The Leah Chase School Accepted into the Louisiana A+ Schools at LSU Network
April 01, 2026
BATON ROUGE, LA — Louisiana A+ Schools at LSU (LAA+) is pleased to announce that The Leah Chase School in New Orleans has been accepted into the LAA+ Network and will officially join the network in summer 2026.
Named in honor of Leah Chase, a legendary New Orleans chef, culture bearer, and civil rights leader, The Leah Chase School is deeply rooted in the city’s cultural traditions and artistic heritage. The school’s commitment to academic rigor, cultural affirmation and whole-child development aligns strongly with the mission and vision of the LAA+ Schools Network.
“We believe the arts are a powerful instructional tool that deepen understanding, increase engagement and allow students to see themselves reflected in their learning,” Dr. Brandy Turner, Interim Principal, said. “Participation in the LAA+ Network will strengthen our instructional practices and support our teachers as they continue this work with intention and purpose.”
Through the LAA+ Schools model, The Leah Chase School will engage in three years of comprehensive, schoolwide professional development. Programming includes annual Summer Institutes, instructional coaching, classroom observations, leadership development and network collaboration. This whole-school model supports educators in integrating the arts, along with the rich culture of New Orleans, into core academic instruction with intention and fidelity.
“When schools like The Leah Chase School join our network, it strengthens the cultural and creative fabric of education across Louisiana,” Bethany A. Hager, Director of Louisiana A+ Schools at LSU, said. “This work is not about adding art as an extra. It is about transforming teaching and learning so that creativity, culture and critical thinking are woven into every classroom.”
NOLA Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Fateama Fulmore expressed support for the partnership, citing alignment withdistrict goals for high-quality instruction, student-centered learning, and sustainable school improvement.
The Louisiana A+ Schools Network works with entire school communities to reimagine teaching and learning through arts integration, placing creativity and culture at the heart of education.
About Louisiana A+ Schools at LSU
LAA+ is a statewide school transformation network housed at Louisiana State University in the College of Human Sciences & Education. The network partners with public, private, and charter schools to implement a research-based whole-school transformation model grounded in arts integration, collaborative leadership and culturally responsive teaching practices.
LAA+ was founded in Louisiana through the vision, leadership and early investment of the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA). At a pivotal moment in the network’s development, GRFA provided not only financial support but also strategic guidance, advocacy and statewide visibility that helped establish Louisiana A+ Schools as a sustainable, research-based model for whole-school transformation.
GRFA’s commitment to ensuring that every child in Louisiana has access to high-quality
arts education was instrumental in shaping the network’s foundation. Their leadership
helped move the work from concept to implementation, building partnerships, expanding
reach, and embedding arts integration as a core instructional strategy rather than
an enrichmentadd-on. The strength and growth of LAA+ today is deeply rooted in GRFA’s
early belief in the model and their continued partnership in advancing creative and
culturally responsive education across the state.
For more information about Louisiana A+ Schools at LSU, visit lsu.edu/aplusla.