Appointed following the Cabinet meeting on July 27, 2026, Cécile Laloux will take office as head of the Martinique School District on August 3. She succeeds Nathalie Mons and intends to make listening, engagement, and cooperation the cornerstones of her work.
The Martinique Academy will welcome a new superintendent as the start of the 2026–2027 school year approaches. Cécile Laloux was appointed to this position following the Cabinet meeting on Monday, July 27, 2026. She is scheduled to take office on August 3.
She succeeds Nathalie Mons, a professor of sociology and head of the Chair in Educational Policy Evaluation at the Conservatoire national des arts et métiers. Nathalie Mons took over as director of the academy in March 2022, after having previously served as director of the National Council for the Evaluation of the School System. During her tenure in Martinique, she contributed her educational expertise and prioritized a participatory approach to the development of education policies.
A Career in the French National Education System
As a school district inspector and regional educational inspector, Cécile Laloux began her career as an elementary school teacher. She subsequently held various positions within the French Ministry of Education, focusing on educational leadership, team support, and combating violence in schools.
She has also held several academic leadership positions, notably in the Reims school district. Beginning in 2023, she joined various ministerial offices and then the Prime Minister’s Office as an advisor responsible for education, higher education, and research.
This experience—which is educational, administrative, and institutional in nature—should enable him to gain an understanding of the various challenges facing the Martinique School District.
An approach based on listening and dialogue
During her first few months as head of the academy, Cécile Laloux intends to prioritize an approach based on listening, engagement, and dialogue. She plans to meet with National Education staff, students, families, elected officials, and the school’s various partners.
The stated goal is to gain a better understanding of the realities of the region, as well as its strengths and specific challenges. The new chancellor intends to frame her efforts within a collective approach, believing that student success depends on the involvement of the entire educational community.
She also hopes to continue the work already undertaken by academic teams to promote the success of every student, equal opportunity, and the quality of public education.
Trust, commitment, and cooperation should therefore be the main pillars of its work. This approach must take into account the social, economic, cultural, and regional characteristics of Martinique, while maintaining the goal of supporting every young person throughout their educational journey.
An arrival just as preparations for the start of the school year are underway
Cécile Laloux is taking office just a few weeks before the start of the 2026–2027 school year, a crucial period for the school district’s operations.
Educational and administrative teams are already hard at work, in collaboration with institutional partners, to prepare for the students’ return and ensure the smooth operation of the schools. The new chancellor made a point of acknowledging the dedication of the staff involved in these preparations.
The specific details regarding his start date, as well as the schedule for his initial meetings with the School’s staff, elected officials, and partners, will be announced at the start of the school year.
