ENCORE Academy will remain in its building for another year, giving the board more time to discuss adding priority zip codes to its charter and allowing the school to easily manage its own enrollment process for the additional year. “We’ve been invited to stay in this building another year,” school leader Terri Smith told the […]
Author Archives: Marta Jewson
Marta Jewson covers education in New Orleans for The Lens. She began her reporting career covering charter schools for The Lens and helped found the hyperlocal news site Mid-City Messenger. Jewson returned to New Orleans in the fall of 2014 after covering education for the St. Cloud Times in Minnesota. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with majors in journalism and social welfare and a concentration in educational policy studies.
Jewson has covered New Orleans schools for 15 years through the nation's largest education reform experiment. She was a founding member of the outlet's Charter School Reporting Corps and was instrumental in holding schools accountable to sunshine laws during the rapid expansion of charter schools in the city.
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Fired Lycée teacher sues school leaders for character defamation
A teacher who was fired from Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans Charter is suing the school and two of its leaders, saying they damaged her reputation after they had an officer escort her from campus last month. Darleen Mipro, 39, was charged with criminal trespassing and disturbing the peace on Nov. 30, when she says […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
ReNEW votes to add another school to its network
ReNEW’s board of directors voted Thursday to expand the four-school network by taking on another school next year. ReNEW currently serves about 2,400 students and with the additional elementary school, the network will aim to serve 3,300 students. Encouraged by the Recovery School District to apply for another charter last year, ReNEW did just that […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Pride College Prep leaders prepare to release control to new hands
In their first meeting since the state leaders decided against extending Pride College Prep’s charter, board members overseeing the school grappled Monday with how exactly to turn the campus over to new management. When the Pride’s charter ends on June 30, 2013, the 330-student school will likely be taken over by ARISE Academy, Pride school […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Success Prep leaders celebrate one year charter extension
Despite a recent enrollment dip, Success Preparatory Academy last week celebrated a one-year charter extension granted by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. During a Dec. 4 meeting of Success Prep’s board, officials anticipated the renewal and praised state officials’ for recommending the campus stay open for at least one more year. Enrollment […]
Posted inSchools
Lycée Francais board bars press from meeting with parents
Board members at the embattled Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans Charter School Monday closed the doors to “anybody who is not connected with the family” of the school as they met for two hours with parents in what they insisted was not a public meeting. The closed-door session involving three board members and about […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Lycée board shuts press out of meeting with parents
Board members at the embattled Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans Charter School Monday closed the doors to “anybody who is not connected with the family” of the school as they met for two hours with parents in what they insisted was not a public meeting. The closed-door session involving three board members and about […]
Posted inSchools
Interim CEO tapped to lead troubled Lycée Français charter
Parents at the troubled Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans charter school on Monday met the woman temporarily charged with leading the school out of a rocky period. Gisele Schexnider introduced herself as the new academic director to parents during their regular parent teacher organization’s meeting Monday night and said she would be serving as the […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Interim CEO tapped to lead troubled Lycée Français charter
Parents at the troubled Lycée Français de la Nouvelle Orléans charter school on Monday met the woman temporarily charged with leading the school out of a rocky period. Gisele Schexnider introduced herself as the new academic director to parents during their regular parent teacher organization’s meeting Monday night and said she would be serving as the […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
School board member-elect Sarah Usdin visits Warren Easton
Warren Easton’s board of directors hosted school board member-elect Sarah Newell Usdin at its board meeting Wednesday night. “I’d love to know when you’re going to replicate Warren Easton,” said Usdin. Board member Billy Hatchett said the group would like to charter a Pre-K through eighth grade school before taking on another high school. Board […]