our Team
Systems Team
Stefin Pasternak
Stefin has been teaching in the New Orleans area for nine years including reading, writing, and the culinary arts to students K-12.
Caren Green
Mama Caren was born and raised in New Orleans, La. Here at Living School, Mama Caren is one of our Culture Coaches and a Family Liaisons, helping to meet the needs of our amazing families and students. She also partners with our amazing staff to make sure we have a safe and warm environment in which our students can thrive, learn, and grow. Mama Caren is also a vital part of our Youth Development Hour, where she is the creator and instructor of Selfology, a class focused on the study of self, self-awareness, and self-mastery.
Kristen Ward
Kristen moved to New Orleans from Connecticut in 2008 and is here to stay.
Delise Hampton
Delise is a native New Orleanian with her BA in Radio, Television, & Film from Howard University. She is a mother, doula, artist, and is passionate about telling stories that build a better future.
Vanessa Batiste-Leal, PLPC
Vanessa is the grateful School Counselor at Living School. She has a master’s in Clinical Counseling and Rehabilitation from LSU Health Sciences – New Orleans. She grew up in Kenner and went to Ecole Classique for high school before migrating to north Louisiana. Vanessa earned her undergraduate degree by playing NCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball as a power forward for the University of Louisiana at Monroe. Vanessa chooses each day to use her clinical skills and personal passion to guide young people and their families to use their strengths for their best selves and a real quality of life that will create a sustainable future. She is a proud military spouse to her husband Warren who serves the state of Louisiana as a full-time National Guardsmen. They are loving parents to their three beautiful children and when they are not volunteering their time for their extra-curricular interests, they are spending time with friends and family.
Eduardo Gonzalez
My name is Eduardo Gonzalez. Born in New Orleans and raised in Tabasco, Mexico. There is a Mexican proverb that explains why I am an educator “El valiente vive hasta que el cobarde lo permite”. It’s a proverb for bravery, to take action against those who try to impose and control the lives of others and for me education is more than just that, it is an identity. A feeling of pride, passion, enthusiasm and security. A feeling that must be reflected in our students within our schools and in their daily activities. This is why it is so valuable to have leaders that represent diverse groups of students who will advocate for them, not by being their voice, but teaching them to be brave and raise their own.
Baheejah Hasan
Former educator with a degree in Business Administration from Dillard University. I taught in New Orleans Public schools for nearly 8 years. I specialized in vocational training, corporate office education, business application and employment procedures. I have a passion for the human experience and enjoy helping humans discover their potential. In life I take a can-do approach and I encourage everyone to do the same.
Culture and Support Team
Laurita Harrison
Laurita Marie Harrison ( Ms. ReRe) is a 7th generation New Orleanian born and raised in Treme. She, is the owner of Sweet Storm Productions LLC, a Healer, Playwright, Actress, Director, member of the Original Black Seminole Baby dolls, Spoken Word Artist, and Poet. Ascending from a long line of musicians, artists and culture preservationists, she knows it is a part of her destiny to honor her Ancestors by continuing the legacy they left behind! She observes this by being obedient by wearing the crown of the many titles mentioned previously.
Kei Smith
Advocate for reparations, and lover of People of the Global Majority, Kei is a New Orlenian with a passion for comfort, rest, and peace. When they are not in the classroom, you can find them creating a culinary masterpiece, growing beneficial plants and herbs, or archiving moments of radical black joy with their camera.
Johnetra Trotter-Bailey
Johnetra is a native of New Orleans East with a passion for supporting others in the work of inner transformation. She is also a certified life coach, creative and graduate of Dillard University.
Katie Wills Evans
katie wills evans is an educator and writer who has worked in New Orleans schools for ten years. She prioritizes truth, joy, and resistance in both her classroom and writing. She is grateful to learn and grow as a member of this community.
Marielle Pichon
Marielle is a career educator, proud union member, and Youth Run Nola coach. She grew up in Houston, Texas and got her Bachelor of Science in Applied Learning and Development: Special Education at the University of Texas in Austin. She previously taught 5th, 6th, 7th, & 8th graders English & Math at KIPP Central City Academy. She loves working with young people and is excited to be creating strong viable paths for all students in high school and beyond.
Porscha Williams
Porscha is a sixth-generation Texan who has called New Orleans home since 2011. They have taught all grades K – 12 and has particular experience in special education and culturally responsive pedagogy and development. They spend their spare time dancing and trying to cuddle every animal they meet.
Barbara Word
Barbara is a retired bus driver from the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority with a passion for young people and serving her community.
Nurse Renette Jones
Nurse Renette is a native New Orleanian who is a school-based Registered Nurse with a passion for restoring health and well-being to all.
Shannon Rogers
Hailing from St. Louis, MI, Shannon passionate about bridging the gaps of our youth both inside and outside of the classroom.
