The chief executive officer of New Beginnings Schools Foundations, one of New Orleans’ largest charter-school operators, announced her resignation today, just a month after the organization lost another top executive.

The Capital One New Beginnings network is now searching for a chief executive officer, chief operating officer and chief financial officer.

Chief Executive Officer Vera Triplett has worked for New Beginnings for five years, serving four as chief operations officer before being promoted to CEO this year.

Vera Triplett

Triplett said she is choosing to step down when her contract expires June 30.  She has had yearly contracts the past five years.  She said she would continue working with the network.

“I’m going to be working in a consulting capacity to help out with the transition and make sure the school year gets off to a good start,” Triplett said.

Asked how long the consulting would last, New Beginnings Board Chairman Tim Ryan said he anticipated no more than six months.

“As long as we feel we still need her help and as long as she can provide it,” he said.

Asked about her future plans Triplett replied:

“I will stay in the education field, doing work similar to what I’m doing now.”

She said she’s in conversation with another organization, and she said something likely would be made public in a few weeks.

Ryan said the board was pleased with her work as CEO during a year of transitions.

“She oversaw the merger of two high schools and moved one of our elementary schools to a new building,” Ryan said. “She did a very good job for us and for the schools, and the transitions occurred with many less hiccups than we anticipated.”

The network runs Pierre A. Capdau Charter School, Medard H. Nelson Charter School, Gentilly Terrace Charter School, and Lake Area New Tech Early College High School.

Last year the board also moved all employees from under the University of New Orleans to the New Beginnings School Foundation.  He added that came with many changes as well, and that Triplett rose to the challenge.

Gilbert Bennett will assume CEO responsibilities as the board begins searching for an interim CEO. Bennett already stepped up to fill the role of chief operating officer last month when Stephen Osborn moved from that position to the state Education Department.

Ryan said the board would seek to fill the CEO role first and then assess the new CEO’s strengths when filling the other positions.  He also mentioned the possibility of a chief academic officer, something he said the board has been discussing for a while.

Ryan said the board would attempt to meet in the next two weeks.

Marta Jewson

Marta Jewson covers education in New Orleans for The Lens. She began her reporting career covering charter schools for The Lens and helped found the hyperlocal news site Mid-City Messenger. Jewson returned...