In the days after Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans looked and felt unrecognizable. Neighborhoods were gutted, families were displaced, and the future of the city hung in the balance. For longtime educator Mardele Early, one truth quickly became clear: rebuilding would have to begin in the classroom.
“Education is the cornerstone of any city,” said Early, founding CEO of Lake Forest Charter School. “Parents need a safe place for their children to learn and grow. Without that, it’s hard for a city to come back.”
Her first task was finding a building. Once secured, she invited teachers, staff, and volunteers to return, helping clean, restore, and prepare the site so students could once again walk through the doors.
For families searching for stability amid chaos, those classrooms became a lifeline.
While charter schools have their critics, Early says the model gave her and other educators the autonomy to design a system that reflected the needs of their communities and that emphasized both academic rigor and social responsibility. That vision has paid off.
Today, Lake Forest Charter has earned multiple Blue Ribbon awards and consistently ranks among the best schools in the city. It is also part of a wider charter system that has allowed many New Orleans schools to thrive in the years since the storm.
As for the future? Early sees nothing but promise. “Our students are aiming higher, our parents are more involved, and our communities are more engaged than ever,” she said.
“The future of education in New Orleans has never been brighter.”
Nearly 20 years after Katrina, what began with determination and grit has blossomed into excellence. For educators like Mardele Early, it’s proof that from ruin can rise not just recovery, but greatness.
Barry Erwin, the chief policy officer of Leaders for a Better Louisiana, says the rise of charter schools throughout New Orleans would spread across the state.
Erwin says the charter schools have produced tremendous results.
“You go back to 2005. Kids in New Orleans were at the very bottom of the state. Today, that district is a C school district, but pushing a B school district,” Erwin said.
