News

In a year with much uncertainty and a lot of change, the ESYNOLA team dug deep to extend the impact

Louisiana State Superintendent of Education Dr. Cade Brumley surprised Phillis Wheatley Community School faculty, staff, and students with a new statewide award that recognizes educational excellence. Louisiana Models of Excellence honors schools that serve as a state model in meeting one of the Louisiana Department of Education’s Believe to Achieve priorities.

The Louisiana Association of Public Charter Schools (LAPCS) selected Arthur Ashe to launch their Little Free Library initiative.
LAPCS has joined the Louisiana Department of Education’s call to action to provide literacy resources to school communities and is doing so through this initiative. LAPCS is teaming up with ThriveKids of Children’s Hospital and unCommon Construction to build Little Free Libraries throughout New Orleans.

FirstLine Schools honored their first cohort of mentor teachers at the end of this school year. The nine FirstLine teachers were selected to participate in the program, which is designed to develop strong teachers into mentors who can support young and/or new teachers as they enter FirstLine Schools. 

On Tuesday, May 11th, Arthur Ashe Charter School director, Shanda Gentry, along with Glenda Baylis, middle school principal, announced the winners of the Keith Gregory Barney FIRST Award, created in honor of the esteemed Ashe special education teacher, coach and community leader who passed away on August 12, 2020.

We believe that rigorous and engaging classes and intentional social and emotional learning are necessary for students to succeed academically and grow into adults who can advocate for themselves and create a just and equitable society. We also believe that a quality education is the path to liberation. Check out this video, featuring members of the FirstLine community speaking about racial equity in education.

Our teachers and school leaders were thrilled to welcome 998 Pre-K – 4th grade students to our school campuses on Monday, September 21st. We saw many very happy reunions, students seeing their friends and teachers, everyone smiling over their masks to greet one another.

PreK and Kindergarten students at Langston Hughes Academy (LHA) have been offered a unique opportunity to attend school in a museum setting thanks to a partnership with the Louisiana Children’s Museum (LCM). As the museum is currently closed, LHA has exclusive use of the space, which is free to FirstLine through the generosity of LCM and the Helis Foundation.

As we work toward becoming an antiracist organization, it is important that we maintain transparency throughout this process and provide

This summer, while schools were closed and the city was sheltering-in-place, ESYNOLA gardens were still growing strong. With the expertise of our garden staff, and the help and generosity of volunteers, neighbors, and members of the school communities, our gardens were weeded, watered, and cared for during the strenuous summer months.