August 2025

This month marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the floods that devastated New Orleans and its schools. The recovery effort in the years after the storm reshaped the city’s education system, ushering in reforms and innovations with ripple effects across the country. Join Bellwether for a series of conversations with leaders, policymakers, and experts who were there and helped shape education in New Orleans during the past 20 years. We’ll explore how the city’s schools have changed, the challenges that remain, and what it means for America’s education system more broadly.

Join us for the following sessions:

How Charters Changed the Game Post-Katrina (Monday, August 25 at 11am ET)
Featuring Leslie Jacobs, Dana Peterson, Jim Peyser, and Juliet Squire (moderator)

Career Pathway Innovations in New Orleans (Thursday, Aug. 28 at 2:00pm ET)
Featuring Aaron Frumin, Claire Jecklin, Cate Swinburn, and Alex Cortez (moderator)

Watch the recording of our first session: Where We Started: Policy Conditions and Constraints in August
Featuring Former Senator Mary Landrieu, Doug Harris, Jamar McKneely, Alexina Medley, and Andy Rotherham (moderator)