Celebrating Progress in NOLA Public Schools

I am thrilled to share positive news about our recent School Performance Scores (SPS) for the 2022-2023 school year. The Louisiana Department of Education's findings indicate that 80 percent of our schools received a progress index score of "A" or "B," reflecting the dedication of our educators and our scholars' hard work.

I'd like to thank all of educators and staff for their commitment to ongoing growth and providing a holistic education for our city's children.

Key Highlights:

• District-wide Improvement: Despite pandemic challenges, our District Performance Score (DPS) increased by over 3 points from 2022, maintaining an overall letter grade of "C." Compared to the pre-pandemic baseline in 2019, the DPS improved by 2 points.

• School Growth: 30 plus schools, including all four alternative schools, showed improvement, with an overall increase in SPS.

• Recognition: 16 schools received Top Gains Honoree recognition, and seven were named Opportunity Honorees for outstanding impact on student growth, especially among historically disadvantaged students.

While we celebrate these successes, we acknowledge there is much work to be done, and we will continue to work with our school leaders to help ensure all our scholars get the high-quality education they deserve.

To learn more and view our schools scores, click here.

K-12 Enrollment is Now Open

NOLA Public Schools’ main round enrollment for Kindergarten – 12^th grade is now open.

You can find all of our schools within the NOLA Public Schools Common Application Process or NCAP… making it easier for you to find the right school for your family.

Be sure to list as many choices as you can to maximize your chances of finding the right school for your scholar; you can select up to twelve.

NCAP, formerly known as OneApp, is open through January 19. We’re all in and we hope you are too!

Apply today! Visit enrollnolaps.com.

NOLA-PS Introduces Virtual Appointments for Enhanced Family Support

Exciting news! NOLA Public Schools’ (NOLA-PS) Student Enrollment Services and Family Resource Centers teams launched a groundbreaking virtual appointment pilot project to elevate customer service for our families.

The new service will provide the following services:

• Purposeful Convenience: Based on valuable stakeholder feedback, virtual appointments will be available on Fridays, offering families unparalleled convenience with reduced in-office visits.

• User-Friendly Scheduling: Families can easily schedule virtual appointments through the Calendly tool on our website (www.enrollnolaps.com/connect). Select your preferred time and language, provide your child's name and birthdate, and an email address for Zoom invitations, resulting in a seamless scheduling process.

• Enhanced Capacity: Eight Student and Community Advisors (SCAs) will facilitate virtual calls and more will be added as enrollment ramps up. With 103 available time slots, each 15-minute session ensures efficient support.

Click here to learn more and schedule your virtual appointment. We're committed to revolutionizing family support, making it adaptable and efficient for the diverse needs of our scholars and their families.

Delores Taylor Arthur School Earns National Speech and Debate Association Charter Status!

Exciting news, NOLA Public Schools community!

Congratulations to the Delores Taylor Arthur School for Young Men for achieving charter status in the National Speech and Debate Association, the highest honor a school can receive in the association. This places them among the nation's most competitive and prestigious programs.

Congratulations to the debate team:

They now join Isidore Newman as one of only two schools in the metropolitan New Orleans area to hold this distinguished status. Kudos to the amazing scholars at Delores Taylor Arthur School! Your dedication makes us proud and elevates the standing of NOLA Public Schools nationally.

Cheers to their outstanding achievement!

Voices of Future Leader Podcast:

Sarah T. Reed High School

I'd like to thank the Sarah T. Reed High School scholars for being a part of the Voices of Future Leaders podcast. Huge shoutout and thanks to Tarriona "Tank" Ball from Tank and the Bangas (and proud graduate of Sarah T. Reed) for being our special guest.

We had an amazing discussion about equity, social justice, and what they need to feel supported by NOLA-PS, adults, and the community at large.

Part of our goal in producing these monthly podcasts is to elevate the voices of our scholars and provide the support and empowerment necessary for their success in both school and life.

To see and hear the podcast, click the image below.

