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.

In final year of charter contracts, selective schools again sit out OneApp

by Marta JewsonNovember 12, 2020November 12, 2020

Officials say they aren’t required to use the centralized enrollment system until their new contracts begin.

New testimony reveals record-keeping issues at Kennedy HS went back years

by Marta JewsonNovember 10, 2020November 12, 2020

Staff malfeasance and record-keeping issues caused problems for Kennedy’s class of 2019.

NOLA Public Schools reports 6 new COVID-19 cases, 160 quarantining

by Marta JewsonNovember 5, 2020November 5, 2020

Ten total ‘active’ cases connected to New Orleans public schools, according to the district’s weekly update.

Brown, Parker win OPSB seats, and five other races head to runoff

by Marta JewsonNovember 4, 2020November 4, 2020

Incumbent Leslie Ellison just missed the majority required to avoid the runoff.

Many NOLA Public Schools closed on Election Day

by Marta JewsonNovember 2, 2020November 2, 2020

Some schools had a planned holiday while others assess damage and phone and internet outages.

NOLA Public Schools closed Monday due to Hurricane Zeta damage, power issues

by Marta JewsonNovember 1, 2020November 1, 2020

The district will announce plans for the remainder of the week on Monday.

NOLA Public Schools reports 9 new COVID-19 cases, 163 quarantining

by Marta JewsonOctober 30, 2020October 30, 2020

This week’s update was delayed due to Hurricane Zeta.

NOLA Public Schools cancels classes Friday due to Hurricane Zeta

by Marta JewsonOctober 29, 2020October 29, 2020

Students’ families should hear about next week by Sunday.

NOLA Public Schools cancels classes Thursday due to Hurricane Zeta

by Marta JewsonOctober 28, 2020October 28, 2020

The storm is expected to cause power outages in the city.

As Zeta approaches, New Orleans school district calls off afternoon virtual classes

by Marta JewsonOctober 28, 2020October 28, 2020

The storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday afternoon.