2016 Second Extraordinary Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 32
BY SENATOR PETERSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend the first cohort of Fellows on their successful completion of the Louisiana
Education Policy Fellowship Program coordinated by Orleans Public Education
Network as a part of the Institute for Educational Leadership.
WHEREAS, Orleans Public Education Network first convened in late 2007, when
several groups including Committee for a Better New Orleans, the Greater New Orleans
Education Foundation, Urban League of Greater New Orleans, the Louisiana Justice
Institute, and the Children's Defense Fund began to meet with the goal of framing a common
theme for public schools; and
WHEREAS, navigating New Orleans' storied racial divide and always engaging
transparency in the process, the groups determined in conjunction that an engaged and
informed public was the most effective path to building student success and equity in a
historically troubled landscape; and
WHEREAS, the New Orleans Public Education Network (OPEN) members
determined that the central aim of the work would be creating civic capacity in public
education; and
WHEREAS, OPEN created the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP) which
prepares high potential professionals for leadership positions in education and related policy
fields; and
WHEREAS, EPFP is Louisiana's only professional development program for
emerging leaders seeking to improve outcomes for children and youth through sound public
policy, and in 2015, Louisiana joined the ranks of fourteen other states across the United
States in welcoming EPFP to our community; and
WHEREAS, the program allows the Fellows to remain in their full-time positions
and use their work environment as the context for examining important leadership and policy
issues in their state and in the nation; and
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WHEREAS, through EPFP's Continuing Education Units, states develop an extensive
network of professionals capable of sustaining and acting on a coherent policy dialogue
around significant issues in education; and
WHEREAS, organizations build the human capital and professional networks to
enable them to compete effectively in a strategic environment, and individuals develop their
leadership potential, knowledge of the policy process, and ability to add value to their
organizations at a strategic level; and
WHEREAS, since its inception in 1964, EPFP has produced nearly eight thousand
alumni who now lead at high levels in all sectors of American life, within and outside
education; and
WHEREAS, the inaugural class of Fellows coordinated by Orleans Public Education
Network has successfully graduated; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to commend and congratulate Brian Adams with Teach
For America South Louisiana, Marsha Broussard with Louisiana Public Health Institute,
Sherdren Burnside with Journey Ninth Ward Assembly of God, Lisa French with Louisiana
Department of Education, Dr. Lisa Green-Derry with Urban Strategies, Inc., Susan Kahn
with University of Louisiana Lafayette, Sara Massey with Communities in Schools New
Orleans, Zakenya Perry Neely with Orleans Public Education Network, and Brionne Stewart
with Young Audiences Charter School on being chosen to participate in the Education Policy
Fellowship Program inaugural class and for successfully completing the fellowship.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby congratulate the first cohort of Fellows and wish them much luck in their
educational leadership endeavors across our great state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to
Julia Ramsey, Communications Coordinator at Orleans Public Education Network.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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