Chanel Long has watched Crescent City Schools grow for years, first as a parent, then as a board member, and now as board chair. We sat down with Long to talk about that path, what surprised her along the way, and what she wishes more families knew about CCS.
How did your family first find CCS?
Long was searching for the right school for her oldest child, who she later learned has autism and ADHD. A few other schools hadn’t felt like the right match, so when she saw a flyer for Tubman Montessori, she decided to take a tour. Her son’s certainty about where he wanted to attend school made the decision to enroll at Tubman Montessori an easy one.
“He said about a different school, ‘No, that’s not the school with the Mario backpack and the slide,” Long said. “He wanted to go to Tubman Montessori. So that’s where we sent him, and it was just a great decision.”
Is there a memory from your time at CCS that has stuck with you?
Long said CCS is a place where children can simply be children.
“CCS puts a lot of care into making sure the kids are able to have fun. Yes, you’re going to learn, but it’s really important, especially when they’re younger, that they’re able to play,” shared Long.
How has your view of CCS changed from parent to board member?
Long said her respect for CCS leadership has only grown. She pointed to changes like bringing bussing and food services in house, both of which allowed CCS to improve the student experience.
“I think they have every child’s needs at heart,” she said. “CCS is always trying its best, trying to improve, and they’ve made a lot of changes.”
How did you go from parent to board president?
CCS leadership invited Long to get involved after she asked pointed questions at a public school accountability meeting.
“They said, okay, this is somebody who’s connected, whose vision is in line with ours — this is somebody who’s going to be a good advocate for these kids,” Long said. She served three years on the board before becoming president in August of this year.
How does your professional experience benefit your service on the CCS board?
Long said every board member brings a different professional background to the table, and hers is advocacy.
“I have a lot of experience advocating for people, advocating for causes,” she said. “I try to bring in my experience as a parent, too, and keep that at the forefront.”
What has surprised you most as board president?
Long said stepping into the role gave her a closer look at everything that happens behind the scenes — not in the classroom, but in the administrative work that keeps CCS running, from coordinating special education services to planning a new building.
“There’s a lot of little things that go on to make this organization work,” she said. “It’s a lot.”
What does the board do for CCS?
Fiscal oversight comes first, Long said, since the board is responsible for making sure public dollars are spent well.
“It’s the people’s money, the citizens’ money, and we want to make sure it’s being spent effectively,” she said. The board also weighs in on major decisions, like whether to move forward on a new building, and serves as a sounding board for CEO Kate Mehok.
Do you have a favorite part of serving on the board?
Watching CCS grow tops Long’s list. She joined the board while the network still included Akili Academy, before it merged and became Mildred Osborne Charter School.
“There’s been a lot of changes since I got on the board,” she said. “Being part of an organization that puts kids first has been my favorite part of serving on the board.”
What’s a challenge board members face that families might not expect?
Long said families sometimes assume the school is choosing not to provide a service right away, when in reality state and federal regulations set the timeline — especially for scholars going through the IEP process.
“It’s not that they don’t want to do it,” she said. “By law, we have to go through a set process.”
What makes CCS stand out?
For Long, it comes down to how her children are treated day to day.
“When I drop my kids off, I know that they’re in good hands and they’re loved,” she said. “The school makes play important, and the children are able to just be children. There’s a whole wide world awaiting them; it’s important to their development and their education to enjoy their childhood right now.”
What’s something you wish everyone knew about CCS?
“This is a child-first organization,” Long said. “They’re pushing for these kids to succeed and working hard around the clock to help them get there.”
What are you most excited about for CCS in the year ahead?
“I’m excited about CCS making academic strides,” Long said. “I think we’re well placed to make some great ones, and that’s what I’d like to see happen.”
