Occupation: Superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish School System
Wife: Cassie
Children: Parker, 13, and Carter, 7
Hobbies: Spending time with family, bike riding, reading, and binge-watching television shows

Balancing the demands of one of Louisiana’s largest school systems with the everyday joys of family life is no small task, but for LaMont Cole, Superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish School System, both roles are rooted in the same values: faith, hard work, and respect for others. Whether he’s cheering at football games, carving out family dinners, or teaching his children the importance of kindness and perseverance, LaMont is intentional about creating meaningful moments at home while serving his community with purpose.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PURSUE A CAREER IN EDUCATION?
LAMONT: My grandmothers, both maternal and paternal. They both worked in early childhood, one in New York City and one in Mississippi, so I grew up around seeing them work with other children. My very first job was with my grandmother in New York City as a teacher’s aide in her early childhood classroom when I was 14.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR KIDS WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY?
LAMONT: Get involved in the areas of the community that you identify need work. I think the best way young people can get involved in their community is by actually getting involved, by doing things like cutting grass at a neighbor’s house, or going to the grocery store for elderly people. I think it’s important for young people to spend time with the elderly in their community, to just learn and understand the history of the neighborhood and the overall city. I think those are ways that young people can get involved to help build community and make things better.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR BUSY CAREER WITH FAMILY TIME?
LAMONT: I dedicate the majority of my family time on the weekend and in the evenings. I try to always make time for special events. If my children are participating in extracurricular activities, I try to schedule anything I might have going on around their extracurricular activities. We take vacation every summer. During the year, we attend football games. My wife and I, both, have degrees from Southern University, so we attend Southern University football games. My son loves LSU football, so once a year, I take him to an LSU football game. We spend a lot of time going to playdates for the kids and making sure that we spend meaningful family time together.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS YOU LIKE TO DO AS A FAMILY?
LAMONT: During the week, we eat together. I try to take my children to eat at a restaurant at least once a week, and oftentimes that’s on a weekend, whether it be for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, just to teach them good table manners. We have family conversations, where we spend time talking about what’s happening in their world. We talk about current events together. My children love to dance, and my wife is an exceptional dancer. I have rhythm, but my wife is an exceptional dancer, so sometimes we’ll play music and dance together.

HOW DOES YOUR FAITH AND VALUES INFLUENCE YOUR PARENTING STYLE?
LAMONT: My wife and I both were reared in households where we’d have to operate from a position of respect, respect for yourself and respect for others. My children understand that they have to conduct themselves a certain way. They have to conduct themselves in a way that is respectful. My mother used to tell us: Try as best as you can, to not be out in public, doing anything that you think might embarrass us. We try to teach our kids very similarly. Faith in God and belief in the principles of the Bible have led to us making sure our kids pray, give thanks, and understand that they have been supremely blessed.

WHAT LESSONS DO YOU HOPE YOUR CHILDREN LEARN FROM YOU?
LAMONT: Praying, working hard, having fun, and treating people well. Always treat people well, no matter what. Take the high road, the air is fresher and cleaner.

HOW DO YOU TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN ABOUT CHALLENGES IN LIFE?
LAMONT: They’re going to happen, they’re going to take place, and the principles that we’ve taught you are what you use to overcome those challenges: integrity, leadership, and having confidence in yourself. Don’t let it knock you down. Fall down seven times, get up eight. Those types of principles that we practice every day are what I tell them to use to guide them when they find themselves in challenging or unfortunate situations. You’re not going to get everything you want in life, but you can get everything you want out of life if you work hard.

WHAT’S THE BEST ADVICE YOU’VE RECEIVED AS A DAD?
LAMONT: Learn how to disappoint your children and they still love you. That’s the best advice I’ve gotten about life in general, because when I transitioned to being in leadership, the advice was: Learn how to disappoint people without losing their support. With your children, it’s learning how to disappoint them without losing their love, because you can’t say yes to everything, and sometimes you have to redirect their behavior. Sometimes they’ll get upset, and you can’t give in to them being upset, but you have to always inform them and let them know, I do this because I love you. My father, before he passed away, told me, there is no manual on how to be a good parent, but what you can do is try to be a good person, and if you work really hard to be a good person and teach your children about being good people, in the end, they’ll grow up modeling the behavior they see.

HOW DO YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO PURSUE THEIR PASSIONS?
LAMONT: Have an identity of self. Believe in yourself, be confident, be a leader. Once you develop those things, then as you get older and you start to identify the things you like to do, then pursue things that are going to make you happy.

DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVICE FOR OTHER PARENTS?
LAMONT: Don’t beat yourself up. Do the best you can. You’re going to make mistakes, but the same honest mistakes don’t happen twice, and when you make a mistake and it’s honest, be willing to apologize. I think parents have to remember that your children are not your friends. You’re raising them to be good people, and it’s sometimes in raising them to be good people, you have to teach them tough lessons.

Rapid-Fire Questions
Favorite date night…when we go to galas.
One word that best describes your family…funny.
Favorite movie or television show…Landman.
Currently reading…The Culture Code: The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups by Daniel Coyle.
Favorite food…pizza.
Hidden talent…public speaking.