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Work Background
New Schools for New OrleansChief of Strategic Advancement and Communications
Jul. 2020New Orleans, Louisiana, United States-Lead a team of development professionals responsible for fundraising approximately $16 million annually to fulfill the organization’s goals. This is done through direct engagement and relationship-building with major national and local donors along with grant and proposal writing for private foundations, individuals, and government entities.
-Lead NSNO’s communications team, developing both plans and tactics to advance the organization’s strategic goals and to promote the policies and actions we need from decision-makers to maintain New Orleans’ unique, innovative, and successful school system.
-Oversaw the successful applications of three federal grants, bringing in approximately $35 million to the city of New Orleans for education initiatives including growing the teacher pipeline and retaining current high-performing teachers.
-Oversaw a review of our communications practices and outcomes that led to a series of adjustments, including a new focus on social media, increasing readership and engagement with our content.
-Launched the first annual gala in support of excellent teachers citywide, a black-tie event attended by nearly 500 people and which brought $400,000 in grants directly to classrooms while raising the profile of teachers citywide and providing year-long content for communications initiatives. Oversaw fundraising for the event for all of its four years.
Louisiana Department of EducationInterim Assistant Superintendent, District Planning and Portfolio, La. Dept. of Education
Feb. 2020 - Jul. 2020-Annually designed and launched a school improvement process that, per federal legislation (ESSA), requires every district to set priorities, identify interventions and budget accordingly for their lowest performing schools. This process was a national model for efficiency that additional states continue to adopt and adapt to their contexts.
-Annually designed and implemented a field support strategy to support school systems in implementation of ESSA-mandated school improvement plans for the 500 lowest performing schools statewide
-Led a team that developed the application process for new charter schools, authorized new charter schools, conducted routine charter school oversight, and made high-stakes accountability decisions for the entire portfolio of charter schools authorized by the Louisiana State Board of Education.
-Led a team responsible for the operation of all non-public school programs and processes at LDOE including the Louisiana Scholarship Program, the Tuition Donation Credit program, a scholarship program for students with disabilities, and the annual approval of all non-public school and home study programs, serving tens of thousands of students statewide
-Oversaw remaining Recovery School District functions including oversight of the team responsible for the remainder of the $1.8B New Orleans School Facilities Master Plan and the organizations operating RSD schools in Baton Rouge and Shreveport.
Louisiana Department of EducationChief Of Staff, Office of School Improvement
Jul. 2018 - Feb. 2020New Orleans, LA-Designed the charter accountability framework that outlines expectations for all state-authorized charter schools across Louisiana and supervised staff responsible for executing the processes related to authorizing new charter schools, conducting routine charter school oversight, and making high-stakes accountability decisions.
-Managed the unification of the New Orleans school system on behalf of the Recovery School District including ensuring the smooth transition of approximately 75 staff members, along with contracts, records, technology, and other property.
-Managed the Recovery School District’s annual budget, operations, and oversight of functions related to charter schools in New Orleans.
-Led a team that authorized new charter schools, conducted routine charter school oversight, and made high-stakes accountability decisions for the entire portfolio of charter schools authorized by the Louisiana state board of education
-Led a team responsible for the operation of all non-public school programs and processes at LDOE including the Louisiana Scholarship Program, the Tuition Donation Credit program, a scholarship program for students with disabilities, and the annual approval of all non-public school and home study programs, serving tens of thousands of students statewide.
Recovery School DistrictDeputy Chief Of Staff and Chief of Staff
Jan. 2013 - Jun. 2018New Orleans, LA-Managed Recovery School District central office operations including development of an annual budget of $25 million annually and managing the reductions in force and operations related to the closure and transition of schools and related reduction in revenue.
- Oversaw the closure of a multiple under-performing and under-enrolled charters schools including the development of staff, parent, and media communications materials, the transition of students to other schools, and the disposition of facilities and property.
- Led project planning and management for a number of important strategic initiatives, including the launch of the citywide Youth Opportunity Center for chronically truant students and the New Orleans Therapeutic Day Program for students with severe and disruptive mental and behavioral health needs.
Recovery School DistrictChief of Staff, Office of Portfolio
Jan. 2012 - Dec. 2012New Orleans, LA-Led the creation of the citywide Student Hearing Office for New Orleans and the unified expulsion policy, which led to a reduction in the expulsion rate to 0.3%, well below the state average. The Student Hearing Office continues to operate today.
-Developed coordinated oversight, accountability, and support processes for RSD charter schools in New Orleans for the first time since the entry of charter schools at scale in New Orleans.
-Managed all individuals within the RSD Office of Portfolio in establishing, planning, and executing against strategic priorities.
Laura Hawkins ConsultingIndependent Consultant
Oct. 2011New Orleans, Louisiana, United StatesWith 17 years of experience in the K12 sector, I have established myself as a leader, specializing in school choice, charter schools, and state education agency operations. I excel in leading teams and managing diverse projects, focusing on public communications, strategic planning, research, and policy analysis. Over time, my work has encompassed areas such as charter authorization, oversight, and accountability, state school improvement efforts, school closure best practices, and portfolio district policies and operations. In recent years on consulting projects, I have developed white papers on virtual education, won a $2M grant for a client, and successfully launched new grant-making opportunities. My strategic insights and diverse experience empower clients to navigate challenges and do impactful work in support of our shared mission of excellent educational opportunities for every child.
Cowen Institute for Public Education InitiativesResearch Manager
May. 2008 - Jan. 2012New Orleans, LA-Lead author on reports chronicling education reform in New Orleans including the annual State of Public Education in New Orleans, which continues to be published today, as well as briefs based on analysis of public data about schools. These reports served as the definitive guide to the New Orleans public school landscape during this time.
-Researched and wrote white papers, reports, and academic journal articles on key findings in research on public education in New Orleans.
-Developed and presented public policy recommendations for improving governance systems, charter school accountability, transparency, and the charter school authorization process, with recommendations being adopted by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
-Presented at college classes, academic conferences, and other convenings, and testified at public hearings and board meetings as an expert on topics relevant to education policy and research and the New Orleans public education landscape.
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