NSNO Values and Approach
NSNO’s mission is to deliver on the promise of excellent public schools for every child in New Orleans.This guiding directive calls us to strengthen the system that has already delivered measurable progress for students over the last 20 years. Our commitment to excellence requires an adaptive approach to expand access to quality, sustainable schools that meet the needs of students and educators.
Our Approach and Strategies
We believe every child in New Orleans deserves access to an excellent public school that meets their unique needs. Over the past two decades, our city’s system of autonomous schools has made historic gains in student achievement. But progress is a journey—not a destination.
At NSNO, we’re committed to building on that momentum. Guided by our core values—excellence, equity, autonomy, accountability, and sustainability—we are focused on strengthening the conditions that allow great schools and educators to thrive. That’s why, over the last year, we took a hard look at our work: questioning, assessing, and analyzing how we can best meet this moment.
The result is our 2024–2027 Strategic Plan: a bold, focused roadmap to ensure more students access quality schools, more educators find lasting careers, and the system we’ve built continues to adapt and improve.
Our Strategic Plan Priorities
Strong Schools and Programs
We will improve students’ access to quality, diverse, and sustainable public schools and programs.
Advocacy for System Values
We will advocate for legislation, policies, and decisions that advance commitments to excellence, autonomy, accountability, and equity and access.
Educators in Lasting Careers
We will champion a diverse, skilled teacher workforce in lasting careers in New Orleans Public Schools.
We Are Guided by Our Core Values
Solutions
We are accountable to the students of New Orleans. We are driven by results. We cultivate innovation and change. We overcome challenges.
Excellence
We hold ourselves and others to high standards. We don’t opt for the easy way out. Instead, we use our setbacks and successes to continuously improve. We lead by example.
Passion
We approach our work with enthusiasm and contagious positivity. We keep kids first. We let the possibilities excite us. We wear the shoes of others.
Equity
We maintain honesty and integrity and communicate openly. We recognize that diversity is an organizational strength and do the right thing for the many, not the few. We always factor in systemic and generational inequity.
Accountability
Our work is part of a larger, thriving public school system, shaped by the values of autonomy, collaboration, accountability, and equity. Each school within the system has the autonomy to innovate and meet the unique needs of its community while working in collaboration with educators, families, and partners across the city. Accountability is central to our approach, ensuring every child has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Together, we are building a sustainable future where equity and excellence are not just goals, but realities for all students in New Orleans.