The New Orleans Teacher Job Board: Helping Hire Educators in New Orleans

NSNO launched NOTJB in 2019 to centralize the education job search process in our district. Now, people looking to work in New Orleans’ schools, or current New Orleans educators who want a new school or role, can browse job listings from across our district. They can explore opportunities for new and experienced teachers and get a sense of what makes each school unique. The site hosts listings for all school-based roles, like teachers, counselors, and coaches. Educators can also share their resume with every school at once, which allows schools to reach out directly. NSNO reaches out directly, too, inviting everyone that shares a resume to have a conversation with us. We answer questions about the New Orleans education landscape and connect with them around their interests and experiences. We then use that information to provide personalized recommendations for roles that might be a good fit. To find out more about the amazing work that is done through the NOTJB, click here.

Equasia Zeno, originally from Kentwood, Louisiana, is a 7th grade English teacher at Success @ Thurgood Marshall. Out of college she worked in the legal field for 3 years before becoming an educator. One important aspect of being an effective teacher is having a school home that is a good fit. When looking for her school home, Zeno said that she was searching for a place where she can grow. “I am looking for a place where I am equal to the student in the learning aspect.  A place where I can gain many tools to be able to reach children is the ultimate goal.  I want to be able to grow each academic year,” she said. She also believes that being at the right school is vital in order to maintain mental health and be able to teach at her full potential. Zeno accredits The New Orleans Teacher Job Board with helping her find the ideal school that suits her, “NOTJB introduced me to my first charter school.  In the charter system I was able to see my value and worth as a teacher.  The job board gave me a vast selection of schools that were seeking teachers with variety,” she said. Now that the NOTJB has helped her, Zeno is referring others. “I have already recommended a few teachers to the NOTJB.  Many teachers often feel as though they are not fulfilling in their work.  The NOTJB gives teacher the opportunity to seek fulfillment is all aspect of their current career.”

Brandie Cole, originally from Houston, Texas, is a special education teacher at KIPP Morial Primary School. She was inspired to get into education by her father, who was a special education teacher for over 40 years. When looking for a school home, Cole searched for somewhere with “great coaching from a hands-on approach, great support from staff, and a friendly environment.” She also wanted a leadership team that made her feel seen and appreciated. These characteristics were so important to Cole because she believes that a healthy work environment directly transfers over to teacher success within the classroom. She wants to be able to give her students the love and education that they deserve. The New Orleans Teacher Job Board helped Cole find her ideal fit. She liked that she was “able to apply to multiple schools at once, while having a central place of contact. It was just so much easier to apply and see what open positions were available.” She also appreciates that there was help readily available throughout the process, “It was a great hub of information with lots of people willing to help and ask/ answer questions,” said Cole.

Marisa Williams, a native New Orleanian, is a school social worker at the uptown campus of The International School of Louisiana. She’s always wanted to get into the education system, but after an internship at an elementary school in Boston, she was convinced that she was doing the right thing. Her mentor showed her that there is more to schools than what we may know from the outside looking in. “My mentor showed me that schools are a really good place to be,” she said. When Williams was looking for her school home, it was important that wherever she landed had good school culture, excellence, and solid professional training available. Additionally, the retention rate of the school was important to her. Williams also appreciates an honest, understanding and genuine leadership team. This is vital because “When we go into work, it needs to feel like a conducive environment,” she said. She recognizes how important it is to care for yourself before you can care for others, especially being in the role of a social worker. So, having a good school match creates a space where you can thrive and still leave enough left for family at the end of the day. “Having admin that understands about life and hardships is so important. Recognizing the importance of life makes me feel supported,” said Williams. She thanks the New Orleans Teacher Job Board for assisting her in the search for her ideal school. She said that the NOTJB is a one-stop-shop with the who, what and when always readily available. She said that sometimes when we job search on our own, we don’t always get it right the first time, but “Having assistance helps to make to take the stress away from the process. NOTJB adds such a personal touch when looking for a school home. It’s also extremely user friendly,” she said.

Jessica Medlock, originally from Atlanta, GA, is the current school leader at Encore Academy. She became interested in education when she was in college. Medlock realized that there was a gap between the education that she acquired from her secondary schooling and the knowledge that she needed in college. That motivated her to apply for Teach for America. After a couple of years of teaching in rural Louisiana, Medlock went back to Atlanta. She then found herself back in New Orleans where she taught, counseled and eventually became school leader at Encore Academy. New Orleans Teacher Job Board played a special role with the educators of Encore this year. Because Encore is closing at the end of the year, NOTJB’s team offered to work with Medlock and her staff individually to help them find the right fit for themselves next year. “NOTJB gave us the fire and motivation to keep going. They came in like, ‘we’ve got y’all and whatever it is that you need.'” In addition to finding her staff members new school homes for next year, NOTJB also gave Medlock support in finding her new fit. In the coming year, she will be working as a transition coordinator for high school students at Young Audiences Charter School. She believes that “every child should have equal access to education, no matter where you’re from.” She’ll be able to continue that vital work in her new role. Medlock is grateful for the assistance that NOTJB offered. “It’s like having a big hug at a time of need. I would absolutely recommend the NOTJB to anyone,” she said.