The Iberia Parish School Board chose an assistant superintendent to take over the top job when Carey Laviolette retires at the end of the school year.
Heath Hulin, who currently is Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the system, beat out three other internal candidates for the post.
"Our education system is the most important thing in Iberia Parish and if we produce students that will give back to our economy and community that's the only way Iberia Parish can continue to grow and expand and move into the future. We need to keep our students here and home grown and that's what we are about," Hulin said.
Hulin will step into his role at the start of the next school year in New Iberia.
“The confidence the board has put in me, I want to know that I will not let them down. We have a lot of work to do and I’m looking forward to leading the district in the future and ready to start rolling," he said.
After 4 decades working with the Iberia Parish School Board, Carey Laviolette says she feels it is time to retire.
“Well you know I have 42 years of experience and that is a long time, so you know that it is time when it’s time. You want to leave when you think that things are good and you are leaving something maybe that is good or better than you found it and I felt like this was the time to do that,” Laviolette said.
Stepping into the new role, Hulin says he will always keep the students in Iberia Parish his top priority.
“Our education system is the most important thing in Iberia parish and if we produce students that will give back to our economy and community that’s the only way Iberia Parish can continue to grow and expand and move into the future. We need to keep our students here and home grown and that’s what we are about,” Hulin stated.
Also interviewed for the job were Curt Landry, Principal of New Iberia Senior High School; Jennifer Joseph, Assistant Superintendent of Administration; and James Russell III, Supervisor of Child Welfare and Attendance.
According to his bio, Hulin is a product of the Iberia Parish Public School System. He earned a bachelor and master degree from LSU in Baton Rouge, and began his career in Iberia Parish and has worked there for a total of 21 years.
He began as a teacher at Westgate High School before becoming one of the district’s youngest administrators when he was appointed to be assistant principal at New Iberia Senior High. Heath left the district for a short time after being recruited to work for the Louisiana Department of Education as a regional program consultant.
After returning to Iberia Parish, he became the principal of Jeanerette High School where he was instrumental in leading the school to record increases in academic growth and graduation rate. In 2015, Hulin was promoted to a district leadership role as an innovation and reform specialist before transitioning to become a district supervisor of instruction and school management. During this time, Hulin completed an executive development program offered by the National Institute for School Leadership.
In 2018, he was appointed to the position of Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, a role in which he currently continues to serve. In May of 2021, Hulin was selected as one of 15 educational leaders from across the state to participate in the Louisiana School Board Association’s inaugural training program for future superintendents. He graduated as a member of the first class in April 2022.
Outside of his work in education, Hulin is a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church where he serves on the Parish Council and Finance Committee. He is also a graduate of the Greater Iberia Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Iberia Class and currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Iberia. Heath is married to Christina Hulin, and the couple have three children – Anya, Isabelle, and Jackson.
