College of Education and Human Development

2007 Distinguished Alumnus: Louis Joseph

Louis Joseph has had a distinguished 35 year career in education and retired in May
of 2007 as superintendent of the Tangipahoa Parish School System before working as
Supervisor for Child Welfare and Attendance for Tangipahoa Parish Public Schools in
Amite.  

Mr. Joseph received his master’s degree and “plus-30” from Southeastern in 1974 and
1976, respectively.

He began his more than three-decade career in education at Westside Middle School
in Amite, where he taught for six years before moving as principal to Hammond Eastside
Elementary.

In 1990, Joseph joined the school system’s administration as supervisor for child
welfare and attendance. He advanced to other administrative positions, including administrative
director of school administration and assistant superintendent of administration and
staff development.

In 2003, he was chosen as superintendent of the entire Tangipahoa Parish School System.

A Vietnam veteran who served as a paratrooper with the 173rd Airborne,  Mr. Joseph
also served in the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 205th Engineering Battalion for
35 years and was awarded the Army Achievement Medal, Army Commendation Medal and the
Legion of Merit.

Mr. Joseph served his alma mater by serving on the Southeastern Alumni Association
Board of Directors. He has also been an active member of the governing boards of Olive
Baptist Church, First community Bank and the Louisiana Association of School Executives.

He and his wife Rose, also an educator, reside in Independence, Louisiana.