NOLA PUBLIC SCHOOLS OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF 180TH ANNIVERSARY OF PUBLIC EDUCATION IN NEW ORLEANS WITH VIRTUAL CELEBRATION

Event photos available here. Event videos and presentations available here.

(NEW ORLEANS – March 26, 2021) – 180 years ago, in 1841, public education was born in the City of New Orleans. Today, NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) officially kicked off the 180^th anniversary of the school district with a virtual celebration hosted at McDonogh 35.

NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr. was joined by former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, who helped secure a $1.8-billion-dollar lump sum from FEMA to rebuild schools after Hurricane Katrina. Together, they highlighted and discussed the progress and history of NOLA-PS over the course of its 180 years.

"Now, more than ever in our history, we are focused on doing whatever it takes to develop the whole child for success," said NOLA-PS Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. "We are here to mark the history, but more importantly to honor the teachers and celebrate the students. It's those souls who empower NOLA-PS. I am proud to be the Superintendent for NOLA-PS and I am eager to see where the future takes our District as a community of schools."

During the event, NOLA-PS played celebratory video remarks from White House Senior Advisor and NOLA-PS alumnus, Cedric Richmond, and City of New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. The District also unveiled a beautiful commemorative poster designed by Lusher High School Senior, Morrah Burton-Edwards. Students with L.B. Landry Choir performed John Legend's hit song "Shine On", and there were several other various presentations.

"It's been 180 tough years, and it didn't start off fair at all. But, we're making it fair and more equitable every single day," said former U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu. "It is my hope, with the leadership of this wonderful superintendent and this amazing school board which is one of those diverse, progressive and unified school boards in America today, that we can build the best public school system. Shine on in an amazing way to show how people of different races and different backgrounds can come together with a lot of love."

Cedric Richmond provided inspiring words for students, Mayor Cantrell also offered words of encouragement, and Orleans Parish School Board President Ethan Ashley expressed the board's focus in the coming years.

"I owe all that I am to the teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers and custodians that helped shape my life throughout my schooling," said Richmond. "Those lessons and moments, I will never forget. NOLA Public Schools reinforced that I was more than a number, that I had unlimited potential and that I could do whatever I wanted to do, If I applied myself. I, as a Public School graduate from New Orleans East got elected to the United States Congress and served for 11 years. And now I am one of 6 senior advisors to President Joe Biden and go to work every day in the White House. I mention all of that, not to brag, but to encourage you to do better than I did. Leave a bigger and better legacy. Fulfill your god given talent. The truth is you can be anything you want to be if you apply yourself."

"We know that our children are our best source for the future," said Mayor Cantrell. "And so with that let's continue to dig deep and do all that we can to ensure that our young people reach their fullest potential in our city, through the education of the New Orleans public school system."

"I stand before you to say that our board is focused on only getting better at educating our students, which includes continuing to rid our system of the old vestiges of segregation and racism within our policies and within our system," said School Board President Ethan Ashley. "I make a promise that we will continue to press forward to achieve the many goals that we have yet to attain and that our students and community so rightfully deserve."

While today's virtual event kicked-off and marked the District's anniversary, NOLA-PS will continue to honor and celebrate its history, by featuring past and present teachers, alumni, and historical facts through the end of the year. In addition, NOLA-PS will continue to highlight the crux of this commemoration-- that public education is a public good, a cornerstone of a healthy democracy that works to produce strong, just, civic-minded leaders of tomorrow and is vital to the values and culture of New Orleans.

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About NOLA Public Schools: NOLA Public Schools is the public school district for Orleans Parish. It includes the district's administration and elected school board, known as the Orleans Parish School Board. NOLA Public Schools currently oversees 76 public schools and is led by Superintendent Dr. Henderson Lewis, Jr.

For more information, visit www.nolapublicschools.com. For updates, follow NOLA Public Schools on Facebook @NOLAPublicSchools, Instagram @nolaps and Twitter @NOLAPSchools.