Author: Vivi Smilgius

About Vivi Smilgius: Vivi Smilgius is an education reporter for The Lens. Before she joined The Lens in 2026, she covered education at the hyperlocal outlet Brookline.News, and worked as a metro reporter for the Boston Globe. Vivi has reported on special education, municipal finance, teacher pay and student policy; outside the realm of education, she’s written about local businesses, libraries and Boston’s underground music scene. When she’s not chasing stories, you might find Vivi playing volleyball, reading or baking. She can be reached at vsmilgius@thelensnola.org

A New Orleans Katrina kid takes the head office at Warren Easton

July 7, 2026 Updated July 10, 2026

Incoming principal Kendall McManus-Thomas returns to Easton as a pathbreaker who grew up in pre-Katrina schools, experienced the disaster and all of its chaos as a displaced high school student, and went on to become the first Black man to head up Franklin High School.

Long-awaited 9th Ward Stadium breaks ground behind G.W. Carver High

June 23, 2026 Updated June 25, 2026

First envisioned in 2008, the 3,700-seat stadium will open in Fall 2027 as Raising Cane’s 9th Ward Stadium at LCMC Health Field

Focused On

Author: Vivi Smilgius

A New Orleans Katrina kid takes the head office at Warren Easton

Long-awaited 9th Ward Stadium breaks ground behind G.W. Carver High

Our reporting has more urgency than ever.