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24 APRIL 2007 PRESERVATION IN PRINT The Priestley School for Architecture and Construction Prepares Students for College and Careers by Lindsay McCook, AmeriCorps* VISTA volunteer at PRC With an enrollment of about 75 ninth graders, The Priestley School has almost completed its first year of operation. Community support, a dedicated staff and an enthusiastic student body have made this year a resounding success for the new charter school. S till based on the second floor of the MacNair building on Carrollton Avenue between Birch and Green streets, the Priestley School draws its students from the surrounding neighborhoods of Uptown, Carrollton and Hollygrove, as well as more far-flung areas such as the 7th Ward and New Orleans East. The academic year began using a curriculum designed with help from Tulane University’s School of Architecture. Principal Michelle Biagas worked with Priestley’s 10-person staff to learn why the students were interested in attending the unique school and educate them about the Priestley mission. Some students, like Donaysha Stroughter, enrolled because their parents were interested in the college-prep learning model. Donaysha said that before attending Priestley she hadn’t considered a university education. Now she hopes to go to college to study interior design. Other students, like Kevin Tennessee, applied to Priestley The original Priestly School building on Leonidas St. Principal Michelle Biagas hopes to involve students in future restoration projects, allowing the school to move out of their temporary space in the MacNair building. to take advantage of the opportunity to develop skills for the architecture and construction professions. Like Donaysha, he now hopes to attend college after graduation from Priestley. “The kids are really empowered,” Biagas said. “To have students excited about education in New Orleans is a big deal.” Part of this is due to Biagas’s nurturing attitude. If a student comes up with an idea and follows through with a written proposal, the school will make a serious attempt to implement it. Donaysha and Kevin agreed: “We can’t wait to go to school. At other schools you can’t make suggestions. Here, you can ask for anything if you just try.” Students are part of the decisionmaking process at Priestley, even suggesting curriculum. Ms. Biagas said that the transformation has become obvious in the way students handle tasks. “When the students first got here they said, ‘I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.’ Now it’s ‘Give me a minute, and let me figure it out.’ ” The combination of standard college prep classes and the architecture, construction and business tracks offered at Priestley affords students the chance to work on all-encompassing projects. Early in the year, students concentrated on three- to five-day projects in their classrooms, but in December they began their first large-scale project – an introduction to plantations. Gene Cizek, a member of the school’s board, took the students to Laura and Destrehan plantations for site visits. Students learned building techniques and took measurements and pictures. Later, they created presentations, models and reports on the two structures. Students also worked with LSU landscape architecture students to develop plans for landscaping the out- GET DIRTY The Garden Trellis 8015 Maple St. (504) 861 1953 Tues.-Fri. 9-5 Sat. 9-2 The Priestley curriculum includes standard college preparatory classes as well as architecture, construction, and business tracks. Students at Priestley say their classes are far more engaging than anything they’ve experienced before. www.prcno.org
PRESERVATION IN PRINT APRIL 2007 25 Donaysha Stroughter and Kevin Tennessee, members of Priestly’s first class of freshmen, say their first year has been stellar. “The good thing about this school is that it’s like a family,” Kevin says. side of their temporary school site, the MacNair building. With the help of about 16 New Orleans Saints football players (including Drew Brees), the Priestley and LSU students planted trees and shrubery around the school. The Saints also donated $5,000 through their Hometown Huddle program so the Priestley students could have a recreational room at school. Students also attended the World Monuments <strong>Preservation</strong> Conference for three days and helped to restore homes in Holy Cross. Before the year ends, the students are slated to travel to Washington, D.C., where they will study the architecture and do a project based on various city sites. Each year different grades will take trips around the country to expand their knowledge of architecture and career opportunities. They will also visit colleges and universities. As the students continue through the curriculum, they will gain more and more hands-on experience with architecture and construction in order to attend college or enter the trades. “We want to expose them to all that we can,” said Biagas. “We want them to have a complete portfolio to make choices.” The school has good community support. Neighbors were invited to give feedback on the landscaping project. Student work also is currently on exhibit at the Contemporary Arts <strong>Center</strong>. Residents often volunteer at the school. “I feel like this school can do great things if we continue with the support of the community. We’re trying to do something different. We’re giving the kids the best this city and state have to offer,’ Biagas said. “We can’t lose this program.” The current goal at Priestley is to expand the student body. When the current students become sophomores in the fall, Priestly will add another class of freshmen, as well as a new sports program. The students will testify that Priestley is a one-of-a-kind experience. “The good thing about this school is that it’s like a family,” Kevin Tennessee said. “We greet people and make them feel comfortable.” Future plans for the school’s location are under discussion. Although the February tornado ripped a hole in the wall of the Priestley library just before the Priestley School’s Open House, the response of the Recovery School District was swift. “We really opened the house!” joked Biagas. The school will stay in the MacNair building until the original Priestley School, located nearby on Leonidas St., is restored. Right now, the school lacks the funding for the renovation. To learn more about the Priestley School for Architecture and Construction, or to view applications for both ninth and tenth grades, please visit the website at http://priestleyschool.org. www.prcno.org
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