New Schools for New Orleans is proud to announce the 2025 recipients of the New Orleans Excellence in Teaching Award (NOETA), an integral component of The Allstate Sugar Bowl New Orleans Teacher Community.  This year, 87 teachers will be awarded the NOETA for being identified by their school as the top teacher last school year.

The NOETA winners represent the top 3% of educators in the city. These teachers are enormously dedicated to their students, bringing immense experience, skill, and care to their work, and they provide a model for new and aspiring teachers to emulate. Their principals have identified them as among the most impactful educators in their schools, and their students have shared what a difference they’ve made in their lives.

As we mark two decades since the transformation of the city’s public schools, we want to especially recognize the veteran educators who have served for over 20 years. This year, 16 NOETA honorees have taught for 20 years or more. Their impact runs deep, and we are appreciative of their leadership and service to generations of New Orleans students.

The NOETA is an enormous honor given to the teacher of the year from every public school in New Orleans. It is presented alongside a $1,000 Classroom Excellence Grant at the annual NOETA Gala.  We are excited to have Entergy New Orleans return for the 4th year in a row as the gala’s lead sponsor. The 2025 gala will be held this year on November 1st at the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans. More information about NOETA, the Gala, and our winners can be found at noeta.org.

The 2025 NOETA Honorees The names marked with * represent the 16 honorees who have taught for 20+ years Zoe Brisco – ASCA: L. B. Landry High School*
Aunya Clark – ASCA: Martin Behrman Elementary School K-5 (Gayle Benson Academy K-5)
LaQuinta Downs – ASCA: Martin Behrman Middle School
Jeremy Flamant – Audubon Uptown Upper School
Megan Bright – Audubon Uptown Lower School
Lakiesha Lindsey – Audubon Charter Schools, Gentilly
Jill Lenz – Benjamin Franklin Elementary School*
Walter Moorehead – Benjamin Franklin Middle School
Emalie Dunn – Benjamin Franklin High School*
Destiny Thomas – Bricolage Academy
Richard Hall – Collegiate Academies: Abramson
Chris Quest – Collegiate Academies: George Washington Carver High School
Cameron Barker – Collegiate Academies: Livingston Collegiate Academy
Dean Choix – Collegiate Academies: Opportunities Academy
Mikeisha Jackson – Collegiate Academies: Walter L. Cohen High School
Alex Koai – Community Academies: Esperanza Foundational (formerly Foundation Prep Academy)
Ravin Hunter-Stoves – Community Academies: Esperanza Middle
Juliana Rivera – Crescent City Schools: Dorothy Height Charter School
Shelacey Scott – Crescent City Schools: Harriet Tubman Charter School
Kashina Simmons – Crescent City Schools: Mildred Osborne
Carolina Combetta – Crescent City Schools: Tubman Montessori
Bertha Bryant – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter Elementary School*
Jasmine Armstrong – Einstein Charter School at Sherwood Forest
Van Nguyen – Einstein Charter Schools at Village de l’Est
Michael Colon – Einstein Middle School
Thai Nguyen – Einstein Sarah T. Reed High School
Michall Willis – Élan Academy
Shannon Vigne – Fannie C. Williams Charter School
Lauryn Fields – FirstLine: Arthur Ashe Charter School
Makita Johnson Booker – FirstLine: Langston Hughes Academy
Johnathan Marable – FirstLine: Phillis Wheatley Community School
Kim Baylor – FirstLine: Samuel J. Green*
Sarine Fletcher – Homer Plessy Community School
Sherell Montgomery – Homer Plessy Community School, Tremé Campus
Carla Mason – Hynes: Lakeview*
Brian Lindsey – Hynes: Parkview
Christel Taylor – Hynes: UNO*
Shamekia Chachere – InspireNOLA Alice Harte Charter School
Alexus London – InspireNOLA Andrew H. Wilson Charter School
Jovan Swan – InspireNOLA Capdau S.T.E.A.M. Charter School
Chasity Paul – InspireNOLA Dwight D. Eisenhower
Donald Phillips – InspireNOLA Edna Karr High School
Kiara Ferrygood – InspireNOLA Eleanor McMain
Jerome Manuel – InspireNOLA McDonogh #35 High School*
Ruben Esparza – International School of Louisiana, St. Roch Campus
Jean Natoux – International School of Louisiana, Uptown Campus
Dorian Gonzalez – International School of Louisiana, Westbank
Tamika Noble-Bruno – KIPP Believe
Sade Barrett – KIPP Believe Primary
Kirshyra Williams – KIPP Booker T. Washington High School
Mariah McGowan – KIPP Central City Academy
Erica Hampton – KIPP Central City Primary
Robielle Tillman – KIPP East
Jarvis Dillard – KIPP Frederick A. Douglass High School
Nicole DeAngelis – KIPP John F. Kennedy
Yazmine Cole – KIPP Leadership
Erinique Little – KIPP Morial
Amanda Isaacs – Lake Forest Charter School
Maud Feuillette – Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans
Brianna McManus – Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans, Elementary
Angela Kabukuru – Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans, Priestley Campus
Cheryl Winslow – Mary McLeod Bethune Elementary Charter School*
Kristen Weddle – Morris Jeff Community School
Kayla Picquet – Morris Jeff Community School, High School
LaTresha Chambers White – Morris Jeff Community School, Middle School
Stephanie McKinnon – New Harmony High School
Danielle Richard – New Orleans Charter Science and Math High School
Jessica Giesel – New Orleans Military and Maritime Academy*
Shylia Lewis – ReNew Delores T. Aaron
Mary Bliss – ReNew ECC*
Sydney Grimball – ReNew Laurel
Dusan Davis – ReNew Moton Lakefront
Monchere Paul – ReNew Schaumburg*
Veleria Stevens – Rooted School*
Dana Anderson – Sophie B. Wright High School*
Roshand Miller – Success @ Thurgood Marshall
Gil Lofton – The Bridge Middle School
Ciara Clarks – The Leah Chase School
Doris Uricoechea – The NET Charter High School, East
Briana Upshur – The NET Charter High School, Gentilly
Valerie Bodet – The NET: Central City*
Jeanell Sullivan – The Willow School, Brimmer Campus
Stilianos Dimitri Apessos – The Willow School, Marsalis Campus (Middle School)
Nicole Matthews – The Willow School, Williams Campus
Brian Davis – Travis Hill School
Terri LaCour – Warren Easton Charter High School*
Ronika Johnson – Young Audiences Charter Schools at Lawrence D. Crocker