Connie Mitchell Labat, a New Orleans native who owns THE BUILDING, a cultural arts venue, grew up in the upper ninth ward and lived there until the age of 21. She is a graduate of John F. Kennedy High School and Xavier University. Immediately after completing college, eager to return to her neighborhood in order to support her community, she taught at the historical first school to be integrated in New Orleans, her childhood grade school, William Frantz Elementary School, now the home of Akili Academy. Leaving Frantz after 14 years, with much hesitation, she chose to work in a greater capacity for children. For the next 10 years until Katrina, Connie Labat worked with teachers on providing intense reading programs and instruction targeting student challenges in reading and comprehension in elementary and middle schools.
In 2007, she was extremely happy to join the staff at another historical school, Warren Easton, founded in 1843 as the first high school in the state of Louisiana. There she remained for the next 13 years in the role of English and Social Studies Interventionist, and 504, RTI, and SAT Chair, coaching and supporting teachers and as a member of the Administrative Support Team.
In 2019, Mrs. Labat retired after 32 years of service. Her service on the board of Crescent City Schools derives from her sheer desire to continue serving the children of New Orleans through the excellent work that Crescent City Schools accomplishes.
connie.labat [at] crescentcityschools [dot] org