Jared Lamb, Head of School at BASIS Baton Rouge Materra, has been making waves on social media.
Lamb, who has been leading BASIS Baton Rouge Materra since 2022, makes videos on TikTok and Instagram that chronicle the day in the life of a school principal. His videos cover everything from funny, relatable moments around school to tips for educators. But Lamb is most well known for an unconventional move he made last year—his decision to trade in his office for a rolling cart!
His most-watched TikTok video, titled “I spent the entire school year without an office,” has garnered approximately 1.7 million views.
“Instead of sitting behind a desk all day, I decided to put my desk on wheels,” Lamb says. “This way, I can be more present and visible for my teachers and students.”
Recently, Lamb was featured on TODAY and on local news outlet BRProud.
We caught up with Mr. Lamb to learn more about his approach to leadership and what he values about working at BASIS Charter Schools.
Why Lamb decided to give up his traditional office
Lamb explains that the idea to put his desk on wheels was sparked from logistical challenges on campus.
When Lamb started working at BASIS Baton Rouge Materra, the school had just begun construction on a new building to house classrooms for grades 6–12. With over 800 students on campus, space was limited. There was no proper conference room for teacher meetings.
“I volunteered to convert the principal’s office into a conference room, and I turned an extra AV cart into my mobile office,” Lamb says.
“Right from the beginning, I knew it was a good switch. The mobile office on wheels allowed me to increase my availability to faculty, staff, and students.”
The importance of “teacher customer service”
Lamb says that one of the best things about converting his office to a rolling cart is that he is able to better serve his teachers.
Throughout the day, Lamb rolls around the hallways and checks in on classrooms, asking teachers if he can do anything for them. “Even something simple like grabbing a few photocopies can go a long way in making teachers feel seen and appreciated,” he says.
Lamb says administrator support is crucial for retaining teachers. “One of the hot button topics in education right now is the national teacher shortage,” he says. “If we want to flip the script, we need to do something differently.”
He continues, “What I’ve learned from converting my office to a rolling cart is that teacher customer service is paramount. If we want to keep our teachers, we have to lead from the front. If a teacher needs my help with something, then paperwork and emails can wait.”
Lamb provides support to both BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools
Lamb has more than 15 years of experience as a school principal. In 2022, he moved from New Orleans to Baton Rouge and joined BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools.
In addition to serving as the Head of School at BASIS Baton Rouge Materra, Lamb is the Associate VP for BASIS Ed Louisiana—meaning he works closely with the team at BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City, too.
“I spend time at both campuses daily and I get to see the amazing work that our educators are doing at both of our schools,” Lamb says.
The hard work of Lamb and the rest of the BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools team is paying off. In 2023, BASIS Baton Rouge Materra was named Favorite Charter Elementary School in the annual Baton Rouge Parents Family Favorites contest. Lamb also won the categories of Favorite Charter Elementary School Principal and Favorite Charter Middle School Principal. The school has achieved excellent academic results, too. They recently received an “A” rating from the Louisiana Department of Education.
Lamb is confident that BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City, the newer of the two BASIS Baton Rouge Charter Schools, is on track to meet the high bar that BASIS Baton Rouge Materra has set.
“It’s all about being attuned to the needs of the campuses and providing strong support to your team,” Lamb says.
Working with the best
BASIS Charter Schools is the nation’s highest performing public school network, with 39 schools and counting across Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, D.C. Year after year, BASIS Charter Schools are ranked among the best schools in the U.S. and achieve excellent student outcomes.
“One of the reasons I joined the BASIS team is because I wanted to work with the best,” Lamb says. “I love that I get to collaborate with incredible educators from across the network who push me to raise my game.”
We are lucky to have Mr. Lamb and look forward to seeing how he continues to innovate in the coming years! If his rolling cart is any indication, Mr. Lamb will stop at nothing to make sure he is providing the best possible service to his teachers and students!
BASIS Baton Rouge Materra provides world-class, tuition-free education to students in East Baton Rouge. We are currently serving grades K–9 and are adding a grade level every school year. By the 2026–27 school year, we will be serving grades K–12.
BASIS Baton Rouge Materra and its sister school, BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City, are currently accepting applications for the 2024–25 school year. Learn more and apply today.
We love celebrating all the amazing things that our teachers, staff, and students are accomplishing! To read more news from across the BASIS Charter Schools network, click here.
