Dr. Roosevelt Nivens has served as the Superintendent of Schools for Lamar CISD since 2021.

Under his leadership, Lamar CISD continues to perform well above the state average in academics, with all campuses meeting accountability standards. With more than 50 campuses, 47,000+ students and growing, Lamar CISD is the fastest-growing district of its size in Texas. In 2024, the district was deemed as hyper-growth due to the number of housing starts and new families moving to the area. In November 2022, the district passed the largest bond in its history, totaling $1.5 Billion to continue to meet its growing school community’s needs.

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 29-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 at 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. In 2022, Dr. Nivens was honored to be 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 children, Naomi and Roosevelt III, who are both in college.