News Archives

Focused and Ready: The 2010-2011 School Year

Focused and Ready: The 2010-2011 School Year
September 2010

With a new resolve, Mays Prep scholars returned to school in early August to continue their trek toward high school and college success. Pictured left, Principal and Founder Duke Bradley leads the traditional Mays Prep community circle.

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Closing the NOLA Gap

Closing the NOLA Gap and Mays Prep
September 2010

The country's most expansive education reform inititative is underway in New Orleans and Mays Prep is proud to be playing a critical role in helping to redefine, reshape, reinvent public education in this city.

VIDEO


Mays Prep Featured on TheGrio.com

August 2010

Charter schools serve nearly 70% of all children in New Orleans - and the nation is taking notice of our work. Watch the video to get a peek into how Mays Prep is contributing to the changing landscape of education reform.


FEMA Awards $1.8 Billion to N.O. Schools

August 2010

Mays Prep is one of several New Orleans schools that will receive a new or renovated campus. Read More at NOLA.com


2009-10: Our Inaugural Year-In-Review

June 2010

Recapping BE Mays Prep's first year of existence, with a look at education reform in New Orleans.

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The Mays Prep "500 for Haiti Challenge"

January 2010

Mays Prep has joined International relief efforts to help the hundreds of thousands of people injured, hungry, and left homeless following the recent earthquake in Haiti. As a result, we have instituted the "500 for Haiti Challenge" whereby Mays Prep students will collect and send 100 toothbrushes; 100 tubes of toothpaste; 100 bars of soap; 100 pairs of socks; and 100 containers of hand sanitizer – a total of 500 hundred emergency supplies.

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Mays Prep Kicks Off R.E.A.D. to LEAD Program

January 2010
Mays Prep Kicks Off R.E.A.D. to LEAD Program

At Mays Prep, we subscribe to a very simple philosophy: The more children are encouraged to read, the more they will read – and the more they read, the better readers they will become. Our newly minted R.E.A.D. to LEAD program carries this philosophy one step further.

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Partner in Education Spotlight

January 2010

Mays Prep is proud to work in partnership with the Urban League of Greater New Orleans. Read More


Mays Prep Opens New Media Center

January 2010

For a school as resource-strapped as Mays Prep, we make use of all bits of assistance that we receive. For example, a recent donation of over 1000 books and materials from Barnes and Noble provided the inspiration for our new Media Center; a place where students can come to read, watch educational videos, work on the computer, and even listen to guest speakers. Read Full Story


Principal & Founder Duke Bradley on "The Takeaway"

September 2009
Mays Prep Welcomes Inaugural Class

Mays Prep principal and founder Duke Bradley recently appeared on The Takeaway morning drive radio news program to discuss the role of education in the rebuilding of the New Orleans community.

Listen to the interview »

Mays Prep Welcomes Inaugural Class

August 2009
Mays Prep Welcomes Inaugural Class

August 12, 2009 marked the first day of school for Mays Prep's inaugural class. Students in kindergarten, first, and second grades entered the halls of the school as their smiling teachers greeted them into their classrooms. All who walked through the building could sense the contagious energy that punctuates the beginning of a founding year.

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News21 Features Mays Prep

August 2009
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News21 follows Mays Prep on a visit to a prospective student's family.
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Summer Professional Development Begins

July 2009
Summer Professional Development Begins

On July 20, 2009, history was made at Mays Prep. A committed group of educators came together for the first time to ready themselves for the work of serving the children and families of New Orleans' historic 9th Ward community. Despite a unique mix of people with varied personal and professional experiences, all of the founding team shared a tremendous excitement around being the founding members of a school that, by all accounts, is expected to do great things. Read full story »


Mays Prep Inaugural Parent Night Is a Success!

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April 2009

By all measures, Mays Prep's first parent night was a huge success. Community members, school officials, and various other interested persons were in attendance; some came to learn more about the plans for the new school, and others came simply to enroll their children into one of city's new startup charter schools.

Gary Robichaux, the Recovery School District's Executive Director for Pre-K thru 8th grade schools commented, "I think people are really curious about what's going on over here." Read full story »


Mays Prep is Awarded 250K from the Walton Family Foundation

April 2009

After completing a very detailed application and interview process coupled with a rigorous school model defense, a letter finally arrived on the desk of Mays Prep's Board Chair that simply stated, "It is my pleasure to inform you that The Walton Foundation, Inc. has approved a grant to Benjamin E. Mays Preparatory School."

Our Director of Operations and Finance, Erica M. Crenshaw remarked, "This is certainly good news for the school and for the work that we are attempting to do at Mays Prep. But more importantly, it tells us that an organization like Walton believes in our model, our leadership, and trusts that we will do what is best for kids – as well as be a good steward over the funds. There is no better vote of confidence than knowing that we have their support." Read full story »