New Orleans’ Good Shepherd School Breaks Ground on New Campus
The Good Shepherd school broke ground on its new school site in New Orleans’ Gentilly neighborhood last week. Guest speakers included, board president Ronnie Briggs, school president Tommy Moran and New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Seventh grader and student body president, Genesis Prosper, closed the ceremony releasing balloons into the air.
The school’s founder, the late Rev. Harry Tompson, S.J., envisioned a school that would address poverty at its roots by providing the city’s poorest children with the best education possible. The ceremony took place on the 16th anniversary of Tompson’s passing.
The K-7 school will move from its cramped facility in downtown New Orleans. The new campus will include an age-appropriate play yard, a designated lunch area, gathering space, art room and technology center and more.
“We have named this day successful. We have named this school successful. We have named our kids successful,” said Moran. “Ninety-six percent of our (graduates) are in college and will graduate, compared to 46 percent from the same socioeconomic background. That’s a game changer.”
The Good Shepherd School’s student body president Genesis Prosper is featured in this 2014 LFC Success Story: