Longtime educator and workforce development professional pledges to put students and teachers first
RUSTON — Richard Bates, a Ruston resident and education professional with more than a decade of experience in student recruitment, retention and workforce readiness, announced today that he is running for the Lincoln Parish School Board seat representing District 12.
Bates said his campaign is built on a straightforward premise: that every student in Lincoln Parish deserves an education that prepares them for college, a career, military service or the workforce.
“I believe our schools should put students and teachers first,” Bates said. “That means preparing every student for what comes next, strengthening partnerships between our schools, families, businesses and the community, and making sure taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly.”
Bates, who is married to Dr. Tiffany Bates, a counselor educator at Louisiana Tech University, earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Grambling State University. They raised two daughters in the Lincoln Parish School System. Richard currently works at Northwest Louisiana Technical Community College, where he has served in several roles, including test coordinator, completion success coach, education site manager, and career coach and WorkReadyU adviser.
In those positions, he has coordinated HiSET and Accuplacer testing, led student recruitment and admissions efforts, managed campus operations and staff, and worked to improve student retention and completion rates. He also has served on the college’s graduation and scholarship committees, and has been recognized as an Outstanding Professional Support Staff Member by Northwest.
Before joining Northwest, Bates worked for Louisiana Workforce Development in Shreveport as a One Stop Operator and Direct Connect Coordinator, coordinating workforce services among partner agencies and building educational partnerships with organizations including the office of state Rep. Patrick Jefferson, the Louisiana National Guard Youth Challenge Program, and the cities of Homer, Haynesville, Ringgold and Vivian, among others.
He also previously worked for Louisiana Delta Community College as a campus coordinator, site coordinator and transitional coach, where he oversaw daily campus operations, advised adult learners, managed student records and state reporting, and coordinated an educational partnership with the Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office and Jackson Parish Correctional Facility.
Beyond his professional work, Bates has been active in the Lincoln Parish community. He currently serves as a member of the Lincoln Parish School Board’s Diversity Committee and belongs to National Alliance on Mental Illness -Ruston, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa – Anthropos. He is also an active member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. He has organized the Gospel Scholarship Concert for Lincoln Parish-area students, coordinated back-to-school and Christmas bike drives for local families, and organized fan drives for Lincoln Parish senior citizens through the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Department.
Bates has also served as an adviser for the Venturing Crew at Ruston High School and for the school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter. He has coached RGSA softball, and founded the City of Grambling Youth Athletic Conditioning and Summer Enrichment Program. He was a member of the A.E. Phillips PTA and the Glen View PTA.
“I’ve spent my career helping students succeed, from the classroom to the workforce,” Bates said. “I want to bring that same commitment to the school board — supporting our teachers, holding our schools accountable, and listening to parents and this community every step of the way.”
Bates said his priorities as a board member would include supporting teachers and staff, promoting accountability and transparency, strengthening safe and productive learning environments, and preparing students for life after graduation.
The above information has been provided by a political campaign. Unless otherwise noted, the Lincoln Parish Journal publishing staff does not endorse specific candidates or ballot measures.
