Young lone applicant for LPSB opening, May and June supplement checks approved

By Kyle Roberts

RUSTON — Lincoln Parish School Board Assistant Superintendent John Young was revealed to be the sole applicant for the upcoming summer opening for LPSB Superintendent on Thursday at the April 2026 session for the school board held at Cypress Springs Elementary.

The board unanimously voted to interview and appoint the new superintendent at the next board meeting on Tuesday, May 5.

The superintendent application process was formally closed on Friday, April 3, at on Tuesday of this week, a special P.O. Box was opened at the Ruston post office that contained the application. Following a review of appropriate credentials, Young was the sole applicant qualified.

Young said he was prepared to navigate a full interview process regardless of the number of applicants, but now views the moment as both professionally and personally significant.

“I was prepared for, you know, however many applicants there were to be revealed today to go through the whole interview process and to do the things necessary to be the next leader of Lincoln Parish schools,” Young said. “For me, it’s a really self-fulfilling moment. I started off as a science teacher and kind of worked my way up, and I’m really excited and thrilled to get going on plans that I have to move the school district from good to great.”

Young also emphasized the deep personal connection his family has to the district, noting generations of service within Lincoln Parish schools.

“My paternal grandmother was a cafeteria worker at Glen View Elementary,” Young said. “I never met her — she passed in 1976, four years before I was born — but I kept thinking about what that means to me personally.”

He added that his family’s ties extend even further, with both his father and grandfather serving as bus drivers in the parish for many years.

“To see this day kind of happen, it’s really special to me in that regard — seeing how everything has kind of worked out full circle,” Young said. “Obviously, it’s not done yet. We’ve got to get to May 5th and get a contract done, but I’m excited to have the chance to lead the district. I’m planning to do it with integrity and also a level of trust, with the community having me to get the job done to do the best job for our students and our communities.”

The board unanimously voted to continue the process by hosting a public meet-and-greet for Young from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 5, at the STEM Center on the campus of Ruston Junior High. The board will then vote on Young appointment at the May session to follow at 6 p.m. in the school board main office.

Lincoln Parish School Board President Gregg Phillips said he was initially surprised by the number of applicants for the superintendent position but believes the outcome reflects the strength of John Young’s candidacy.

“While I was a little surprised by just one applicant, I think it speaks heavily to the respect that many other potential suitors for this job have for John Young,” Phillips said. “He is very respected, and they knew that it would be hard for anyone to outshine Mr. Young as a candidate.”

Phillips emphasized that the situation should not be interpreted as a lack of interest in the position, but rather as a testament to the district’s standards and Young’s reputation within education circles.

“We in Lincoln Parish have a very high standard of excellence in regard to our schools, and Mr. Young is a product of those standards,” Phillips said. “So I don’t think that there is low interest in being the superintendent of Lincoln Parish. I simply believe that the strength of Mr. Young being a likely candidate for the job kept others from putting their name out there.”

Phillips added that his experience working alongside Young has given him confidence in Young’s ability to lead the district moving forward.

“I can tell you that as a board member, I am very happy to see that Mr. Young has applied for the job,” Phillips said. “I know from working with him he has all the tools to be a fantastic leader of this district.”

To begin the meeting, Cypress Springs Interim Principal Marissa Boyd welcomed those in attendance. Simsboro Principal Lacey Holcomb and students Kaehja Stewart and Melissa Le were all honored as finalists for state-wide superlative awards.

Kaejha Stewart, Middle School Student of the Year

Melissa Le, High School Student of the Year

Lacey Holcomb, State Principal of the Year

The board also unanimously approved both a May Salary Supplement check and a One-Time Salary Supplement for June for both certified and support staff in the parish.