Why Olin is running.
My wife and I spend a lot of time talking with our children about our family’s core values: Justice, Purpose, Kindness, Joy, and Integrity. We try to teach our three kids to stand up for others and to always do what is right. I will bring those same values to every decision I make on the Orleans Parish School Board.
Here is why I’m ready to stand up:
Education Experience
I started my career in public education in 2007 as a certified math teacher at an alternative high school. Since my very first day in the classroom, I have worked diligently to improve public education as a former teacher of the year, assistant football coach, chess club founder, instructional coach, and administrator at the Louisiana Department of Education.
I have the qualifications and experience to be a successful board member, I believe deeply in the transformative power of an excellent public education, and I have devoted my entire career to improving outcomes for Louisiana kids.
Representation for Public School Parents
In addition to being an experienced educator and administrator, I have been a public school parent for the past six years. My kids’ school looks like the majority of schools in Orleans Parish.
I understand the issues facing public school parents in New Orleans because I live them every day. Families that struggle to balance multiple school schedules, excessively long bus rides, and everything else that comes with our city’s decentralized school system deserve a strong advocate on the board. I’ll bring years of education experience to the Board, but more importantly, I’ll approach every challenge from the perspective of a dedicated public school parent.
Fighting for Every Child—A Personal Story
I made my decision to run for Orleans Parish School Board parked on the shoulder of I-10. I was driving home from our modified summer vacation, and my six year old—who is usually a very happy and social kid--started crying incredibly hard. She seemed inconsolable. I pulled over to check on her, thinking that she had somehow hurt herself in the backseat.
After she caught her breath, she said, “All of my friends at school are Black and I don’t want them to die.” We had been talking as a family about the recent protests across the country and our family’s core value of Justice. Those conversations, and her love for her classmates, had clearly impacted her.
Sitting in the backseat on the shoulder of I-10 crystallized for me what I already knew--that if my daughter feels so passionately about her friends’ futures, then her six year-old classmates, their parents, teachers, principals, and everyone who loves them are even more invested in their success. I knew then that by virtue of my experience at the LDOE, in the classroom, and in the community, I was in a special position to help every child in public school in New Orleans attend a better school.
My experience has prepared me to serve, and I am ready to do the work. I am ready to dig into the details and develop solutions that matter for New Orleans families. I am ready to help create a world-class school system that sets our community up for success for generations to come. I am seeking your support to ensure that every child in New Orleans public schools gets the extraordinary and joyful education they deserve.
Thank you for taking the time to consider me as a candidate for school board. I hope to earn your vote.
