146:. Jacobs is credited as one of the prime architects for reform of Louisiana's Public Schools throughout the 1990s and 2000s, including developing and implementing the number one ranked school accountability system in the country and implementing major steps to improve teacher quality. According to the 2009 Education Watch Report released by the Education Trust, Louisiana is the only state in which the gap between African American and white students has narrowed significantly in both 4th grade reading and 8th grade math.
31:). While President of Rosenthal Agency, Jacobs worked with the business community and the legislature to create the Louisiana Workers Compensation Corporation (LWCC) and served on its inaugural board of directors. The LWCC solved a state workers compensation crisis and today Louisiana has competitive and stable workers compensation rates. She went on to become a co-founder of Strategic Comp, a workers compensation insurance company that sold to Great American in 2008.
160:, Orleans Parish Schools were the worst performing in the state. 63% of the Parish's schools were failing. After Hurricane Katrina, Jacobs worked with Governor Blanco and State Superintendent Cecil Picard to place most of the Orleans public schools into the Recovery School District and to recruit high quality charter operators, like the
303:
longer about who to blame for our failures, but about making sure each child learns and each school succeeds and recognizing their improvement. Leslie Jacobs changed that conversation; Leslie Jacobs changed the way public education in
Louisiana works. I am grateful for her service and proud to nominate her for this honor."
54:(D). Jacobs is credited as one of the prime architects for reform of the Louisiana Public Schools throughout the 1990s and 2000s. Jacobs was honored as the “Twenty People Who Influenced Louisiana from 1981-2001” by Louisiana Life Magazine in 2001, and Forbes awarded Jacobs the “World's Most Powerful Educators” award in 2011.
236:
Jacobs co-founded the New
Orleans Startup Fund, a nonprofit evergreen venture fund focused on business creation and innovation in the 10-parish Greater New Orleans region, in 2010. The fund exists to accelerate the growth of early stage, pre-revenue companies looking for proof-of-concept capital. The
227:
Jacobs co-founded
Belltower in 2019. Belltower is a nonprofit organization committed to expanding postsecondary success for New Orleans public school graduates. Belltower supports programs at the University of New Orleans and University of Louisiana Lafayette for students from low-income households.
180:
has praised the rejuvenation of
Orleans Parish schools as a model for the rest of the country, stating: "And because a lot of your public schools opened themselves up to new ideas and innovative reforms, we're actually seeing an improvement in overall achievement that is making the city a model for
167:
Today, New
Orleans has 99% of public school students in charter schools which is the largest in the nation. Student performance has improved significantly in all measures: performance on state tests, reduction in the drop out rate, and percentage of seniors qualifying for Louisiana's merit based
302:
Given by governors to their states' most valuable civil servants and private citizens, this award emphasizes the important contributions private citizens make to state government. When nominating Jacobs for this award, Governor Foster stated, "The conversation about education in
Louisiana is no
218:
Jacobs co-founded YouthForce NOLA in 2015 and currently serves as chairman. YouthForce is an education, business, and civic collaboration that prepares New
Orleans public school students for successful pursuit of high-wage, high-demand career pathways and facilitates systems change to ensure
23:) is an education reform advocate, business executive, and philanthropist. Born in New Orleans and a graduate of Cornell University, she built her family's small, independent insurance agency into one of the largest in the South, before merging the Rosenthal Agency with
917:
237:
Startup Fund's mission is to create jobs and economic prosperity for the 10-parish
Greater New Orleans region by providing seed capital and business assistance to early-stage firms that demonstrate significant growth potential.
172:
wrote in a 2018 report: "To summarize, the reforms increased outcomes on average and seem to have improved equity as well. Black and low-income students saw higher test scores, high graduation rates, and college results."
41:
Jacobs has been engaged in education reform for more than 35 years. She began as a business partner with an elementary school, served as an elected member of the
Orleans Parish School Board, and then, as a member of the
38:'s economy, the vice-chair of the and CEO and co-founders of the New Orleans Startup Fund, a nonprofit venture fund focused on business creation and innovation in the 10-parish Greater New Orleans region.
1200:
78:
purchased the agency, and Jacobs became
President of the merged Hibernia Rosenthal Agency. She remained president until 2002. In 2006, Hibernia, the largest deposit holder in Southeast
86:
and re-branded under the Capital One banner. Jacobs was also co-founder and owner of Strategic Comp, a multi-state workers compensation insurance company that was purchased in 2008 by
34:
Jacobs has been active in the New Orleans business and startup community serving as past chair of GNO, Inc., a non-profit economic development corporation dedicated to cultivating the
228:
It also supports Trellis hybrid College offered by the Cowen Institute at Tulane University and one-year college and career readiness offered by Next Level NOLA and Launch. (11)
43:
130:, Jacobs received 13,909 votes and defeated fellow Democrat Henry Julien 59% to 41%. She served on the board until 1996, and in her final year, served as board vice-president.
