Opportunity for Every Child

Orleans Parish must be a place where every student receives the support, resources, and opportunities they need to be successful. Olin believes that includes:

• Expanded access to comprehensive mental health services;

• World-class instruction for every student with special needs and every English language learner;

• Comprehensive Career & Technical Education and dual enrollment opportunities for every high school student;

• Safe schools that employ trauma-informed discipline practices that are restorative and applied fairly to every child;

• High-quality curriculum delivered by highly-trained, veteran educators in every classroom; and

• Gifted and talented opportunities at every charter school.

An Equitable School System

The next Orleans Parish School Board must implement a comprehensive racial equity plan.

Olin knows that for a racial equity plan to be truly meaningful, it must set ambitious goals and measure progress toward those goals on a regular basis. That’s why he’s advocating for a plan that includes:

• Equitable funding at all charter schools;

• A strong Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) program;

• Racial equity training for NOLA Public Schools staff and Orleans Parish School Board members; and

• Increased diversity in charter school board membership.

Academic and Financial Accountability

The school board must ensure that charter schools are good stewards of public funds and serve every student.

Olin is the only candidate in the race with experience investigating bad actors in the system who misused funds or failed to provide adequate special education services. As your school board member, he will review every audit and every budget and he’ll work tirelessly to make sure that all charter schools are held to nationally-recognized standards for academic and financial accountability.

Extracurricular Excellence

As the grandson, son, and brother of seven different enrichment teachers and a former chess club founder at his school, Olin recognizes that school goes beyond just reading and math.

His own experiences with music in Mrs. Titus’s second grade class ultimately helped Olin pay for college.

Olin knows that every child at every school deserves enrichment opportunities during and after school, such as athletics, music, drama, art, and robotics. These activities--and after-school busing for every child  involved in these activities--should be made available to all public school students, not just those at specific schools.  As your next school board member, Olin will work to ensure that charter schools are offering unique enrichment opportunities for all students.

An “A” School In Every Neighborhood

Families in New Orleans are all familiar with a common set of issues facing their children: a limited number of seats at high quality schools, bus routes that leave too early in the morning, and schools that remain segregated.

Olin is familiar with these problems because he has faced them as a public school parent himself, and he is committed to solving them as a member of the school board.

Olin believes that parents should have the option to send their child to a great school down the street if that’s what they desire. That’s why he will work to increase the number of high quality seats that are available to students and families—so that families have real options when deciding where to enroll their child in school.

Resilient Response to COVID-19

COVID-19 has disrupted every aspect of daily life, none more so than school. The pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on learning for students enduring poverty--a trend that can and must be reversed. 

Olin believes every child should attend school in an environment that feels safest to them, whether that is in-person; at home via academically rigorous, virtual instruction; or a “blended” model that combines both. Olin also believes that every teacher and school employee is essential, and should feel safe, supported, and heard by school and district leaders before returning to their building. Finally, Olin knows that the Orleans Parish School Board must recognize the impending financial crisis presented by COVID-19 and create a fiscally responsible, long-term plan that sets the district and individual schools on strong financial ground for years to come, despite the inevitable reductions in state funding.

Post-Secondary Pathways for All

New Orleans has made enormous strides in getting tens of thousands of students into college. Yet, data shows that only about a third of high school sophomores will have earned a Bachelor’s degree eight years later.

Olin believes New Orleans high school students deserve options when it comes to their future. Beginning in middle school, all students should have opportunities to learn about and earn certifications in high-demand careers in south Louisiana. Olin will work with schools, businesses, and organizations like the New Orleans Career Center to find new and creative ways for high school students to develop in-demand job skills, receive mentoring and coaching, gain access to internships and work-based learning experiences with local employers, and graduate with a flexible plan and a clear pathway to post-secondary education and an upwardly-mobile career.  

Our public schools should provide all students with an opportunity for lifelong success, whether that is preparing them to receive a bachelor’s degree or an industry-based credential and a high-wage job.