BATON ROUGE, La. -- State Superintendent of Education John White today announced that longtime Assistant Superintendent Erin Bendily will leave the Louisiana Department of Education. Dr. Bendily will join the non-profit organization Propel America as the organization's first executive director for Louisiana. Propel America connects recent high school graduates with well-paying first jobs and free education. Superintendent White is a volunteer board member for the organization.
In nearly a decade at the Department, Dr. Bendily developed and implemented policies on early childhood education, academic standards and curricula, educator preparation and support, pathways to higher education, and school choice. She led the agency's outreach to governors' offices, other state agencies, the state legislature, and the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. Dr. Bendily also served as the Department's liaison to the U.S. Department of Education, the Louisiana Congressional delegation, and the Council of Chief State School Officers. Dr. Bendily previously served as education advisor to Governor Bobby Jindal and as staff to then-Congressman Jindal.
"For the last decade, Erin Bendily has served our state and its children with intelligence and courage," said Superintendent White. "She has developed nationally celebrated policies and has championed initiatives that benefited hundreds of thousands of young people. Louisiana is a better educated state because of Dr. Bendily and her work on behalf of students."
"Serving the Department and the children of Louisiana has been an extraordinary privilege," said Dr. Bendily. "Working with policymakers, educators, and parents, we were able to make lasting change, from early childhood through to college and the workplace. I'm thrilled to continue my work in education, just as I will miss my colleagues in state government."
Dr. Bendily's departure is effective as of today. The Department will articulate its plans for replacing Dr. Bendily in the new year.
# # # # # #