KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy Principal Jared Lamb no longer serves in that job, according to the charter organization’s executive director, Rhonda Kalifey-Aluise.

On Nov. 11, Kalifey-Aluise sent a letter to parents of the fifth-through-eighth grade middle school alerting them to a change in leadership.

“Over the past several weeks we have worked to restructure the leadership team in order to make continuous improvements in the programs we offer to our students,” Kalifey-Aluise wrote. “To that end, beginning today, Mr. Lamb will no longer serve as the principal of the school and has decided that he will no longer work at KIPP New Orleans Leadership Academy.”

On Monday, the organization’s director of advocacy, Jonathan Bertsch, added that the reason for Lamb’s replacement generally related to “philosophical differences over the direction of the school.”

“Our executive director felt that the school needed a change in leadership,” Bertsch wrote The Lens in an email.  “We offered Mr. Lamb the opportunity to serve as an instructional coach, but he declined our offer and resigned from the school.”

Bertsch added that he “didn’t recall” the discussion coming up at any board meetings. Rather, the decision was under the purview of the organization’s executive director, he said.

“We are incredibly grateful for the time and energy that Mr. Lamb has dedicated to the school,” the executive director’s letter added.

Lamb was replaced with Vice Principal Jonny Bartlett, who is now serving as the school’s interim principal, according to Kalifey-Aluise’s letter. Bartlett has been a teacher and administrator with KIPP for the past eight years.

The school held an open house on Wednesday so  parents could have a chance to speak to the new principal.

The change in leadership comes on the heels of the resignation of Chief Information Officer Brenna Benson, who left Nov. 1 to pursue a job with a consulting firm.

Neither Lamb nor Benson could  be reached for comment.

Della Hasselle

Della Hasselle, a freelance journalist and producer, reports environmental and criminal justice stories for The Lens. A graduate of Benjamin Franklin High School and the New Orleans Center for Creative...