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Board of Directors
Each charter school board of directors is responsible for governing and overseeing school finances, operations and administration. We are proud to have such a dedicated and caring board who continue to support Laureate's mission within Louisiana.
Contact the board at boardofdirectors@laureatecharter.org
Jordan Whittenburg
Board President
jwhittenburg@laureatecharter.org
Jordan is an experienced Human Resources professional. He is currently a Senior Consultant for a Fortune 500 company, specializing in employee compensation and benefits. Jordan was born on the westbank and continues to find ways to better this community. He currently serves as the Vice Chair on the Laureate Academy Board of Directors. Jordan obtained his MA in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from Louisiana Tech University after graduating with a BS in Psychology from LSU. He currently lives in the New Orleans area with his wife and daughter.
Jake Krupa
Board Treasurer
jkrupa@laureatecharter.org
Jake Krupa teaches accounting analytics at Tulane University in the Freeman School of Business. He moved to New Orleans in 2020 from Miami, FL where he attended the University of Miami and earned his PhD in business administration. He has published accounting research in the Review of Accounting Studies (RAST) and the Journal of Financial Reporting (JFR). Prior to pursuing his PhD studies, Jake spent two years in public accounting with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he obtained his CPA license. He also obtained his master's of accounting and bachelor's of science in business administration from the University of Miami.
Jaime Behen
Director
Jaime Behen (she/her) currently lives and works in the Greater New Orleans area. In her current role, she serves as the Managing Director of Corps Member Impact at Teach For America Greater New Orleans where she manages the corps member two year teaching experience. Prior to this role, Jaime has served in a variety of education based roles, ranging from classroom teacher to higher-education professional. Jaime received both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Elementary Education from Endicott College in Massachusetts. In her spare time, she can be found on the softball field or hanging out at home with her wife.
Jahquille Ross
Director
jross@laureatecharter.org
Jahquille is the Director of Teacher Support at New Schools for New Orleans. Jahquille joined NSNO after 8 years serving students in NOLA charter schools. During that time, Jahquille’s experiences include Academy Principal, Instructional Coach, & 2nd grade teacher at InspireNOLA Alice Harte Charter School. Jahquille also served in the capacity of administrative fellow at NOLA-PS, working primarily with teachers and leaders at McDonogh 35 Senior High School and Cypress Academy in the areas of teaching and learning. A New Orleans native and product of Edna Karr Senior High School. Jahquille earned a B.A. from the historical Tuskegee University, a M.A.T. from Louisiana College, and recently graduated with his Doctorate of Education in Executive Leadership from the University of Holy Cross. Jahquille is a 2014 Teach for America Corp Member. During his leisure, Jahquille is a mentor with Son of a Saint and a member of Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity Inc.
Caitlyn Scales
Vice President and Secretary
cscales@laureatecharter.org
Caitlyn has been working with organizations supporting individuals for over 15 years as an educator, advocate, and strategist. She began her career as a high school teacher working in at-risk areas in the United States and abroad. She has worked as an instructor and mentor at both Washington State University and Boise State University. Caitlyn has also coached teachers and school leaders nationally, supported strategic visioning for organizations focused on systems change, and is inspired by the communities she has the privilege to work alongside. Caitlyn is the founder of Up the Scales - a strategic consulting group. She also supports strategy and development with Three O’clock Project - a nonprofit providing healthy meals and advocacy for youth in vulnerable communities across Louisiana. Most recently, Caitlyn was the Strategy and Development Director at One Stone, a no-cost innovation hub and high school experience that is student-driven and -directed in Boise, ID. She is thankful for the robust and innovative opportunities she has through consulting and long-term partnerships with organizations dedicated to empowering a better future for all. Caitlyn is a Chicago native who received her B.S. and M.S. from Indiana University, and received her Ph.D. in Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education from Washington State University. Caitlyn happily resides in New Orleans, LA with her husband.
Toyane Faulkner
Director
tfaulkner@laureatecharter.org
Toyane Faulkner is originally from Kansas City Missouri but relocated to the greater New Orleans area for college. Toyane is a graduate of both Xavier University of New Orleans and Southern University. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work and Lifetime membership of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Toyane has been an employee of Jefferson Parish Juvenile Court and later at Jefferson Parish Department of Juvenile Services as a Mental Health Professional since 2001. Toyane is a member of the Jefferson Parish Children Youth Planning Board where she has been the chairperson of the Continuum Care committee since 2013. Toyane recently completed the Louisiana Association of Public Charter School Board Training to become an active board member of Laureate Academy.