Board Member Focus: Brian Egana

"I don't care if it's Second Line or Third Line, I want you to do whatever you can to keep Clark open." 
– Grandmother of Brian Egana on the takeover of Joseph S. Clark High School

If you look up the word ambitious in the dictionary, you may find a photo of Brian Egana, President and Founder of Circular Consulting, LLC.  In addition to this robust role at the helm of a consulting firm, Brian is also the Vice Chair of FirstLine Schools. A board member since 2010, Mr. Egana has chaired both the Advocacy and Facilities Committees. 

Brian’s experiences in the public and private sectors extend over decades from serving as Legislative Assistant to Councilmember Oliver Thomas, working at Job1 Business and Career Solutions to enhance workforce development, and as Project Manager at the Louisiana Land Trust, Inc. 

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Recruited to the FirstLine Schools board by former Chair, Dana Peterson, Brian was initially skeptical of the charter school movement.  As a product of New Orleans Public Schools, Brian felt conflicted in doing away with the old education system since corruption and failing schools were part of both the Orleans Parish School Board and Recovery School District.
 
“Reforms came quickly and with some backlash, but I still accepted this opportunity to serve,” said Mr. Egana. “I have been serving and volunteering for a long time with both children and young adults.  God has truly blessed me to be in a position to do so.”
 
In a recent Times Pic article, Brian shared his reflections on the changing educational landscape and emphasized the notion that “they’re all our students.”
 
“I serve because I was a product of the OPSB system which wasn’t perfect then and still is not perfect now. This position allows me to bring forth my educational mindset and skills that were instilled in me to offer solutions. I recently resigned from two other organizations to allow more time to be active in our schools.”
 
FirstLine Schools
Arthur Ashe Charter School (1456 Gardena Drive, New Orleans, LA 70122)
John Dibert Community School (4217 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119)
S. J. Green Charter School (2319 Valence St., New Orleans, LA 70115)
Langston Hughes Academy (3519 Trafalgar Street, New Orleans, LA 70119)
Clark Prep High School (1301 N. Derbigny Street, New Orleans, LA 70116)

The Top Shelf
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