The summer internship program offers exposure to one of these industries, and provides students with real-world experience that makes them more prepared to take on economic opportunities within the region. This is the second year we have hosted interns from this amazing organization.

Seione is entering her senior year at Warren Easton Charter High School and she is one of the few NOLA natives here at Torsh. Her favorite subject is English, but her school schedule is also packed with business classes, since she’d like to be a CEO someday. And we think she’s on the right track: Seione’s GPA places her in the top 25% of her class.

During her time with us, Seione worked on various projects that are important to the organization. When we released new functionality on TALENT, our digital platform for teacher professional development, she would take it for a test drive, giving us invaluable feedback on the user experience from a new user’s perspective. She also worked to update our CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software, ensuring accurate client information, and organizing data from our customer support ticket software. Her role also included sales support research — finding the contact details for potential clients, which the sales team could then target.

Seione’s internship is drawing to a close, so we wanted to introduce this rising star to our readers before we launch her back into the universe. We sat down to ask her a few questions.

Tell me, how did you get involved in YouthForce NOLA?

I heard about Youthforce NOLA through my accounting teacher. At first I thought it was not for me, because I had no experience in any of the fields they target. But then she explained that I did not need any – they were going to train me first. So I thought, why not try something new?

What do you think led YouthForce NOLA to pick Torsh as the right opportunity for you this summer?

I think I was assigned to Torsh because I am a hard worker, a fast learner and I am motivated to learn new things.

What is one thing you learned this summer that is most valuable to you?

I learned how important verbal communication is, and that everyone’s voice is important and should be heard.

Are you involved in any extracurricular activities that are important to you?

An extracurricular activity that means a lot to me is called DECA. It’s an organization that prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management. They operate in high schools here in NOLA and around the world. I’ve been involved with them all throughout high school.

What are your plans after high school? 

I want to attend college and study business. I’m not sure where I’ll apply yet, but I hope it’s somewhere in Atlanta. I visited that city last year and I really loved it.

What are some goals you have for yourself?

I want to graduate high school and I want to do it with a 4.0 GPA. I also want to go to college and eventually get a PhD.

Who do you look up to?

Definitely my Mom. She shows me how to be strong and to never back down from any problem.

You mentioned your favorite subject is English. What are your favorite books?

My favorite books are:

1. Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys, because it is set in New Orleans and tells how the main character became the author of her own destiny
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2. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston, because it tells how the female protagonist did not let others decide how her life should be.

3. The Naked Truth by Marvelyn Brown & Courtney E. Martin, because it tells the true, inspiring story of how Marvelyn Brown, a straight, non-promiscuous, regular girl contracted HIV, but she did not let that stop her. Instead she became a poster child for HIV to inform others about the disease. 

Is there a specific teacher who had a meaningful influence in your life?

Yes and her name is Ms. Corice Saunders. I took “Principles of Business” with her my sophomore year, and my junior year, I took her for “Marketing Essentials”. She helped me access my true potential. Sometimes I would get frustrated or angry and just want to quit, but she encouraged me to always keep going.

And “always keep going” is a good mantra to take into one’s senior year. We thank Seione for all of her hard work during her internship this summer! We hope she found it worthwhile, and we can’t wait to see what she will accomplish next.

The post Introducing Our Summer Intern, Seione Cheffen! appeared first on Torsh.

So, Rachael, will you share with us what brought you to Torsh?

I have an accounting background and like the field. I have worked in education sales, selling books door-to-door and building talent, and the experience made me feel like I could do anything. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I was building character and pride, and I’m mentally tougher and stronger for it. When I found Torsh, I wanted an accounting role, but didn’t want to be in a typical “accounting job”. It seemed like a perfect fit- so I applied, and now I’m here.

Why education? You touched on selling educational materials. What interests you about working in education and tech?

Education will always be a part of my life. I enjoyed school and developed a love of learning. Education is big in my family: my mom and my aunts are all teachers. I even wanted to be a teacher myself when I was younger. Still, while at my job selling books, I learned how much everything is moving into the digital world. Now, my mom is actually the tech director at her school. So it looks like technology is where everything is going. Until recently, I didn’t know that New Orleans had such a large tech community. It’s cool to be a part of the “Silicon Bayou” and I like the fast pace of the tech environment. Plus, I feel like it’s better to jump on it than to be left behind.

