Laura Hawkins

Laura Hawkins serves as the Chief of Strategic Advancement for New Schools for New Orleans. Prior to joining NSNO, Laura’s most recent role was as interim Assistant Superintendent of District Planning and Portfolio for the Louisiana Department of Education. She led the team responsible for the development of the state’s Super App System Planning Process federal funding and ESSA school improvement dollars as well as the creation of LDOE’s systems for charter school authorization, oversight, and accountability. As Deputy Chief of Staff and later Chief of Staff of the Recovery School District, Laura was responsible for managing RSD’s transformation to an all charter district and the eventual reunification process with the Orleans Parish School Board. She also previously served as the Research Manager at the Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives, writing their annual State of Public Education in New Orleans report, among other publications. Laura is a New Orleans-area native who earned a B.A. in Sociology from Tulane University, and a Master’s in Urban Studies from the University of New Orleans.