New Orleans Public Schools

Educate Now! is a non-profit organization dedicated to effective and sustainable reform of New Orleans public schools. Our mission is carried out by:

• Providing current, comprehensive information on education reform in New Orleans
• Lending programmatic support to educational reforms in New Orleans
• Advocating for decentralized, quality public schools for all students in New Orleans

Leslie Jacobs, Founder

Leslie Jacobs is an insurance executive who has been engaged in education reform for over twenty years. A native of New Orleans, she began as a business partner to an elementary school, served as an elected member of the New Orleans School Board, followed by a twelve year government appointed position on the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). During this time, she was instrumental in passing the constitutional amendment that created the Recovery School District and is considered the architect of Louisiana’s accountability reform. Through Educate Now!, she continues her efforts to build successful schools in a post-Katrina New Orleans. Leslie has received numerous honors including the “Distinguished Service Award” from the National Association of State Boards of Education in Washington, DC, and the “National Governor’s Association Award for Distinguished Service to State Government.” She was also selected as one of the “Twenty People Who Influenced Louisiana 1981-2001,” by Louisiana Life. Click here for more information on Leslie Jacobs.