Reaching and Inspiring African-American Students: A Case Study in New Orleans
Instead of finding a calling as an educator, I almost ended up as another sobering statistic about black men. Spring 1994: I found myself as a hopeless graduate from a Louisiana high school with a mediocre GPA, low ACT score, and limited options. Though I enrolled in college, I was quickly tracked into remedial classes, where I watched many of my classmates run into academic and financial barriers and drop out of… Read More
Top 5 things we learned from parents at #NOLAParentPerspectives
Last Thursday, a parent-focused townhall was hosted by Stand for Children, Black Alliance for Educational Options (BAEO), Orleans Parish Education Network (OPEN), and the Urban League of Greater New Orleans. Eight parents participated on panels to share their perspectives on topics related to One App enrollment, governance and accountability. The discussion ended with Lamont Douglas, a parent representing OPEN saying, “A school system that is doing good has parent involvement.” Amplifying parent… Read More
NOLA Parent Perspectives town-hall meeting
The town-hall meeting moderated by Dr. Andre Perry at Dillard University Georges Auditorium is presented by the Louisiana Black Alliance for Educational Options, Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN), Stand for Children Louisiana, and the Urban League of Greater New Orleans. .
Coming home to my Roneagle family
Tivonsheia “Tee” Broussard grew up on Galvez and Charbonnet in the Lower Nine in a house her great grandfather built on his own. Before the storm she lived in this house with her mother along with her grandparents. Like most 16 year old kids, she was consumed by social media and the prospect of driving. She recalls a time when hurricane evacuations in New Orleans had little significance and instead, became the… Read More
ULEAD the Next 10
As we look forward to the Next 10 years of education reform in New Orleans and those leading the work we have to look at the first graduating cohort of Urban Leaders for Equity and Diversity— ULEAD fellows. In the way that civil right leaders and those in the movement gathered at the legendary Dooky Chase to share their ideas of how to end racial segregation and discrimination in the 1960’s—fellows of… Read More
I didn’t come to New Orleans to change the world, I came to change my world
Hurricane Katrina unfolded via radio and television for me on my younger brother’s 10th birthday. While home from college, I dropped him off at school with cupcakes for his class and a close listen to what was happening on the Gulf Coast via The Tom Joyner Morning Show. Listeners from New Orleans and surrounding areas were calling in to share if they “would ride it out” or not. Little did they know…… Read More
#RealHeroesNOLA Willie Muhammad talks about the #Next10
While at Cohen High School Willie Muhammad learned of Mrs. Jeff’s reputation for academic rigor and her low tolerance for behavior issues, but the “war stories” passed down from other students didn’t deter him from enrolling in her history course. It was in that class that he became aware of the inhumane treatment and atrocities committed against Native Americans, African people, and people of color as a whole across the globe. It… Read More
Missing players…
Business and industry are missing players in education reform. In my last position leading statewide campaigns to pass education reform legislation in CA, OH, TN, and Louisiana, one of the biggest tasks was establishing working coalition tables. The business sector represented often by the chamber of commerce was always a sought after partner because of their ability to influence others to think about how we are preparing our future workforce, their political… Read More
Not enough choices at the OneApp late enrollment cycle for Rhonda Jordan
With tears in her eyes, Rhonda Jordan expressed fear and uncertainty concerning her son who will be an incoming 9th grader in the fall. They are hoping the OneApp late enrollment process yields a positive result and are holding out hope to land a spot at one of the top schools in the city. Her youngest and only son just finished at Langston Hughes. Although he has had behavioral issues in… Read More
3 things to make the summer fun and safe for #NOLAKIDS
Summer can be a very unsafe and vulnerable time for our children. Temperatures reach 90+, the last second line of the season has passed and unless your child is in a summer program, chances are they are bored. Playing outside can be dangerous as crime rates go up in the city. The FBI reports that on average, crime increases nearly 10 percent between the months of June and August. As a city we… Read More