by Malcolm Butler
Kenny Henderson …Take 2.
The longtime Louisiana educator, coach and administrator will move into the Head of School role at Cedar Creek School starting July 1, the second time Henderson will hold the position in his career.
Henderson will take over for Connie Bradford, who is retiring at the end of June after she returned to Cedar Creek in December of 2023 as President before assuming the role as head of school.
“We are excited to have Kenny back at Cedar Creek,” said Cedar Creek Board Chairman Lomax Napper. “He has a long career in the education system within the state of Louisiana which will serve our school well.”
Henderson’s first stint at Cedar Creek came from 1989 through 1996. He began as a coach and teacher before moving into the head of school role in August of 1991.
“Kenny understands the Cedar Creek culture from his time with our school, something that gives him an advantage as he moves back into this role,” said Napper. “We are eager to see Cedar Creek grow and flourish in the future under his leadership.”
Most recently Henderson has worked with The Brighton School in Baton Rouge, serving as the Executive Director (2016-2024) and Chief Financial Officer (2024-present). The Brighton School is a K-12 school that specializes in educating students with Dyslexia.
He served as the principal at Ruston High School (2003-06), Haynesville High School (1999-2003), and Southwest Christian School (1996-99).
“This wasn’t a position that I was openly looking for, and I probably wouldn’t have done it for any other school,” said Henderson, who began working at the school on May 1 as Executive Director. “I know so many of the faculty and staff here. I hired some of them. I knew Cedar Creek and I know Ruston. This was the only place that I would have been willing to do this.”
Although the name of the school is the same, Henderson admits times have changed and challenges are different than back in the 1990s.
“There is more competition (for students) these days because of the charter schools,” said Henderson. “When I was here the last time, I would venture to say 40 percent of our kids were coming from outside of Lincoln Parish. And now that is not the case because of the other choices in those other parishes.”
Despite new challenges, he also believes that at the end of the day, education is mostly the same.
“School is still school,” said Henderson. “We want to make sure we are providing the best education for our students. We want to work on their social, their emotions, their academics. My goal is to make Cedar Creek that school that everybody wants to come to.
“There are some programs we are talking about adding that will make Cedar Creek that much more special. I cannot go into details now. But, this year will be a learning one for me to see what it is we do well and what it is that we can do better. Are we giving the kids everything that they need to succeed?”
Henderson also spent eight years at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association (2007-15), eventually serving as the Executive Director for the LHSAA. He believes that experience will also help in his second time around at Cedar Creek.
“I told the board that they aren’t getting the same principal that they had in the 90s when they still called me coach,” said Henderson. “I have a diverse background in education now. I have been at small private schools, large private schools, small public schools, large public schools … I have coached. I have taught. I have run a state organization.
“I have a background in both the business background of school, and also the academic aspect of school. That is pretty unusual. I have lived in both of those worlds. I think that is one of the strengths that I can bring.”
