Here’s How a New Orleans Mom Found the Right School For Her Family in the Pandemic
When I met Tatiana, I was struck by how invested she was in the long-term process of getting her kids the best educational opportunities she could find. She was already thinking ahead to her second child’s education, and she had only just found out she was pregnant with him. When it came time to choose a kindergarten for her daughter, Julieta, Tatiana was incredibly persistent in understanding the school landscape and what… Read More
Do White Folks Hate Black Folks’ Hair?
Feelings, crown, soul, and pride are all words synonymous with hair for black Folks. Many of Our emotions, experiences, and expressions are intertwined within the embodiment of our hair. This sentiment was eloquently sang by Solange in the song “Don’t Touch My Hair.” India Arie boldly details in the song “I Am Not My Hair” that her hair is not totally indicative of who she is even though her hair is an… Read More
Back to the Future: NOLA Public Schools Return to Orleans Parish School Board
As school staff prepare for the start of the 2018-2019 school year and parents shop for the endless list of uniforms and school supplies, most residents may not have realized that state legislation passed May 2016 went into effect July 1, 2018, marking the Orleans Parish School Board’s comeback. It will now oversee the unification of the city’s public schools that had primarily been managed by the Recovery School District following hurricane… Read More
OneApp didn’t give me the school I wanted. I still believe it’s a good system.
This article was first published on ednavigator.com By Rameisha Johnson I got the text as I was pulling into my driveway after work: My school choice results were available to view in OneApp, New Orleans’ universal enrollment system. I’d been waiting all week for them, refreshing the EnrollNOLA website at random intervals. Already prepared, I logged in, followed the links and, suddenly, felt like someone dropped a piano onto my car. My… Read More
College Dreams Dim Amidst Fears of Cuts to TOPS Program
Our students can’t afford to lose out on financial assistance for college because the state has a budget problem. The hope of a bright future is a huge deal for teens during their high school years and the ability to pay for higher education is a big piece of that. It’s no surprise, then, that worry has gripped students and parents alike, as well as educators, since hearing about a potential… Read More
We need to stop “grappling” with discipline inequities and start solving them
Are we literally saying that we can’t handle our children? Are we creating our own utopian society schools? It seems as though we are assuming the role of an effective weed and feed. Weeding out the unwanted and undesirable class of students that we don’t want to deal with and teaching them is out of the question. There is a fierce national debate around suspensions and expulsions. This generally includes three… Read More
Local Heroes: Nicole Bouie and the Community Commitment Education Center
Amid all the talk about student testing, education policy and what not, it’s easy to forget that at the center of the conversation are actual children. But there’s plenty of hard work going on at the ground level by individuals and organizations dedicated to the needs of our children. They include social workers, engineers, mentors, and teachers just to name a few. Some are professionals, some are volunteers, and most have mobilized… Read More
Black Male Educators of New Orleans: An Interview With Charlie Vaughn, Jr.
Exhibit the likeness. Provoke imagination. Instill into minds. Establish perception. The seeds of change are planted with intention. They are nurtured, watered, and cultivated with love. Then the results are set free to flourish and plant seeds of their own. In a city with unemployment for black males at over 50 percent, according to a recent study released by the Urban League of New Orleans, black youth need positive role models in… Read More
Heroes in Education: The Belief in Possibilities
Recently I was asked to present an award at the 2015 OPEN Public Education Awards. The gala showcases innovators and exemplars in public education telling the untold stories of successful schools in New Orleans. I was thrilled to be invited and grateful for the opportunity, yet I had no idea of the impact the event would have on my perception of education. With so many people offering up their opinions on… Read More
Education and Poverty: The Conversation that Doesn’t Exist
“When you live in a poor neighborhood, you are living in an area where you have poor schools. When you have poor schools, you have poor teachers. When you have poor teachers, you get a poor education. When you get a poor education, you can only work in a poor-paying job. And that poor-paying job enables you to live again in a poor neighborhood. So, it’s a very vicious cycle.”—Malcolm X The… Read More