2 emails and an editorial: New Orleans

Two friends, Matt Candler and Ben Kleban, recently went to New Orleans to
get involved with the exciting, revolutionary new school system being built
there -- charters are now 60% of all public schools! Both work at New
Schools for New Orleans, both are trying to recruit great people for NSNO
and the schools in New Orleans, and both (coincidentally I think) sent out
blast emails recently related to this -- see below (Ben's is first, followed
by Matt's).
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Dear Friends & Colleagues,

As many of you know, I have recently moved to New Orleans to contribute to
the exciting and unprecedented transformation of the public school system
that is truly a silver lining of Hurricane Katrina's tragic devastation.
Since April, I have been working in an interim start-up role with New
Schools for New Orleans, a central resource center providing technical
assistance and operational support to all the new charter schools in the
city. Charters now make up 60% of all public schools in New Orleans - the
highest proportion of charter schools compared to any other city in the
country. These are very exciting times for disadvantaged families who now
have more choices to send their children to autonomous and accountable
schools then ever before.

I am now in the process of launching a new 6th-12th grade college prep
charter school for underserved children, a dream that most of you know I've
been pursuing for many years. I'm on track to submit a charter application
to the Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on
December 8th, and if all goes well my founding team will open the school
with an entering class of 125 6th graders in August of 2007.

My reason for reaching out to you is to solicit your assistance in
identifying candidates for the principal of the school - please see attached
for a job description. While I will serve as the Executive Director, a
general manager of the organization, I am seeking a talented and
entrepreneurial instructional leader to be my partner, and to focus
tremendous energy on driving rigorous teaching and learning that leads to
high student achievement for all our students. Please pass this e-mail
along to your networks and keep New Orleans College Prep in mind should you
come across successful urban educators that may be a good fit for this
exciting opportunity.

Best regards,

Ben

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Friends and Colleagues,

www.nsno.org

New Schools for New Orleans (NSNO) will be committed to making each school
in this city - especially the dozens of charters that now make up 60% of
public schools - a robust institution meeting high expectations for
achievement. I wanted to share what we are up to and ask for your help in
spreading the word. We have a real shot at transforming things for kids
here, but it will require considerable commitment and talented people
willing to dive in.

I've included some info below on roles we are trying to fill. If you have
any ideas or leads, I would appreciate the help.

Have an excellent Thanksgiving,

Matt

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Here at New Schools for New Orleans we are trying to recruit a talented,
diverse and passionate team of people willing to do whatever it takes to
build and sustain great schools. We are looking for dedicated and highly
competent people who:
- believe high-quality instruction is central to school success,
- are committed to closing the achievement gap,
- are creative and highly innovative self-starters, and
- are highly accomplished writers and oral communicators.

Current openings on the NSNO team include the following:
- Director of School Operations, responsible for teaching school business
and operations managers how to run the business side of their schools and
for improving the supply of back-office providers to schools in the city,
- Director of Instructional Quality, responsible for providing relevant and
constructive feedback to school leaders on the quality and effectiveness of
their school culture and instructional practices,
- School Support Managers, responsible for responding to a wide-range of
needs at schools and committed to establishing a track record of timeliness,
responsiveness and customer service, and a
- Director of School Investments, responsible for building a program of
targeted grants to schools that aligns with and enhances our tactical
support to school operators.

Elsewhere in the city, other exciting opportunities are opening up in
organizations focused on school leadership, teacher training and education
policy. We are doing what we can to support other efforts to attract talent
too, so please pass along ideas you have on people who may be interested in
any of the above.

Anyone interested in joining the effort in New Orleans can reach us at
jobs@nsno.org or on the web at www.nsno.org.
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P.S. The vibe here is one of optimism and hope, and the work ahead is
challenging. If you have time, take a minute to read something that sums it
up well.

-------------------------------------
June 8, 2006
Op-Ed Contributor
Go Southeast, Young Man
By WALTER ISAACSON

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/08/opinion/08Isaacson.html?ex=1307419200&en=3
1c11035dfa72296&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

NEW ORLEANS is a tale of two cities these days. In areas that were smashed
and then sat for weeks underwater when the levees broke, the devastation
still stretches for miles and the valiant cleanup efforts seem as daunting
as mopping sand from a beach. But the older areas that make the town famous,
built on higher ground along the river, are humming again. From Tulane
University through the Garden District to the business district and the
French Quarter, people are back at work while chefs and musicians ply their
wondrous magic.