Founders

 

Dr. Barbara Ferguson

 

Dr. Ferguson has a doctoral degree in educational administration from the University of New Orleans and a juris doctorate from Loyola Law School.  Dr. Ferguson was the first female superintendent of the New Orleans public schools, where she had previously served in the positions of teacher, elementary principal and high school principal.  Subsequently, she served as the Superintendent of the St. John Public Schools, Assistant Superintendent of Research and Development in the Department of Education, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Labor, and Attorney to the Workforce Commission in the Office of the Governor.  Dr. Ferguson’s work has always been connected with improving education for at-risk children and youth.  She serves on several community and civic boards and is active in church affairs, currently serving as a state officer with the United Methodist Women.

 

Charles Hatfield

Charles J. Hatfield is managing partner of Hatfield and Associates, LLC, a technology-based support company specializing in diverse information retrieval and data analysis for public opinion researchers, educators, planners, non-profits and social service agencies. Over 24 years, Hatfield  held various administrative positions such as Program Evaluator, Policy Planner and Director of Educational Accountability in the New Orleans Public School District. He has managed numerous activities related to state and local student assessments, educational program evaluations, strategic planning and institutional research. He holds a Level A Evaluator’s Certificate issued by the Louisiana State Department of Education.  Hatfield continues to maintain a strong interest and involvement in public school education, especially research in student achievement. His publications include specialized reports for the superintendents, administrators, principals and school board members on student achievement and significant interrelated issues.  He also has served as an adjunct professor in the Urban Education Department at Southern University in New Orleans.  He now serves as Vice-President of the Warren Easton High School Charter Foundation, and  Board President of the Rivergate Development Corporation for the City of New Orleans.  Hatfield earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Louisiana State University in New Orleans (now University of New Orleans), a master’s degree in experimental psychology from Howard University in Washington, D.C., and fulfilled additional post-graduate studies at McMaster University in Canada. 

 

Dr. Raynard Sanders

                                   

Dr. Sanders has over thirty years of experience in teaching, educational administration, and economic and community development. As a principal of a New Orleans high school, he was recognized by the Louisiana State Department of Education for guiding his high school through four consecutive years of improvement on the state graduate exit exam.  He developed the first high school DNA lab in the state of Louisiana and created the Creole Cottage Project, an innovative program for his students to build and renovate houses in the school’s community. He also served as the Executive Director of The National Faculty at New Orleans, a professional development agency design to improve the quality of teaching in poor performing schools throughout the Mississippi Delta.  Dr. Sanders received his B.A. from Dillard University in New Orleans, a Masters of Educational Administration from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and his Doctorate of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University Teachers in New York City.