Board Member Focus: Wanda A. Guillaume

“Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.”
– Muhammad Ali

Wanda’s experience in education extends over decades from serving as an elementary school teacher, school principal, chief academic officer, educational consultant and project manager.  She was recruited to the Morris Jeff Community School Board by former Board President Aesha Rasheed, but had previous involvement with MJCS during her tenure as Chief Academic Officer of the Recovery School District.

“I supported school leader Patricia Perkins and her team plan a world-class, diverse community school. I was driven by the school’s grassroots approach to educational reform and dedication to creating a racially and economically diverse public school,” says Wanda. 

Wanda felt compelled to serve because she recognized that students were still being underserved after Hurricane Katrina.  She believed she could add value to a system that needed talented and dedicated people to move education forward.   

“The opportunity to serve on a charter board was compelling because it allows me to give back to a city that gave so much to me.  My motivation is driven by the valuable input that trustees offer toward building a solid foundation for the future successes of our children,” reflects Wanda.

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In addition to her role as Board President, Wanda serves on the Governance, Academic, and Grievance Committees.  Charter school boards are responsible for the evaluation of school leadership.  Wanda oversaw the school leader’s performance evaluation process.  

Prior to joining the board, Trustees Melissa Jagers and Aesha Rasheed made certain that she knew the level of commitment needed and the importance of understanding governance and support versus management.  The relationship between trustees and school leaders has thrived due to a healthy flow of clear communication and clearly defined roles and responsibilities of all members and recruits. 

About Morris Jeff Community School
Morris Jeff Community School (MJCS) is a Type 5 charter school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade students.  The mission of MJCS is to offer an education that is a source of freedom and possibility for children, permitting them to develop their talents fully, become effective citizens in our democracy, and attain the foundation they need to excel at high school, college, and beyond.  The school is located at 3368 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119.

The Top Shelf
The success of a charter school hinges largely on the decisions of its governing board. The Top Shelf enhances the capacity of charter school boards through professional development, board recruitment and community engagement.