John Alford Cuts His New York Times Chops

As 2007 Echoing Green Fellow John Alford kicks off his second year as principal of Langston Hughes Academy Charter School in New Orleans, he is already getting his props in the national news.  Very recently, the New York Times ran a photo of him in an article highlighting the turnaround effort in New Orleans public schools. The article highlights one of the tough problems of lifting New Orleans education out of its funk: where do students from failing schools go once the city shuts down their school? Turns out, John thinks he has the answer: train teams of turnaround specialists to revive a school before it fails.

John’s bold attempt to implement that solution is NOLA 180. By 2010, the team at Langston Hughes Academy will be trained as a turnaround team that will be enlisted to run NOLA 180’s first takeover school. John is creating a new mold for charter management organizations that could be a key piece of New Orleans’ educational renaissance and become a model for CMOs all across America. We’re glad the Times gave the world this sneak peek.

Here's how you can take action: learn more about NOLA 180, join John's team in New Orleans, or donate to help turn around New Orleans schools.

Photo credit: Brent Stirton/Reportage, for The New York Times.