University Laboratory School Director Rob Lyles Reflects on His Journey from Cub to Leader of the Pack

BATON ROUGE, LA – Rob Lyles, University Laboratory School (ULS) director at the LSU College of Human Sciences & Education, was named to the Baton Rouge Business Report’s 40 Under 40 for 2025. We asked Lyles to reflect on his journey from ULS student to leader and his vision for the future of the school. 

How does it feel to go from being a ULS student to being the leader of the school? 
Surreal. Never in my wildest dreams did I see myself leading the very school I grew up in - truly, a full circle moment. I had spent half of my career at LSU, in various departments, not really having a true focus of where I wanted to be or what I wanted to do. I just continued to work hard and carry out the tasks at hand. Then one job led to another, and then I found myself back at the place where it all started. It just goes to show you that we really never know where life's roads will lead. There is also a sense of servitude and reciprocity; I now possess a certain set of skills, knowledge and expertise that I can share and re-invest into a school that invested so much into me. It's an honor and a privilege to serve my alma mater and the students, faculty, staff and community that it encompasses.  

What is your vision for making ULS the best school in the state? 
Simple - maximization of our resources. First, we have incredibly talented faculty. More than a quarter of our lead instructors are National Board-Certified teachers; all possess at least a master's degree, and several have earned an EdD or PhD. Second, we are located on the campus of the flagship university of the state of Louisiana. Third, we have a dedicated and supportive network of families with long ties to the school who are willing to move mountains for our students, faculty, and staff. When you combine all three of these resources - talented faculty, research-intensive departments with state-of-the-art facilities and a supportive network of parents - and maximize the efforts, there is no doubt in my mind that ULS can be the best school in the state.  

What are the plans to involve more technology at ULS? 
If we want to be the best school in the state and help serve our students and the education profession well, then we need to be properly equipped. Technology is all around us and used in every moment of every day, whether we realize it or not, so it is of the utmost importance to educate our students, and future teachers, not only on how to use technology but how to use it to your advantage. We are currently in the process of partnering with a ULS and LSU alumni who was one of the first congressional artificial intelligence (AI) specialists in the nation, tasked with pioneering AI-powered tools to help Congress run more efficiently, to help our faculty and students grow in the AI landscape.  

How is the model demonstration focus defined at ULS? 
My main focus right now is to get ULS back to our roots as a model demonstration laboratory school. The school was founded in 1915, with a mission to provide an exemplary education for our students, demonstrate a model educational environment, serve as a center for educational innovation and research, provide professional development for the state's educators and offer clinical teaching experiences for pre-service teachers. Over time, we have steered somewhat from that mission, but we're making strides to return to that focus. 

How does ULS plan to work with the Tiger Teacher Corps in the future? 
When I think about this question, the first thing that pops into my head is the 1917 Uncle Sam poster reading "I Want You for U.S. Army". But seriously, that is what I feel. We want to be a breeding ground for excellent teachers. Together, with our amazing colleagues in the Lutrill & Pearl Payne School of Education, we want to educate, train and develop the members of the Tiger Teacher Corps, and then send them out prepared and fully equipped to excel in the teaching profession.  

---

About the University Laboratory School
The University Laboratory School (ULS) is one of the six schools operated under the auspices of the Louisiana State University College of Human Sciences & Education. This model demonstration school exists to provide training opportunities for pre- and in-service teachers and to serve as a demonstration and educational research center. The school is located on the main campus of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Our motto is “Total Effort in Every Endeavor” and the University Laboratory School community aspires toward total effort in every endeavor for maximum student achievement through the development, implementation, and demonstration of exemplary programs and instructional practices.

Visit the University Laboratory School website.

About the College of Human Sciences & Education 
The College of Human Sciences & Education (CHSE) is a nationally accredited division of Louisiana State University. The college is comprised of the School of Education, the School of Information Studies, the School of Kinesiology, the School of Leadership & Human Resource Development, and the School of Social Work. CHSE has two model demonstration schools, the Early Childhood Education Laboratory Preschool, enrolling birth to age four and the University Laboratory School enrolling Kindergarten through grade 12. The college also has four centers and institutes: the Early Childhood Education Institute, the Healthy Aging Research Center, the Leadership Development Institute, and Social Research & Evaluation Center. The college is committed to achieving the highest standards in teaching, research, and service and aims to improve quality of life across the lifespan.
 
Visit the College of Human Sciences & Education website.