Ana Rodriguez
Hello beautiful people, I am a passionate radical grassroots activist from Venezuela and a Scorpio. I am 41 years old, I’ve been in New Orleans about 8 years, I lived in Florida before that, from 1998-2014 so I can say that I gravitate to Cypress, wetlands, swamp and marshes. I was born 1980 so I came to the U.S in 1998, at 18 yrs old, to go to school. I live with a very spoiled cat and she is my life partner but I love community and friends too. I am one of those rare cat people who is also a bird person/bird-watcher. My biggest passions are social justice and animals/nature. One cool fact about me is that I worked at a wildlife refuge for about a year helping to heal, rehabilitate and re-release wildlife so I know how to safely handle some wildlife like birds of prey, opossums, and baby alligators. If you ever need an opossum moved or your kids politicized I’m your girl.
Antonio Travis
Antonio Travis was born and raised in New Orleans , he started Black Man Rising Movement in 2016 after realizing how much trauma and mental health played a role in black mens destruction after losing friends to suicide and and other circumstances that plague the black community . Antonio has since been apart of other groups to help advance the black agenda in america. He currently runs BMR and also lends his time to other groups like dignity in schools, national youth alliance of boys and men of color , and many other groups. He currently gives his time to the development of the Living Legends at Living School.
Ronald George
Master Ronald George is a life long martial artiest that has dedicated his life to the development of our youth. A father, husband, mentor and friend. He loves to see the progress that kids make with focus and guidance. His life mission is the give every child “A Chance to Succeed” using martial arts and all it has to offer.
Instructional Team
Ceci Givens
A Native of New Orleans East, Ceci is a master visual artist, American Sign Language instructor, martial artist, and entrepreneur.
Ross Harmon
Ross is a master carpenter with decades of experience across the building trades working both residential and commercial construction, specializing in historic renovation, building material re-use and salvage and artistic collaborative projects. Ross was instrumental in the building of Parisite Skatepark and the Music Box Village in New Orleans.
Rahn Broady
Rahn Broady grew up in St. Louis and has always loved the natural world. A lifelong lover of science, he attended Harris-Stowe State University and majored in secondary education and biology. Rahn is a career educator, chef, urban gardener, activist, and participant in mutual aid. You can find him working on a variety of creative projects or wandering in nature identifying beneficial plants for processing tinctures, salves, and teas to share with the community. Rahn has an award-winning garden as well as an ice cream speakeasy that keeps him busy when not helping others connect to the natural and growing world.
Aaron Shuler
Aaron is a mathematics educator with experience teaching all ages preK-12. Aaron’s greatest passion in mathematics is for statistics and teaching scientific and critical thinking. Aaron has also taught biology, computer science, music, and ultimate frisbee. Outside of the classroom, Aaron is an avid ultimate frisbee player, board/video gamer, and musician.
Truman Butler
I started my career in education in 2008 as a chemistry teacher. I have spent a total of 6 years teaching high school science. I spent three years as an administrator/college and career counselor at a charter school in Kenner. I also attained a master’s degree in educational psychology at University of California, Riverside. My newfound interests are computer programming, agricultural science and construction. I hope to tap into these as a STEM instructor. I have been married going on 14 years and I have 4 children – 3 boys and a girl – that span from 6 months to 13 years of age. My favorite hobby is music production (which, sadly, I have not engaged in many years due to constant transitioning, income and an expanding family…but I will return). I even started my own production company some years ago.
James Lutrell
James (Jimmy) Luttrell was born and raised in Southern Louisiana where he developed a deep love for the natural world. Jimmy holds a degree in business administration from Florida Tech and draws his influence and inspiration from a life spent traveling and exploring the world. Jimmy has spent his post college years working in the service industry, building fine furniture, and making mixed media art. Jimmy loves helping others learn and is passionate about teaching scientific literacy through hands on application. When not working Jimmy loves spending time with his wife (Rachel) and two boys (James and Oliver), making art, surfing, traveling and eating good food.
Andy Bower
Andy Bower is a music educator, arranger, and producer based in New Orleans, Louisiana. In addition to his work as an educator, Andy is active as a performer, arranger, and producer throughout the gulf south and his home state of Pennsylvania. With over a decade of teaching experience, dozens of associated performing groups, and several recording credits, Andy has a diverse presence in the music education field and the music industry.
Eren Wilson
Eren Wilson uses they/them pronouns and is in love with anime, graphic novels, cartoons, and art history. In a former life they got a degree and completed two professional internships in pursuit of being a scenic designer. They still do community theater from time to time, but only for fun. In 2018 their completed graphic novel “Snowbird” was published by Silver Sprocket. Their work has been published by: The Center for Investigative Reporting, Outside Magazine, Penguin Randomhouse, Vice Sports, The Louisiana Civil Justice Center, REI, Birthmark Doula Collective, AntiGravity Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Whole Foods Market.
Essence Edwards-Burd
Essence Edwards-Burd has resided in New Orleans since 2011. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Ca but has significant roots here in Louisiana with family in Shreveport Louisiana