Educators for Quality Alternatives

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EQA

 
Elizabeth Ostberg, CEO
"I know every student is brilliant so I expect everyone to be their best selves and work hard for their dreams.”
Ms. Elizabeth developed Educators for Quality Alternatives and The NET in response to the high drop out rate in her beloved adopted city. After teaching students who had dropped out of high school in Philadelphia, Ms. Ostberg moved to New Orleans to help re-build The New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School after Katrina. She then served as Director of Talent Management/HR for FirstLine Schools as it expanded from one school to a CMO of 5 schools. She holds a MEd from Harvard University with a focus on education in crisis zones. Ms. Ostberg says that if she can travel she would visit all her nieces and nephews. She also enjoys baking cakes but isn't good at decorating them yet. Hopefully, she will soon.
Biography by NET student JaNaria
Alexa Godinez, ESL Teacher
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you  can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela 
Ajo

Ms. Alexa is a lover of languages, travel and the environment.  She is constantly learning and evolving! 

Liz Gore, Operations Manager

"Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire."

Liz

Mx. Gore was a theater and film teacher for over 10 years. They believe that the first step to improving the education system is by strengthening the connections in the classroom.

Riana Guidry, Executive Assistant

“Believe in yourself, learn, and never stop wanting to build a better world." - Mary Bethune 

 RG
Ms. Riana was born and raised in New Orleans. She has a passion for learning and travelling, and loves spending time with her family.
Sandra S. Johnson, Director of Special Education
“I have a great love for learning, a need to help others, and a passion for children, so I wanted to pass on
my knowledge and love for learning on to others.”
Sandra
 
Ms. Sandra is from New Orleans. She is a mother of one son and a dog. She consults in several schools regarding Special Education and Section 504 procedures. She is never too tired to provide current information to others who provide services to children with disabilities. Sandra loved high school. She says high school was wonderful and it helped her mature and decide what it was she wanted to do in life.  She enjoys reading, spending time with family/friends and catching up on TV shows.
Biography by NET student Jenea

Adam McElwee, School Nurse

“I expect my students to make a healthy living through healthy choices.”

 Mr. Adam is intrinsically motivated and embraces the responsibilities of his profession to facilitate normal development and positive client response to interventions; promote health and safety including a healthy environment; intervene in response to actual and potential health problems; provide case management services; and actively collaborate with others to build client and family capacity for adaptation, self- management, self advocacy, and learning. He is a proud nurse of students at both NET campuses.

Biography by NET student Troyneisha

Chris Musco, Operations Manager

“We cannot always build a future for our youth, but we can always build our youth for the future.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Chris

 Mr. Chris is originally from Donaldsonville, Louisiana and has been living in New Orleans for the past 14 years. He will always go above and beyond to help others. He has been working with young people for 7 years and it has been one of the most rewarding career choices he has ever made.

Lauren Neupert, Chief of Talent
Neupert
Ms. Lauren is excited to be a member of the EQA team as the Chief of Talent.  She has a passion for supporting students and teachers in New Orleans and has been doing so since 2010.  She has an English degree from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN and a MBA from Tulane University.  In her free time, Ms. Lauren likes to spend time outside or with her family, friends, and her daughter Emma. 

Seth Paddock, Director of Data and Enrollment

“Two of my high school teachers that had a tremendous impact on me and inspired me to be a teacher."

Seth

Mr. Seth comes to EQA Schools all the way from Ithaca, New York. He attended Cornell University and immediately began working in education after graduation. Before joining the NET staff, Seth was the director of J. Austin White Cultural Center in Eudora, Arkansas, which offers after-school and summer programs for children. He has been working in education now for over seven years. In his free time, Seth enjoys reading, woodworking, traveling, and camping. Mr. Seth’s parents still reside in Ithaca, and he has an older brother who lives in Alabama.

Biography by NET alum Renni

Neil Poynter, Academic Dean

"I want every student to attempt things at school that are outside of their comfort zone and help them to imagine new possibilities for their future."
Neil
Mr. Neil, who is originally from Baton Rouge, lives in New Orleans with his two amazing daughters and his anxious dog, Buckley. As a high school student, Neil was very social and wasn't too interested in his academics. However, Mr. Neil realized he wanted to be an educator the first time he taught kids as a volunteer, which he considers the hardest and most rewarding thing he'd ever done. He began his career as a New York City Teaching Fellow in 2008.  He earned his Masters in Education with a specialty in Learning Disabilities from Hunter College and taught at The James Baldwin School in Manhattan, whose mission and advisory structures are similar to The NET.  Mr. Neil returned to Louisiana in the summer of 2011. Mr. Neil was an Advisor and the Academic Dean at The NET before becoming principal. Neil is proud to be a part of this mission, and honored to work alongside this staff and is responsible for coining the iconic phrase, "Swing the NET!". In his downtime, you can find Mr. Neil practicing French, playing guitar, and reading.

Tia Robertson, Director of Student Opportunities 

“People don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”

Tia

Mrs. Robertson is a developer of people, programs, & projects to propel people to become the best version of themselves & plot the pathway for robust systems & structures for organizational success.
Tim Spahn Sattler, LRS Coordinator 

“What happens here, stays here, but what’s learned is taken with us.¨

 
Mr. Tim was born and raised in sunny Los Angeles, California. He has been working in education for eight years, with a degree in Public Policy from USC. Tim chose to work in education after deciding that the best way to create systemic change was through supporting the transformative power of youth. Before joining the NET staff, Tim worked at YouthBuild Charter High School of California, and then RiseUp Community School in Denver. Mr. Tim connects students with the internships across the city, helping them ignite their passions, develop their dreams and learn valuable skills and experiences for the future. He works hard to teach the students of the NET to build their own destiny and to be willing to push themselves to achieve their goals. In his downtime, Mr. Tim loves to write. He enjoys sci-fi movies and TV shows and has a love for basketball. Mr. Tim is married to a “beautiful queen,” with whom he has two super-cute, but super-bad terriers. 
Biography by NET alum Renni
Ronald Walker, Facilities Manager

“It takes a village." 

 Ronald
Mr. Ronald is a New Orleans native and a father of 1 (Ronald, Jr.). He comes to EQA with years of experience in the electrical and construction industries and is looking forward to bringing his expertise to EQA.