Now that you’ve joined Torsh and jumped in to edtech, what do you like about it so far?

I’m learning so much of everything right now! I’m learning more about education in general, and about what it takes to develop our software. There’s always something to be done. There are all these little details that I would never have considered before, like “what should we name this tab?”. It’s really interesting, mind-blowing sometimes, how one little thing can affect the user experience. Another thing I like is the team. Since most of us are from different areas and backgrounds, you get to know a variety of perspectives. The welcoming environment is one of the reasons I enjoy coming to work each day.

What about outside of work? What do you like about the local life of New Orleans, Louisiana?

First, I love that I have my family and friends here. I’m a very family-oriented person and I’ve had the same group of friends since 2nd grade. Everyone in my family lives within a 20-mile radius of each other, and I’m happy that I get to spend time with them. I also love the culture here. There is always something to do, every weekend there is another festival (which is great since I like to go to music festivals and concerts). I’m a huge sports and football fan. And I’m a true GRITS (Girl Raised in the South), so it’s LSU and the Saints, all the way.

And where do you see yourself in five years? What advice would you give your future self?

I know that I want to be married, settle in, and have a family. I love traveling, too. So I also want to see the world. The advice I would give my future self is the same advice I would give my past self, or myself now. My advice: take risks. Don’t be normal. Everyone makes decisions based on fear. There are three basic fears that you can sort most others into: a fear of failure; a fear of missing out; and a fear of the unknown. One of my favorite teachers was a professor in college was exceptionally good at making classes interesting (even though it was tax law). But besides her classes, she pushed me to do my best and cared about what I was going to do after school. Though she recommended a position that would have been the typical “accounting job”, I took the education sales job. It was a bold turn into unknown territory for me, but I felt like it was right for me. It was an incredible experience in a lot of different ways. So don’t let fears make decisions for you. Don’t be scared to do something, just do it.

That’s powerful advice! Thanks for taking the time to sit down and talk with me. It was great to get to know you a little better. With motivation like this, we are going to accomplish so much, many more new releases to come!

The post Meet Rachael, Our New Manager of Finance and Sales Support! appeared first on Torsh.

This is a timely topic because Louisiana, the state in which our office resides, will soon include students’ growth as a weighted measure of school performance, a breakthrough development in light of a longstanding debate in the education community. It’s been recommended to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education that academic progress account for up to 25% of a school’s performance score. However, continuing coverage of the proposal highlights the contention surrounding how much student growth should influence school performance.

A major concern of opponents to the proposal is that “overemphasizing” academic growth misleads parents and stakeholders about the quality of education provided by the institution. This concern calls attention to a fear that struggling students, and the schools that fail but advance their learning, will be misrepresented in performance data. 

However, that worry may be unfounded (and possibly unfair). The Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a leading education policy think tank, has asserted that systemized “growth measures are truer indicators of school quality” which can “identify a considerable number of chronically underperforming schools.” At the same time, according to data analyses published by Urban Institute researchers, “Judging schools based on their average test scores will tend to penalize schools that serve large numbers of lower-income and racial minority students.” Furthermore, emphasizing growth will support higher achieving students as well, a group that has demonstrated “comparatively slower growth in reading during the school year” according to a study published by The Journal of Educational Research.

Starting in June of 2016, the Louisiana Department of Education met with educators and representatives from across the state to discuss the changes to school accountability systems afforded by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The resulting ESSA Listening Tour Report includes themes of aligning expectations, raising standards, and serving struggling students. Likewise, widespread support for strengthening the teaching profession through consistent classroom observation was mirrored by a focus on the continuous improvement of students of all abilities. Weighting student growth by 25% (or more!) of a school’s performance score is reinforced in the report by the idea that, “Schools should be motivated to focus on the improvement of all students to achieve at their full potential.”

Growth as a performance measure acknowledges that school educators are serving students in consideration of a critical factor: their needs. Rather than misleading parents, growth indicators show that students’ progress and achievement is focal; and that on the path of education, each step forward is as important as where your journey began, and where your journey ends.

