Dr. Roosevelt Nivens, an outstanding, dynamic leader with a reputation of transforming educational organizations into high-performing institutions, has led Lamar CISD as the Superintendent of Schools since 2021.
Under his leadership, Lamar CISD has maintained its “A” Accountability Rating from the Texas Education Agency with all campuses meeting accountability standards. Only 10 districts in the state with enrollments above 25,000 received an A rating. That is 0.8% of Texas districts and Lamar CISD is proudly one of them. In addition, Lamar CISD has maintained its sound financial standing and has earned the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Association of School Business Officials (ASBO) International, for 22 years in a row.
With 42,000 students and growing, Lamar CISD was recently determined to be one of the fastest-growing district of its size in Texas. To continue to meet the needs of its growing school community, in November 2022, the district passed the largest bond in its history totaled at $1.5 Billion.
Prior to joining Lamar CISD, Dr. Nivens served as the Superintendent of Schools for Community ISD, a district encompassing four communities located in a fast-growth area in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.
Through his leadership in Community ISD, student safety, high academic achievement and student social-emotional wellbeing were the priorities. Under his administration, the district earned an A-rating in 2018-2019, achieved a 20% increase in the number of Advanced Placement students receiving a three or higher on the AP exam, and strengthened student participation in dual credit classes with 98% earning college and high school credit, and 10% of the graduating class earning an associate degree upon high school graduation. Understanding that each student’s path to success is different, he also expanded Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs and CTE professional certifications, which students can use in the workforce upon graduation.
The son of two educators, his public education career is centered around advocating and supporting the very best educational opportunities for all students. He began his 24-year career as a teacher in Dallas ISD and has served as an assistant principal and principal of Lancaster Junior High and Lancaster High School, and Assistant Superintendent of Achievement and Organizational Management in Lancaster ISD. Prior to his public education career, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and his Master of Education and Doctor of Education from Texas A&M-Commerce.
Dr. Nivens has also trained at the Harvard Executive Leadership Institute, the Harrison Williams Collins Executive Leadership Institute, and the Thompson Executive Leadership Institute. He was named the 2019 Region 10 Superintendent of the Year and the 2019 National Superintendent of the Year for NABSE. In 2022, Dr. Nivens was honored to be named the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Latino Serving Superintendent of the Year.
He is married to Karla Nivens and they have two children, Naomi and Roosevelt III. Naomi is in college majoring in Entrepreneurship with a specialization in leadership. Roosevelt III just started his first year in college.
Dr. Nivens believes in the power of relationships and works to establish a good rapport with students, parents, community members, and business leaders by being highly visible in the school district and actively involved in the community. His leadership mission is to “speak life” into everyone that he meets—staff, students and parents—and considers his role of superintendent to be his dream job.