1. St. Bernard Parish Public Schools
Our Journey
St. Bernard Parish Public Schools

2. A decade of change Pre-Katrina 2017 8,800 students 7,800 students
17% minority
34% minority
45% poverty
80% poverty
Good scores
Better scores
21 Newly renovated buildings
14 State-of-the art buildings
Priority? Student Achievement
Priorities? Social/Emotional Growth
Student Achievement

3. Katrina’s Devastation
Every school site destroyed
Tax base diminished
Students/teachers scattered nation-wide
Could we, should we, would we rebuild?

10. What to do first?
The classrooms
The faculty
The children

11. But what about our employees?
Desperate for money
Worried about health benefits
No housing in the foreseeable future
No jobs in the foreseeable future

12. Our short-term response
Paid them all; then Leave Without Pay
Trailers to live in
Checks without deductions
Self-care moments – dinners, movies, staff development
12-month employment
Time off without penalty
LSU counseling

13. Our long-term response
Relationship piece an on-going, high priority
Education for our administrators
Self-care as part of our trauma-sensitive schools campaign

14. But what about the children?
Returned in record numbers
Substandard living conditions
Lack of child care facilities
Desperately needed some normalcy
Fearful of it happening again
Self-reporting PTS
Anger and overt sexual behaviors in record numbers

15. Our short-term response
Return our mental health employees
Partnerships with LSU, Tulane/Children’s Health Fund, MHSF, School Health Connection, DHH, GNO Immunization Network, Kellogg Foundation, Lions Club Foundation International, St. Bernard Health Center, Metropolitan Health Services
On-going monitoring
After-school programs
Summer programs

16. And long-term? School-based Health Center
Continued community partnerships
Capitalize on resiliency
Social/Emotional growth planning wrapped around trauma-sensitive schools research

17. Changing Role in the Community
Allowed families to return home
After-school/weekend/recreational activities
Site for meetings of community/faith-based groups
Normalcy

18. Resiliency Giving Back to our Community Youth Leadership Class
Youth Leadership Summit
Tree-Planting
Community Service
Breakfast