What are your thoughts on proficiency and growth? We would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

The post Proficiency Versus Growth: Measuring School Success in Torsh’s Home State appeared first on Torsh.

Can you share with us what motivated you to join Torsh?

I knew I wanted to work in education. I’ve been a librarian and tutor, and have held previous roles in academic support and youth development. When I found Torsh, I was intrigued by the way TALENT integrates emerging technology with traditional teacher professional development. I thought, “I definitely want to be a part of this!” I remember a conversation with a friend who said, “Wow. You really are passionate about education!” And I responded, “If I could do anything, I would work to make sure teachers are able to do the best that they can, so kids can learn as much as they can.” Torsh’s mission melded perfectly into my own. 

It seems like a great fit! Since you’ve started, do you feel connected to the mission in your everyday work?

Definitely! I learned the other day that my elementary school is using Torsh. That was wild! It reassured me that I’m giving back to my community. I moved around a lot and school is where I found structure, mentorship, and friends. From very early on in my life, school is where I shared my ideas and learned about myself. It feels great to be at a place where I’m working directly with teachers and can see the difference it’s making in students’ lives. 

What are your plans for the future and how will Torsh help you get there?

I want to go to graduate school for school counseling and work to ensure our teachers, administrators and students are getting the most out of our educational system. Working at Torsh has given me insight into how teachers communicate about their practice with their colleagues. It has helped me learn more about the school environment and the conversations taking place about teaching. I also want to learn more about how tech is being integrated into the teaching profession. Usually, when you think of edtech, you think about how students are using educational technology, not how teachers are using it. I’m interested in how technology can help teachers. This will be an interesting perspective to bring to my work as a school counselor.  

Have you had any great teachers in your life that motivated you to work in the education space?

When I was in college I took a children’s communication development class. My teacher was phenomenal. She was a Fulbright Scholar and taught teacher development in South America. This was the first time I had ever realized there was such a thing as “teacher development.” It sparked my interest in the field of education and made me reflect on what it means to be a great teacher. I know that schools are important because they were so important to me, and meeting her solidified my commitment to improving education.

So, you’ve been in New Orleans for more than two years now. What do you love about the city and what keeps you here?

The uniqueness of this city is as palpable as seafood gumbo. It doesn’t matter where you are in New Orleans, you’re going to find people who really appreciate you. I also like the city’s character of perseverance. People have this attitude of “because I love this place, I am going to overcome every challenge that we face.” People are passionately loyal and truly love New Orleans. I should have a third-year anniversary party because it’s that kind of place.

We’ve learned about your passion for education and New Orleans. So what do you like to do when you’re not at work?

I read, mostly fantasy novels – traditional fantasy, surrealist and dystopian sci-fi, and fairytales. I’m also a ceramic sculptor. I like to make masks and figurines. And, I love dancing! I dance at home and walking down the street. I might break out and dance right now!

Awesome! We love that! It was great getting to know you a little better. Thanks for sharing your passion for education with us. It’s something we can all relate to here at Torsh.  

The post Meet Krystal, Our New Account Services Coordinator! appeared first on Torsh.

So what exactly goes on behind the scenes at an ERDI conference, and why would Torsh want to be there? This conference provides an opportunity for our CEO, Courtney Williams, to participate in a three-hour panel discussion with five school superintendents, all of whom are experts in the field of education. The topic is determined by the client (in our case, Courtney). What follows is a free-flow of invaluable input, candid feedback, and brainstorming during which these leaders in K-12 education share their insight, feedback, and advice with us. Having the opportunity to learn from their collective experience and wisdom makes this a conference well-worth attending!

At Torsh, we have always been interested in learning from educational leaders. Our teacher professional development platform, Torsh TALENT, was built on a solid foundation of input from teachers and administrators. We listened to their needs and created a comprehensive solution. Each and every year we take the feedback we receive from our clients and find new and innovative ways to incorporate their suggestions.  

Last week, I interviewed Courtney to learn what’s on the roadmap for 2017. We are excited to run these new ideas by a panel of superintendents from across the country to receive “candid, unvarnished feedback.” We hope they like our ideas but most of all, we hope that these discussions lead to even more meaningful improvements to Torsh TALENT. 

