An executive staffer with one of New Orleans’ largest charter school networks has accepted a position with the Louisiana Department of Education.

Stephen Osborn, former chief operating officer of the Capital One-New Beginnings Charter School Network, left the organization in mid-May to become assistant superintendent of student programs in the state education department.

Osborn is working under a newly-created title.  The position was formerly known as “Assistant Superintendent of the Office of Federal Programs Support.” Osborn said the title was changed to reflect the department’s specific goals of improving programs for students.

“My goal is to make sure we are promoting the use of federal funds and to empower local school boards and superintendents to best use those funds,” Osborn said.

Osborn, 30, began working for New Beginnings in 2008.  He started off managing federal grant money for the network and the four schools it oversees. Before being promoted to chief operating officer, Osborn spent some time as interim chief financial officer last year.

Chief Executive Officer Vera Triplett spoke positively of Osborn’s time with the network.

“He was an excellent employee, and I enjoyed working with him,” Triplett said.

Gilbert Bennett succeeds Osborn as the New Beginnings chief operating officer on an interim basis.  Bennett has been with the network since 2008.  New Beginnings is currently looking to fill both the COO and CFO roles.

According to a Times-Picayune article published last fall, Osborn earned a master’s degree in public policy from Pepperdine University.  He completed his bachelor of arts at the University of Rhode Island in political science and communications.

“It was a very positive experience, and I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity,” Osborn said of his time at New Beginnings.