945:
316:
One of 24 delegates selected to represent the United States in a conference with 24 British leaders to develop mutual understanding between future leaders of both nations.
219:
equitable outcomes. YouthForce connects young people to economic prosperity by building pathways and creating access to work experience, technical skills and soft skills.
210:. Her platform included: safe streets, better schools and honorable government. Jacobs decided to exit the race when Mitch Landrieu made a surprise entry into the field.
138:
Jacobs was appointed in 1996 to the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and served as a gubernatorial appointee until 2008, serving both Republican Governor
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CEO of the New Orleans Startup Fund, a nonprofit venture fund focused on business creation and innovation in the 10-parish Greater New Orleans region.
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Past chair of GNO Inc., a non-profit economic development corporation dedicated to cultivating the Greater New Orleans area's economy
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153:(RSD) in 2003. The RSD is administered by the Department of Education, and is designed to take over academically failing schools.
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35:
918:"What Effect Did the New Orleans School Reforms Have on Student Achievement, High School Graduation and College Outcomes"
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Given annually to a state board of education member in recognition of outstanding service to public education.
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74:. Under her leadership, the company became one of the top 100 insurance brokers in the United States. In 2000,
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As part of Louisiana's school accountability system, Jacobs was instrumental in creating the
70:
Jacobs began work at her family's independent insurance agency in 1981 after graduating from
127:
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1201:"Forbes called her one of the 7 most powerful educators on the planet. Can you name her?"
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scholarship program. Doug Harris, Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics at
1247:
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357:
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62:
Jacobs is married to Scott Jacobs. She has two daughters and four grandchildren.
1130:
539:"New Orleans education figure wins spot among 'World's Most Powerful Educators'"
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28:
189:
Jacobs is on the board of several organizations and civic causes, including:
106:
district comprising much of southwestern Orleans Parish, including parts of
79:
1029:
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and placed first, taking 29% of the vote, or about 3,575 votes. In the
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Recognizes the top 100 women executives in the insurance industry.
946:"Transcript of President's remarks at MLK Charter in New Orleans"
962:
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275:
Honors leaders and innovators in the American Jewish community.
1226:"Newman Distinguished Alumna 2013: Leslie Rosenthal Jacobs '77"
695:"Louisiana Eyes Plan To Let State Control New Orleans Schools"
164:(KIPP), to come to New Orleans and be part of the rebuilding.
1268:
639:"Expanding Hibernia Rosenthal Now Called Hibernia Insurance"
134:
Louisiana State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
1106:"NGA presents Distinguished Service to State Gov Award"
783:
Kingsland, Neerav; Lightbourn, George (20 June 2013).
1004:"Leslie Jacobs drops out of New Orleans mayor's race"
720:"Louisiana Schools Best in Nation for Accountability"
349:"Twenty People Who Influenced Louisiana 1981-2001,"
1131:"PR release regarding Distinguished Service Award"
916:Larsen, Matthew; Harris, Douglas (June 15, 2018).
510:"Progress made in Louisiana School Accountability"
455:"Thanks to Past LWCC Board Members (1992-present)"
840:"KIPP ranked 1, 2 in non-selective schools in NO"
437:, Louisiana Association of Fundraising Executives
284:National Association of State Boards of Education
44:State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
280:Distinguished Service to State Government Award
245:Jacobs has received numerous honors including:
196:Vice-chair of the New Orleans Business Alliance
749:"Education Watch State Report: Louisiana 2009"
435:Board of Directors Award for community service
199:Vice-chair of the New Orleans Business Council
461:. Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation
8:
1158:. International Economic Development Council
1055:"Belltower New Orleans - Nonprofit Explorer"
46:(BESE) for twelve years, first appointed by
564:"Rosenthal Agency Named to top 100 Brokers"
337:International Economic Development Council
98:In 1992, Jacobs ran for a position on the
1273:Junior Achievement of Greater New Orleans
532:
530:
645:. Wells Media Group, Inc. 23 April 2003
446:
504:
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811:"District Performance Scores Improve"
615:"Capital One to Buy New Orleans Bank"
7:
1180:. Gambit New Orleans. 3 January 2012
977:"Leslie Jacobs Joins Race For Mayor"
785:"The Recovery School District Model"
537:Vanacore, Andrew (4 November 2011).