As always, what motivates us is our commitment to education. We are looking forward to meeting with people who share our vision for better schools. If you’re here for the conference and are interested in learning more about what we do, we would love to connect with you while you are here in NOLA! Drop an email to me at contact@torsh.co and I’ll be sure Courtney schedules you into his calendar. 

For more information about ERDI and the conference, you can visit their website here.

The post Torsh To Attend Education Research And Development Institute appeared first on Torsh.

Can you share with us what brought you to Torsh?

I learned about Torsh through Idea Village, a nonprofit that supports entrepreneurship in New Orleans. I knew I wanted to work in a tech startup environment that was mission-driven, where I could feel passionate about the work I was doing. Torsh fit this bill perfectly. I heard Courtney speak and really liked his presence. He spoke about being committed to diversity and making a difference in education and these ideas resonated with me– that was the kind of company I wanted to work for.

You mentioned wanting to work for a mission-based company. Why are you drawn to making a difference in the education space?

Living and going to school in New Orleans has had a huge impact on me. I graduated from Tulane with a degree in political science and I know that the wonderful educational experience I had was a privilege. Being in NOLA, it was juxtaposed with the current educational disparities in public schools. I really feel that education is ground zero and that educational opportunities can have a significant impact on a child’s life trajectory. Making a difference in education means helping more children succeed.

So, you’ve been in New Orleans for five years now. What do you love about the city and what keeps you here?

I love so many things about New Orleans! I love that it is a very easy-going place and does not have a lot of rules when it comes to formality. I feel like it is an accessible and approachable place to enjoy yourself regardless of status, income, and background. And, of course, I love the food. What keeps me here? Friends, cheap rent and the need for pho. 

What have you learned from your personal education experience that you will apply to your work at Torsh?

I would have really benefited from more mentorship, specifically female mentorship. There is something about a teacher saying “I think you would be really good at this” or “You would enjoy doing this” that can have a lasting impact. I had one teacher, Mrs. Meza, who did just that. She was my sophomore history teacher and she encouraged me to join the United Nations Club. I ended up loving it and when I transferred to a new school my junior year, I created a UN club there because my new school didn’t have one. I continued to be involved in the UN throughout college and it influenced my decision to major in Political Science. Teaching is such an important job. And what I love about Torsh is that the company believes great teachers matter and that we can help teachers improve through our professional development platform.

And to wrap up, what do you hope to learn from working here?

I would love to learn all of the different education jargon. Since my degree was not in education, I am excited to learn from the team and become more familiar with the education space. I also want to learn more about the edtech sales process and helping teachers and administrators find a tool to make their lives easier. I want to understand their needs and add value. 

The post Meet Sophie, Our Newest Team Member! appeared first on Torsh.

In his article, which can be read in its entirety here, Dr. Perry urges us to “create a system rooted in the people who need change the most. Let’s adopt a philosophy centered on black and brown people.” Dr. Perry’s assertion that we need a new type of system is grounded in his belief that the “bedrock of our education system is white supremacy and patriarchy.”  While certainly provocative and thought provoking as a concept, I think it misses the real issue: the operative motivation behind the creation of our education system was largely an economic one. 

Years of scholarship have accurately identified that our education system was designed to support and reinforce capitalism. Those who owned the capital (wealthy people) wanted to ensure a steady stream of appropriately educated labor (poor people), whom they could employ to earn the maximum return on their capital.  Put more bluntly, our education system was designed to facilitate the exploitation of poor people by wealthy owners of capital. 

Non-whites and women weren’t even part of the original equation. They were excluded from the system, and as such, the “system” wasn’t about them. Years later when they were added to the system, they were subject to the same constraints and challenges as the poor, white males who were the intended recipients of this education.

This isn’t to say that non-whites and women have benefited under the current system; in fact, they have not. However, the reason has less to do with the system being created to support and promote white supremacy and patriarchy and more to do with the fact that unless you are wealthy, the way our education system has evolved means it will fail you.  “White supremacy and patriarchy” are highly charged words and steer the conversation towards race and gender, when the conversation should be about economic empowerment…which, if done right, solves many of the issues around race and gender.

