Dr. Roosevelt Nivens has served as the Superintendent of Schools for Lamar CISD since 2021. He also currently serves as the President-Elect of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA). 

Under his leadership, Lamar CISD continues to perform well above the state average in academics, with all campuses meeting accountability standards. With 57 campuses and nearly 49,000 students, Lamar CISD is the fastest-growing district of its size in Texas. In 2024, it was designated a hyper-growth district due to the number of housing starts and new families moving to the area. In November 2025, the district passed the largest bond in its history, totaling $1.95 billion, to continue to meet the needs of its growing school community. 

In 2025, the Texas Association of School Boards named Dr. Nivens as the Texas Superintendent of the Year. That same year, the Lamar CISD Board of Trustees earned the prestigious 2025 H-E-B Excellence in Education Award for outstanding school board — a recognition that reflects strong governance, community engagement, and academic progress. 

Before joining Lamar CISD, Dr. Nivens served as the Superintendent of Schools for Community ISD, a district encompassing four communities in a fast-growth area in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.  

The son of two educators, his public education career is centered around advocating and supporting the very best educational opportunities for all students. He began his 30-year career as a teacher in Dallas ISD and has served as an assistant principal, principal, and Assistant Superintendent of Achievement and Organizational Management in Lancaster ISD. Prior to his public education career, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and his Master of Education and Doctor of Education from Texas A&M-Commerce. 

Dr. Nivens has also trained with the Harvard Executive Leadership Institute, the Harrison Williams Collins Executive Leadership Institute, and the Thompson Executive Leadership Institute. He was named the 2019 Region 10 Superintendent of the Year and the 2019 National Superintendent of the Year for NABSE, the National Alliance of Black School Educators. In 2022, Dr. Nivens was named the Association of Latino Administrators and Superintendents (ALAS) Latino Serving Superintendent of the Year. In 2024, he was elected Vice President of the Texas Association of School Administrators (TASA).

He is married to Karla Nivens, and they have two adult children, Naomi and Roosevelt III.