Keynote Speaker: Dr. James Gray

Dr. James Gray is the superintendent of Jefferson Parish Schools (JP Schools), which is the largest and most diverse public school system in Louisiana. JP Schools is home to approximately 47,000 students and serves 74 schools, including two STEM magnets, two Art magnets, eight Advanced Studies, two Spanish Immersions, and six charter holders.

In his first three years as superintendent, Dr. Gray led JP Schools through a global pandemic and recovery from one of the most powerful hurricanes on record for Louisiana. During his tenure, the district became a one-to-one district for the first time, providing a device and connectivity for every student. He developed Jefferson Summer Bridge, an innovative summer enrichment program to combat learning loss. He initiated the launch of an early literacy strategic plan to ensure all students can read by the end of third grade. He established an Early Warning System to identify and better support students at risk for meeting important milestones.