I was very lucky last year during the 2008 ASCD National Conference to make the acquaintance of Jim, a veteran special educator of 26 years in New Orleans. He has been a thought-provoking and insightful commenter on the blog since. A couple of weeks ago I asked him how the education system was faring three years out from Katrina. He writes:

As for the recovery, much of the area looks like it has come back and made a tremendous rebound….[but] I think I told you during our visit that while things looked much better on the surface, there is still a tremendous amount of inner suffering going on. That still continues. There is an area of New Orleans called Lakeview, where the main levee broke that allowed all the water to eventually travel into Downtown, where there are a tremendous amount of empty lots and even houses that are still abandoned and untouched since Katrina. Some still have the same bedding upstairs, as folks have not returned to these houses. Nevertheless, folks still move on, and I think it’s safe to say that most people have gotten on with their lives, although many still suffer scars that may never completely heal.

Jim also puts a very interesting spin on that most controversial of topics, charter schools:

Our educational landscape has changed significantly. I told you about the charter schools in New Orleans. Well, I am now a special education administrator in one of them-Algiers Charter Schools. The charters are run mostly by universities or private groups that run charters for a living. There are what’s called Charter School enterprises around the country whose job is to run independent charter schools and make a profit, although I’m not sure how they make the profit, to be honest. Charter schools have saved the educational landscape here in New Orleans, as parents now have a choice as to where to send their kids. Schools actually compete for business, so to speak. Of course, some charters are run by Tulane University or the University of New Orleans. Little by little, the test scores have been going up, but mostly, the quality of instruction has increased as measured by the methodology (cooperative learning) and the amount of student involvement. Katrina was a horrific experience, but perhaps these charter schools can be the phoenix that rises out of the ashes.

I also asked him how we in the educational community can continue to assist New Orleans students and schools.

…We need a continued infusion of youthful energy in our classrooms. Teach for America has helped, but if you know of college grads with a missionary zeal that would really like to make a difference in a place where innovations are happening, suggest visiting New Orleans. We can use all the talent we can get! If that sounds interesting, let me know, and I’ll send you some website links where they can apply.

As for what your students can do, how about corresponding with our students from the New Orleans area schools. Talking is good therapy, and there are still so many stories waiting to be told…what better motivation than to write to an actual person of about the same age in a part of the country far different from our own? It is a thought.

If it’s donations you are thinking of, our children always need supplies at the beginning of the year. If you really want to be bold and adventurous, you could come with a group of your older kids, stay for a week, and gut a house…they will be exposed to a culture far different from their own, and they will also be leaving a part of themselves with a community that loves to be connected to others.

…The most immediate thing we need are good thoughts, wishes, and prayers. We are getting on with our lives, but the hurt is still there. It is just hard to be minding your own business, and this thing called Katrina comes along and changes your life forever through no fault of your own. We’re getting there and will continue to do so.

Hope is the thing with feathers that perches on the levees.

Meantime I’ll be thinking about curriculum on New Orleans, correspondence, supply drives, and who in the high school might want to go down and knock out a wall or two. And you?