Our mission is to create an environment where students receive high quality instruction and effective personal growth strategies that will prepare them to successfully navigate the next stage of their educational journey.
Our mission is to create an environment where students receive high quality instruction and effective personal growth strategies that will prepare them to successfully navigate the next stage of their educational journey.
What We Value at Noble Minds
At Noble Minds, we value individualism, diversity and self-efficacy. These core values center upon our recognition that every child is a valuable member of society deserving of a high quality educational experience. For us high quality means rigorous and relevant instruction carried out by a competent well-trained staff who treat students with dignity and respect on a daily basis.
Measuring Your Child’s Success
There are four major outcomes that we want for the Noble Minds student. These four outcomes ultimately lead to acceptance into, and graduation from, a high school of the students’ choice followed by a seamless and successful entry into a four year college or a successful career path.
They will be prepared to attend the most academically rigorous schools in the region.
Students will have increased their executive functioning skill significantly by the time they exit Noble Minds to head to high school.
Noble Minds students will be able to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with peers and adults to express emotions, seek information, share information, to build relationships and to develop their own thinking.
The experience of learning can be as satisfying as the learning itself.
History of Noble Minds Institute
Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning is a New Orleans based learning lab that focuses on academic and personal development.
Noble Minds started as a summer program in 2015. Noble Minds opened as a school in 2017. We started off with grades K-2 with only 32 students. Today, we are proud to be a full K-8 school. Noble Minds was founded by New Orleans native Dr. Vera Triplett, PhD.
Our Team
Dr. Vera Triplett, PhD, Founder & CEO
Dr. Vera Triplett is the founder and CEO of the Noble Minds Institute for Whole Child Learning. She is a former Deputy Superintendent of the Recovery School District and also previously served as the COO and CEO of a local charter management organization. Dr. Triplett has worked at a cross section of education, mental health and juvenile justice for over 20 years.
Leroy Brown, Physical Education Coach
Leroy Brown, who we all know as Coach Brown, is a Master Fitness Trainer and Army Veteran. He has been a trainer for the past 17 years, in which he founded his own fitness training program, Team No Fears. He has been the P.E Coach at Noble Minds since 2020. Coach Brown has designed a program that educates students on overall health and wellness and gives students full control of their workout routines.
Amber Powell, Operations Manager & Dance Coach
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, Ms. Amber has been with Noble Minds for 6 years. Starting off as a paraprofessional, over time she worked her way up to the administration team. When she’s not working, she can often be found spending time with her daughter and enjoying all of the good food NOLA has to offer with family & friends.
Misheko George, Kindergarten/ 1st Grade Instructor
Ms. George is a native of New Orleans and a mother of 2 girls. With over 10 years experience of working with children of all ages, she is excited to assist the owls on their educational journey.
Lorenza Melancon, 2nd Grade Instructor
Hannah Guillot, 3rd & 4th Grade Math & Science Instructor
Ms.Guillot has lived in Louisiana her whole life. She graduated from UNO with her bachelors in Elementary Education. Her favorite things to teach are Math, Science, and Art. When she isn’t teaching you can find her at home with her 3 cats.
Kayshawnna Viltz, Middle School ELA/Social Studies Instructor & Choir Director
Kayshawnna Viltz is from Jacksonville, Florida, the lovely Sunshine State. She graduated from Edward Waters University with a bachelor’s degree in music: vocal performance, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in education at Loyola University. Three years ago, she started my teaching career as a teaching assistant at the Mt. Herman Exceptional Student Center in Jax, Fl. She then relocated to New Orleans in order to advance her teaching career while also pursuing her love of music. This will be her second year at Noble Minds where she genuinely loves connecting with the students through both music and education.
Malkia Heisser, 3rd & 4th Grade ELA & Social Studies Instructor
Janay Parham, Middle School Instructional Coach
Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Janay has made New Orleans her new home over the past decade. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education, an associate degree in business management, and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in special education. Janay has been an educator for over 9 years and has been a part of the Noble Minds team since 2021. She has a passion for working with children and enjoys building a strong rapport with the families she encounters.
Ronald Bowser, Middle School Blended Learning Instructor
Jade Wilkerson, Middle School Blended Learning & Art Instructor
Hugo Pinto, ESL/ELL Instructor
Mr. Pinto has been working for Noble Minds since 2017 as ESL teacher, and it was last year when he began teaching Spanish and Music (Choir) as well. His experience teaching languages dates from 1999 when he started working as Spanish Language Assistant at Central College in Pella, Iowa, and all the time since he started working for Noble Minds until now.
Mr. Pinto is actually a professional musician who recently obtained his Masters of Music in
Vocal Performance from Loyola University, therefore you could see him performing sometimes
with the New Orleans Opera Chorus and some individual vocal recitals.
Tiomba Williams, SPED Coordinator
Ms. Tiomba is a New Orleans native with 17 years experience working with children ages 1-14. For 7 of those years, she spent them working with special needs students. I’m currently working on my bachelors in education. All my SPED students hold a special place in my heart. I love what I do!
Christopher Prudhomme, SPED Resource Room Instructor
Christian Ransom, SPED Resource Room Instructor
Ms. Christian is a New Orleans native who recently graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University studying History. She joined the Noble Mind family in 2023 and is a TA for the Special Education Department’s Resource Room. When she’s not helping out at Noble Minds she is spending time with her family and seeking higher education in hopes of being a voice in her local community.
Gabriella Stewart, SPED Resource Room Instructor
Ms. Gabby is a New Orleans native and mother of two girls. She works with the SPED team and has been in the education field for 3 years.
Theo Triplett, SPED Resource Room Instructor
Tracy Davis, Paraprofessional
Chawanda Watson, Paraprofessional
chawanda@nobleminds.org
Soraya Cain, Interventionalist
Ms. Cain, a native of New Orleans, has always been passionate about educating and inspiring the youth in her community. At just 15, she launched a talk radio show, “Tune Into Teens,” on WBOK 1230 AM, dedicated to spreading valuable information to her peers. Her leadership and dedication earned her the prestigious Posse Leadership Scholarship, allowing her to attend Bard College in New York. After graduating, Ms. Cain returned to New Orleans and quickly advanced to a lead teaching position, overseeing two Pre-K classes at the age of 22. Her journey then took her to California, but after five years she returned to her hometown, where she taught 3rd grade ELA and later a combined kindergarten/1st grade class. Now a proud member of the Noble Minds Team, Ms. Cain is committed to providing our scholars with the support and knowledge they need to thrive. She firmly believes that good decisions stem from good information and views her role as essential in helping young people become well-equipped leaders of the future.
Cole Bondy, Film Instructor
Cole is a recent graduate of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he completed his studies at one of the nation’s top film and television schools. During his college years, he gained valuable experience working on prestigious live television events, including the Grammy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards. Cole began his career at Noble Minds, serving as an assistant teacher for Kindergarten and First Grade. He is currently channeling his passion for filmmaking into his teaching, aiming to inspire young minds to explore creative possibilities they may have never imagined.
Our Board
Noble Minds has a diverse and dedicated Board of Directors, helping to guide the school, and enrich the experience of all our students, parents and supporters!
Our current board is:
Board Chair:
Naila Campbell
ncampbell@mcfj.org
(504) 496-1529
Board:
Wil Jacobs, Amika Kali, Guyon Lewis, Nick Underwood, Pam Cohn, Chad Roberts
| Meeting | Agenda | Minutes |
|---|---|---|
| September 14, 2023 | | — |
| September 12, 2024 | | — |
| December 4, 2024 <more info here> | | — |