The article does not put forth a real alternative to our current education system, which is frustrating. Dr. Perry simply says that if you can build a system for white males you should be able to build a system for black people based on Afrocentric philosophies – an alternative that black people can define. What does this mean? Who builds this system? What IS this system? How is it different from the current system? What are Afrocentric philosophies, and how do they differ from Eurocentric philosophies? Do we have any examples of such a system? As with many critiques of the education system, no viable alternative is outlined or proposed. 

Dr. Perry also referenced a well known quote by Audre Lorde: “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house.” While true in one sense, an alternative construct could be: “The master’s tools will never dismantle the master’s house, but they can be used to build a different house.” 

This is the root of my perspective on the world. I am not so much interested in burning down the master’s house as I am interested in learning how he acquired his wealth, and building a house of my own.  Much easier said than done of course, but inherently optimistic. It’s my opinion that the master’s knowledge can be learned, replicated, and put to my own use.

I believe in choice. I believe in public education. I also believe that the most unjust aspect of our current education system is in how it is funded – locally, by the tax dollars of the people who live in the community in which the school exists, which means that poor people will always have inferior schools. This is a constitutional mandate, and much like the 2nd amendment, I don’t think it is going to change anytime soon. Until it does, I believe we need to continually tweak the system that we have, to make it better, to make it more equitable and to make it more likely that brown and black people get an opportunity to sit at the economic table and earn a decent living. 

I am not interested in dismantling capitalism. I believe in capitalism. I am okay with an education system that explicitly supports and perpetuates capitalism. I am primarily interested in ensuring that women and brown and black people get their fair share of the spoils. 

That is why I do what I do. I believe that if we reform teacher preparation and training, along with a host of other things (teacher pay, school funding, hiring, testing/standards) we can prepare more young girls, and black and brown students, to graduate from high school, prepared to go to college or directly enter a 21st century workforce. 

If we can do this in my lifetime, I will consider our system to be vastly improved.

The post Let’s Not Dismantle The Master’s House, But Instead Build One Of Our Own appeared first on Torsh.

What do you hope to learn this summer while interning at Torsh?

Daejah: I hope to become more interactive with all kinds of people. Also, I hope to get a good understanding of what it’s like to work in a real business setting.

Da’Jon: This summer while interning at Torsh I hope to get a feel for what it’s like working in business.  

What are your plans after high school?

Daejah: I plan on attending the University of New Orleans majoring in Tourism and Lodging. My goal is to eventually become a hotel manager.

Da’Jon: My plan after high school is to attend Clark Atlanta University to major in Pre-Physical Therapy. 

What is your favorite subject in school? 

Daejah: My favorite subject is chemistry, but mainly anything with sciences because I like to experiment with different outcomes.

Da’Jon: My favorite subject is math because I like the way it makes you think. I love that a problem can be solved in many different ways instead of one simple way.

What are five top goals you have for yourself?

Daejah: 1) To get a car before senior year is over 2) Graduate high school with a 3.8 cumulative GPA 3) Get into UNO with a full scholarship and graduate 4) Get a well paying job at a hotel 5) Not have to live paycheck to paycheck. 

Da’Jon: 1) Graduate from high school 2) Have a job during senior year of high school 3) Get a full scholarship for college 4) Have a car before senior year ends 5) Get into Clark Atlanta University

 Who do you look up to? 

Daejah: I look up to my mother because she sets an example for me to follow. She’s just a good influence and a strong woman.

Da’Jon: I look up to both of my parents. Hearing their life story and just knowing how good I have it — better than they had when they were my age — it’s so inspiring. They take care of me and my brothers with such hard work and courage. 

What is a quote that inspires you the most?

Daejah: “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.”

Da’Jon: “You are not what you have done — you are what you have overcome.”

What is your favorite book?

Daejah: My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird. I read it my freshman year and have loved it ever since.

Da’Jon: I really don’t have a favorite book, but I like books that are thrilling and have a mystery to them. 

Why did you take the opportunity to be an YouthForce Intern this summer? 

Daejah: I took this opportunity because you never know what you’ll gain by taking risks. So I figured, why not? Even though they didn’t have my sector of interest, I still got training that I can use in any setting.

Da’Jon: I took the opportunity because it is giving me experience in the workforce, which is so valuable. 

The post Meet our YouthForce NOLA Summer Interns: Daejah and Da’Jon! appeared first on Torsh.