DOT USA expanded its TeachUp! Program to 20 schools in New Orleans’s Recovery School District (RSD) for the 2008-2009 school year. The Recovery School District was established following Hurricane Katrina in an effort to change the face of education in New Orleans as the city began to rebuild.

The interns began intensive training on August 9. The training, which lasted two weeks, included online, Face-to-Face, and technical trainings. Justine Ickes, Director of Programs and Training, led the Face-to-Face portion of the TeachUp! training. 

“The Face-to-Face training was probably the most effective part of the training,” said Erica Wilson, a TeachUp! Intern in the RSD. “It helped us to open up and become more comfortable meeting new people and boosting our self confidence.”

Mikkel Allen, another RSD TeachUp! Intern, agreed that the emphasis on group communication was a valuable skill that would always be useful. “Tech skills need to be constantly updated, but communication skills are for life,” said Allen.

The interns entered their respective schools during the beginning of September; however, on September 1 Hurricane Gustav, the first major hurricane to threaten New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina, made landfall bringing the city to a standstill. 

The city of New Orleans acted quickly to evacuate citizens and prepare the city for the storm. A newly improved levee system protected the city, and New Orleans was spared the brunt of the destruction. However some damage and power outages remained a problem.

“The biggest drawback about the recent storms is that we lost a week of school,” said Allen. 

But the interns remained optimistic and returned to their schools with determination. Wilson, an intern for Craig Elementary, said she is working on many projects within her school.

“For the younger grades (Pre-K – 2nd) I am working with the teachers to try and set up a computer center in each classroom. The kids will go to their computer centers and visit an educational website or play with some of the software that the district has,” said Wilson. “For the 3rd – 8th grades, we are putting together a computer lab schedule. Each class will come to the computer lab once a week and work on LEAP preparation or on some of the software that the district has provided.”

Allen is also working hard to continue bringing TeachUp! goals to his school, Live Oaks Creative Arts Elementary, despite setbacks caused by the storm.

“We are working now to pair up with another TeachUp! school to take the kids on a trip to learn about the Zulu Krewe of the Mardi Gras Indians,” said Allen. “This is going to be a great chance to collaborate with another school and another DOT USA Intern and find creative ways to integrate technology while learning about local culture.”

Allen noted that one of the greatest things about his school was how receptive and open minded it was to improvement especially in the area of technology integration. 

The successes of TeachUp! Interns within RSD schools grow each day, and New Orleans marches on in their continued effort to recover.  Wilson, a resident of New Orleans her entire life, takes great pride in the city.

“I can honestly say that I love this place! I love the history, the people, and the culture of New Orleans,” said Wilson.

“New Orleaneans are a very soulful and resilient people,” agreed Allen. “The city will never be the same as it was before Katrina, but the changes here are for the better.”

The attitudes among the TeachUp! Interns of the RSD remain positive and determined, and the Recovery School District is ready for the change and empowerment that new technology will surely bring.