Denver Public Schools has quietly slipped a new power player into its central office, bringing in veteran urban district leader Dr. Sito Narcisse as interim chief of schools. He began work in early May and is now tasked with supporting principals and overseeing day‑to‑day school operations as Superintendent Alex Marrero works to rebuild central‑office capacity. The move marks a quick pivot for Denver as the district tries to sharpen its focus on instructional leadership.
According to Chalkbeat, Narcisse officially joined Denver Public Schools as interim chief of schools on May 1, stepping into a role the district had eliminated last year amid cuts to central‑office positions. Chalkbeat reports that Marrero announced a central‑office realignment in April that brought the chief‑of‑schools post back, and that Narcisse declined an interview request while the outlet filed a public‑records request for his salary. The hire tracks with Marrero’s stated push to put more staff into jobs that directly support school leaders.
Narcisse's track record in large districts
Narcisse served as superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish Schools from 2021 through early 2024, leaving after the board voted not to renew his contract. He has also overseen secondary schools in the District of Columbia and held senior leadership roles in Metro Nashville Public Schools before starting an education‑consulting practice. Those earlier posts and his growing national profile have been detailed by WAFB.
What the chief of schools will do
The chief of schools' role is the central‑office position that leads efforts to support principals and school leaders, according to a district spokesperson. As reported by Chalkbeat, the job had been cut during last year’s administrative downsizing and then reinstated in Marrero’s April realignment, which was meant to refocus resources on instruction and school operations.
How this follows a national search
Narcisse was a finalist in Chicago’s highly watched March search for a permanent schools CEO, a process that raised his national profile. WBEZ later reported that Chicago ultimately moved to appoint its interim CEO as the permanent leader.
What to watch next
The district listed Narcisse as "Interim Chief of Schools" in the printed program for a late‑May high‑school graduation, signaling that he was already serving in the role at events across the system. District program materials show his title, and upcoming school board meetings and district communications are expected to clarify whether DPS will open a search for a permanent chief of schools or keep Narcisse in the interim role for longer.
