Parish President's Biography
Natalie H. Robottom was sworn in as the St. John the Baptist Parish President on January 9, 2012. As a former educator, volunteer, and public servant, Robottom is committed to working with the citizens of St. John Parish and to developing initiatives that improve the quality of life, promote economic development, and enhance the infrastructure of the community while ensuring that all levels of parish government operate with transparency. The Robottom administration welcomes the opportunity to receive feedback from the community, business leaders and interested stakeholders as they work to restore public trust and design ethically sound practices.
Prior to Robottom’s election as Parish President, she served as the Director of the Office of Community Programs for Governor Bobby Jindal. There she managed programs and offices addressing the needs of the elderly, persons with disabilities, families, children, youth and women. She also served as Louisiana’s liaison for the White House Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships and served as Louisiana’s designee to the Delta Regional Authority.
Robottom earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette and a Master’s Degree in speech pathology from Louisiana State University. A speech-language pathologist by training, she served as a special education administrator in the St. John Parish’s school system for 24 years. She began her career in local government serving as the Chief Administrative Officer and the Chief Financial Officer for St. John Parish with the responsibility for managing all operations of parish government. After leaving this position she briefly served as the Parish Manager for Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government.
She also served as president of the state association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists in Louisiana Schools, the St. Joan of Arc Home and School Association, the St. Joan of Arc School Board and the River Region American Heart Association. She was appointed by two Governors to the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists. Mrs. Robottom served as a board member in the River Region American Heart Association, the YMCA of the River Parishes, and as a Trustee for the Chartwell Center for Autism located in New Orleans. She has chaired and participated in numerous professional organizations and advisory boards across the state.
Natalie H. Robottom is the 5th Parish President of St. John the Baptist Parish and has changed the course of parish history by being elected as the first female and the first African-American to serve in this capacity. A native of Abbeville, Louisiana, she currently resides in LaPlace with Hernendez, her husband of 30 years. Her daughter, Courtney, is a Louisiana State University alumnus, and her son Casey, is currently attending graduate school at Tulane University.