Patrick Dobard

Patrick Dobard is a Partner at City Fund, where he works with local leaders across the country to expand access to high-quality public school options and improve student outcomes in urban communities. In his role, Patrick leverages his extensive experience in education leadership, policy, and nonprofit management to drive sustainable change in public education systems.

Prior to joining City Fund, Patrick served as Superintendent of the Louisiana Recovery School District (RSD) from 2012 to 2017, where he led the transformation of some of the state's most chronically underperforming schools. Under his leadership, New Orleans nearly eliminated all failing schools, implemented a governance model focused on accountability and autonomy, and established an equitable funding system to support students furthest from opportunity. In 2016, he spearheaded the reunification of schools under the local school board, ensuring continued oversight grounded in the reforms enacted during his tenure. Following his time at RSD, Patrick became CEO of New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO), a nonprofit dedicated to educational equity. Under his leadership, NSNO raised more than $72 million to support school improvement efforts across the city.

Patrick’s work has been featured in The New York Times and Education Week, and he has written op-eds for Education Week, The 74, and various Louisiana publications. His leadership in education reform is also highlighted in the book Charter School City.

Patrick began his career as a social studies teacher in Louisiana, where he taught for a decade before serving in state government roles for 16 years. He holds a master’s degree in history from Southern University.