Celebrating Family Literacy Month and National Parent/Family Engagement Month

On November 3rd, we partnered with PJ's Coffee for a heartwarming event where families enjoyed a 25% discount on beverages by bringing a book. I had the honor of reading "What Goes Unspoken" by local author Krystal Allen at the Read Blvd location. These moments strengthen our community. Thanks to all who participated! 📚💙

Highlights from Recent Hispanic Town Hall at Mahalia Jackson Elementary

I'm thrilled to share key takeaways from our recent Noche Familiar Latina at Mahalia Jackson Elementary. During the session, I had the pleasure of discussing NOLA-PS Evolve, our 5-year strategic plan, and its specific commitments to support our Spanish-speaking families by June 2028.

Key Commitments:

• Effective Communication: Improved access to Spanish & Vietnamese materials and translation services for better communication.

• High-Quality Schools: Enhanced support for English Language Learners, focusing on diverse learner subgroup performance.

• Student, Staff, and Community Well-Being: Increased opportunities for underrepresented students and a targeted 10% enrollment boost in special admissions schools.

The town hall included a dynamic Q & A, allowing us to directly address concerns and priorities shared by Hispanic families for their scholars' education.

I'd like to thank our Hispanic families for their engagement, and I'm excited about our ongoing collaboration for an inclusive and supportive learning environment.

Welcome to the 51st Annual NABSE Conference in New Orleans!

I had the honor to extend a warm welcome to the attendees of the 51st Annual National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) Conference taking place in our city. The organization's annual gathering is dedicated to advancing the academic success of Black children.

NABSE's mission is to promote education, unite educators, foster idea exchange, and develop leaders aligned with their shared commitment to excellence.

As Superintendent, I am committed to supporting NABSE's values and sharing my core values of Equity, Excellence, and Joy. It's a pleasure working with this organization to forge a brighter future for all our scholars.

Last JOYful Educator Connection of 2023

Reflecting on the last JOYful Educator Connection of the year, I took the time to emphasize the essence of our monthly gatherings – ensuring our teachers feel recognized and appreciated. I'm truly grateful for their choice to guide our little ones in our community, especially in the face of teacher shortages elsewhere.

I deeply respect and appreciate our educators' invaluable work, and their commitment is truly valued.

During the connection, we treated our teachers to a sound bath, promoting relaxation and enhancing well-being through healing vibrations. It was an enjoyable, valuable experience, emphasizing the importance of well-being and self-care. Their well-being matters, and we're here to support them.

Here's to more amazing JOYful Educator connections in 2024!! 🎉

Reflecting on Veterans Day

Nov. 11 marked Veterans Day; a day that holds deep personal significance for me as an army veteran (That's me in the pic to the right!). I'm humbled to take a moment to acknowledge this day and express my heartfelt gratitude to all veteran educators, staff, and community members.

Your selflessness and dedication, both to our country and our schools, are truly commendable. The experiences you bring to our community enrich us, and we are genuinely grateful for your contributions.

Veterans Day serves as a yearly reminder of the values we hold dear, providing us with an opportunity to teach our scholars about gratitude, patriotism, and service. To all veterans, thank you for your service. Your sacrifice and commitment do not go unnoticed, and we are privileged to have you as part of our community.

Diabetes Awareness: Focus on Type 2

November is Diabetes Awareness Month, and I want to shed light on Type 2 Diabetes—a health issue affecting 37 million Americans and over 500,000 adults in our state.

High sugar levels can lead to heart and nerve problems, impacting our community's well-being. The state health department notes that over 54,500 children under 18 are at risk due to obesity.

Understanding Type 2 Diabetes and promoting a healthy lifestyle are crucial. To learn more visit: diabetes.org.

Important Upcoming Dates

• Dec. 4 - Renewals/Extension Board Meeting
• Dec. 12 - OPSB Committee Meeting
• Dec. 14 - OPSB Board Meeting
• Dec. 20 - Jan. 2 - Winter Break