294:Distinguished Service Award in 2001,
726:. January 17, 2004. Archived from
671:. November 7, 1992. Archived from
14:
1002:Donze, Frank (17 December 2009).
815:Louisiana Department of Education
724:Louisiana Department of Education
613:O'Hara, Terence (March 7, 2005).
487:. New Orleans Chamber of Commerce
208:2010 New Orleans mayoral election
400:Business Hall of Fame Role Model
333:Citizen Leadership Award in 2014
1338:Businesspeople from New Orleans
693:Robelen, Erik W. (2005-11-09).
665:"Louisiana Election Data, 1992"
355:"Co-New Orleanian of the Year,"
297:National Governor's Association
256:World's Most Powerful Educators
514:Times Picayune, Michelle Krupa
1:
50:(R) and then re-appointed by
892:"New Orleans by the Numbers"
817:. April 2004. Archived from
758:. April 2009. Archived from
669:Louisiana Secretary of State
206:Jacobs ran for Mayor in the
102:from District 6, a majority
925:Education Research Alliance
896:New Schools for New Orleans
846:. Fall 2008. Archived from
100:Orleans Parish School Board
94:Orleans Parish School Board
1369:
1353:21st-century American Jews
1269:"JA Business Hall of Fame"
1199:Pope, John (10 May 2018).
1152:"Citizen Leadership Award"
869:"New Orleans Schools FAQS"
589:"Rosenthal Agency Expands"
372:Tricentennial Award (2018)
363:"Whitney Young, Jr. Award"
162:Knowledge is Power Program
1343:Cornell University alumni
485:www.neworleanschamber.org
1348:American philanthropists
1301:New Orleans CityBusiness
1294:"Women of the Year 2007"
1085:New Orleans Startup Fund
430:New Orleans CityBusiness
394:Young Leadership Council
381:Alumna of the Year, 2013
310:British-American Project
232:New Orleans Startup Fund
151:Recovery School District
142:and Democratic Governor
88:Great American Insurance
36:Greater New Orleans area
418:Outstanding Young Woman
351:Louisiana Life Magazine
17:Leslie Rosenthal Jacobs
1108:. GITA. Archived from
76:Hibernia National Bank
25:Hibernia National Bank
21:New Orleans, Louisiana
1246:. YLC. Archived from
1230:Isidore Newman School
385:Isidore Newman School
367:Boy Scouts of America
324:," Business Insurance
308:1995 Delegate to the
1081:"Board of Directors"
427:"Women of the Year,"
270:Jewish Daily Forward
181:reform nationwide."
82:, was purchased by
66:The Rosenthal Agency
675:on October 29, 2009
516:. September 9, 2009
1244:"Role Model Award"
1156:www.iedconline.org
983:. 18 November 2009
954:. October 15, 2009
404:Junior Achievement
72:Cornell University
1178:"Gambit Magazine"
963:National Archives
643:Insurance Journal
593:Insurance Journal
570:. August 11, 2002
322:100 Leading Women
170:Tulane University
158:Hurricane Katrina
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1232:. 21 March 2013.
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481:"Strategic Comp"
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266:Top 50 Achievers
128:run-off election
122:. She ran in an
104:African-American
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214:YouthForce NOLA
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144:Kathleen Blanco
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52:Governor Blanco
48:Governor Foster
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58:Personal life
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1305:. Retrieved
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1248:the original
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1208:. Retrieved
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1110:the original
1100:
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1061:. 9 May 2013
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1037:. Retrieved
1033:
1030:"Who We Are"
1024:
1012:. Retrieved
1007:
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985:. Retrieved
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961:– via
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898:. March 2023
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848:the original
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760:the original
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728:the original
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673:the original
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459:www.lwcc.com
458:
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420:, Louisiana
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19:(born 1959,
16:
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1328:1959 births
140:Mike Foster
120:Black Pearl
84:Capital One
29:Capital One
1322:Categories
1254:2009-10-25
1137:2009-10-31
1116:2009-10-30
1059:ProPublica
958:2009-10-29
902:2023-06-14
877:2023-07-04
854:2009-10-29
825:2009-10-29
769:2009-10-29
734:2009-10-28
679:2009-10-25
624:2009-10-25
599:2009-10-26
574:2009-10-21
520:2009-10-25
442:References
409:Role Model
390:Role Model
185:Civic life
176:President
789:issuu.com
223:Belltower
156:Prior to
80:Louisiana
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