Jefferson Parish Schools Administration Building
501 Manhattan Blvd.
Harvey, LA 70058
504-349-7600

Ajit “A.J.” Pethe is responsible for a wide spectrum of duties designed to remove barriers and ensure student access to a quality education. These include areas such as student exceptionalities, wellness, and mental health. Before joining JP Schools in 2019, Pethe served as Assistant Superintendent for St. Charles Parish Public Schools where he held oversight of many functions, including special education. Pethe is a graduate of Grace King High and holds both a bachelor’s and master’s from the University of New Orleans. As a Jefferson Parish resident, his children attend JP Schools. A former middle school teacher, Pethe also served as principal of Luling Elementary. The school advanced its School Performance Score (SPS) from 75.1 to 102.3 under his leadership. In 2014, Pethe was named Louisiana’s State Principal of the Year. He also holds the title of National Distinguished Principal from the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP). Pethe is bilingual and holds a Level 3 Leader endorsement from the Louisiana Department of Education – the highest certification available to Louisiana educators.