At Crescent City Schools, there are many staff members who work behind the scenes to keep schools running smoothly. One of those school-based roles is that of Chief of Staff. This position involves juggling countless details, proactive problem-solving, and working hard to make sure everyone in the school has what they need to succeed.
Although each of the Chiefs of Staff at CCS schools took a unique path to working in education, all were drawn by a shared belief in educational equity.
Monica Solomon, Chief of Staff at Dorothy Height Charter School, began her career in healthcare administration.
“In 2007, I developed a passionate interest in the charter school movement in New Orleans,” Solomon shared. “As a native of the city, I understood firsthand the deficient education that many children received, which compelled me to pursue change.”
Solomon joined Height as a founding staff member in 2013, and has supported the school, its students, and its staff ever since.
Miki Howard came to the network through family, as her sister Zondra Howard-Cross is a long-time CCS staff member who served as Tubman’s Principal for five years. When Howard was ready for a change from her concierge role at a local grocery/catering franchise, she took a chance on an office management position at Akili Academy in 2015. After holding the position of office manager for eight years, Howard then made the transition to Chief of Staff in 2023, the same year that Akili Academy and Osborne merged into one school – Mildred Osborne Charter School.
Jessica Bliss, Chief of Staff for both the Tubman Blue and Tubman Park Campus, joined in 2011 as the Principal’s executive assistant after working with the New Teacher Project. “I had never taught before, but operationally I knew I could support teachers,” she explained. Bliss is a founding staff member of Tubman, the first school in the CCS network.
Both Solomon and Howard grew into their Chief of Staff roles from front office manager positions. Solomon made the transition in 2016, while Howard moved into the role at Mildred Osborne Charter School in 2023 when Akili merged with CCS.
“I’ve always supported teachers and staff,” said Howard. “As office manager, I was making sure that they had the supplies they needed or that their room was stocked. But now I’m making sure that teachers feel supported, that they understand different systems within the school and why we do them, and that they understand their benefits and how to access them,” shared Howard.
Howard admitted that the change in role had its challenges but credits her successful transition to a supportive working environment, both at the school as well as in the network.
“I definitely leaned on the other Chiefs, who have been doing this for a lot longer, and I also went to Amanada Hollman (Director of Human Capital) a lot because I had a million questions, especially in the beginning.”
Bliss’s journey evolved over 15 years. Her role morphed from executive assistant to Chief of Staff, with hiring becoming central to her work. She has held various positions, including Director of Finance and Operations and Director of Special Projects, before returning to support principals across the Tubman campuses in the role of Chief of Staff.
For Bliss, hiring takes center stage. “I like being the first interaction and first impression for people with the school,” she says. “It feels good to get good people in front of the kids because the kids deserve that.”
Howard loves the community-building side. “My favorite part of the job is planning team building or happy hour events,” she shared. “It makes me feel good to see people enjoy those events and be surprised by them.”
Similarly, Solomon finds that serving her community is the most rewarding aspect of the role. Sometimes, that service takes the form of patient, one-on-one support. Last year, Solomon built a relationship with a student who was struggling to control her emotions and frequently needed to leave class as a result. Solomon intentionally connected with the student each morning – over school breakfast – before class began.
“This routine was designed to help her feel seen, valued, and welcomed,” Solomon explained. “Her progress was gradual and not immediately visible, but the consistent support helped her develop emotional control over time.”
The student’s transformation has been remarkable. “This school year, the student does not need my support in the same way,” Solomon shared. “She remains in class for the entire school day. She is smiling, working hard in class, and making strides to academic excellence.”
After years of service—13 for Solomon, 10 for Howard, and 15 for Bliss—each leader has reasons to stay with CCS.
For Solomon, it comes back to Height’s mission. “Height’s mission – preparing all students for success in college and beyond – is what keeps me here.”
Bliss is energized by the people. “I’m a people person!” she shared. “I love New Orleans, and what better way to invest in New Orleans than being with the teachers who support the kids?”
Howard appreciates how CCS cares for its staff. “I’ve never heard of a place that gives you access to free therapy sessions or one that takes the time to do Financial Wellness classes,” she says. “I don’t feel like I’m just a body in the building doing a job. I don’t feel like I need to test the waters elsewhere because I’m happy here.”
These three leaders represent some of the heart behind the Crescent City Schools network. Their combined 38 years of service show that when people feel valued and supported, they stay, they grow, and they transform lives.
