Dr. Herman Brister, a local educator with 32 years experience in the School System, has been named the district’s newest chief academic officer.  The school Board voted on the recommendation made by Superintendent Charlotte Placide at its June 19 meeting.  The former associate superintendent for Instructional Support Services replaced Robert Stockwell, who retired to complete his doctorate.  Stockwell held the position for three years.

Brister recently received his doctorate in organizational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.  A resident of Baton Rouge since he was a toddler, he is a product of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, having graduated from Capitol High School.

In 1976, Brister began his tenure in the School System as an elementary and special education teacher at Magnolia Woods Elementary School.  He later held teaching, coaching and/or athletic directing positions with Capitol High School, Sherwood Forest Middle School and Broadmoor High School.  After a brief stint teaching in the Pointe Coupee Parish School System, Brister returned to the area as a director with the East Baton Rouge Parish Council on Youth Opportunity. 

In 1993, Brister returned to this School System at Istrouma High School as a teacher for exceptional children. While at Istrouma High School he also served as an athletic director, head football and head track and field coach.

After serving under Elisha “Tac” Jackson at Istrouma High School, he accepted a position at Crestworth Middle School under Nancy McKay as an assistant principal for two-and-a-half years. Having served at Crestworth Middle School, he was named principal to open Staring Alternative Education Center for over-age middle school students. Shortly after guiding the opening of Staring Alternative Education Center, he accepted the principalship at Capitol Middle School.  He then moved to the Central Office as assistant superintendent for Middle Level Education Area II before taking on the role of associate superintendent in 2005.

“This job (chief academic officer) is very critical to the district as a whole and to the city of Baton Rouge,” Brister said.  “I really take the plight of all children and all education endeavors very seriously.  Many initiatives have been put in place, and I think my primary goal this year is to execute the relationship between human performance and human resources to improve student performance. 

“I believe I have the emotional maturity and the experience, both in education and within this district, to do just that.  The forthrightness my mother instilled in me and the many mentors I have had will be a great asset, as well.”