiana, and we have been able to show growth almost every single year,” said Superintendent Dr. James Gray. “To reach the milestone of becoming a 'B' rated school district for the first time in 10 years, and to do so two years in a row, just shows that what we are doing is working. We are really having an opportunity to change the trajectory for kids.”

For images of Jefferson Parish Schools and more information about the District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness, visit the NIET newsroom. Follow conference news – including the District Award of Excellence for Educator Effectiveness – on social media using @NIETteach or #NIET2026.