The MeidasTouch Podcast Where The Schools Went Episode 1: What Washed Away
Aug 13, 2025
Discover the tangled web of corruption that plagued New Orleans' public schools long before Hurricane Katrina struck. Hear about dedicated educators who evacuated to Houston, only to return and rebuild amid chaos and loss. Explore the emotional toll on students and teachers as they navigate the wreckage of a failing system. Uncover the challenges and resilience of a community fighting to redefine education in the wake of disaster, highlighting stories of hope and transformation amidst adversity.
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Katrina Exposed Preexisting School Failure
- Hurricane Katrina didn't just flood New Orleans; it exposed a school system already failing and in crisis.
- The storm made visible long-standing decay that had been tolerated for decades.
Institutional Rot Preceded The Flood
- The Orleans Parish school system suffered institutional rot: failing academics, crumbling buildings, and corruption.
- Audits and FBI involvement showed theft, ghost employees, and tens of millions in undocumented spending.
RSD Created A Mechanism For Turnaround
- Louisiana created the Recovery School District to take over chronically failing schools and force accountability.
- The RSD's charter-first approach set the stage for a post-Katrina system overhaul.