Crocker Arts and Technology School

Crocker is operated by Advocacy for the Arts and Technology in New Orleans, Louisiana, Inc., a non-profit corporation.  

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, a dedicated group of New Orleanians came together and dared to dream of a premiere center of learning for the children of this city -- a place where they can be nurtured and guided-- where children come first and their success is inevitable. Our dream is that out of the destructive waters of Katrina, a rebirth will come forth; that from the death and suffering of so many, a bright and hopeful future will arise. Our Dream is called Crocker Arts and Technology School.  Crocker is a small, public, charter elementary school whose mission is to produce world class learners by providing the highest quality of teaching and learning, so all students can achieve academic success. Crocker is governed by a community based board of directors whose goal is to provide the best possible people and resources to create an exceptional learning environment for the children of our city.

Officers of the Board

Grisela Alejandro Jackson, President

John A. Jones Jr., Vice-President

Shaun Rafferty, Secretary

John Tobler, Treaurer

Grisela Alejandro Jackson is a native of San Juan Puerto Rico and a resident of New Orleans since the age of eight.  Her determination to help rebuild the city’s educational infrastructure and her love for educating children is borne from her innate love of learning and from her many years as a tutor of elementary school children and high school students taking the ACT/SAT examinations.  Grisela holds a BA from Vassar College and an MBA from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business. She is part owner and CFO of Young Engineering Co., Inc. Grisela is committed to making a difference for good during our city’s most critical hour.  She serves as the Board President.

John Anderson Jones, Jr.  has thirty-three and a half years of service to Orleans Parish schools as teacher, assistant principal, school site supervisor, associate director, and governmental liaison.  He has spent a lifetime educating, molding and shaping young people, including one of his high school students, Grisela Alejandro Jackson.  Having received degrees, certifications and training from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Tulane University, Harvard University, and the University of New Orleans, Mr. Jones is highly respected by the educational community in New Orleans and throughout the state. He serves as the Board Vice-President.

Shaun B. Rafferty is an attorney operating his own firm, Shaun B. Rafferty Law Office LLC.  He has been active in the community helping to rebuild New Orleans. His love for education comes from being the son of an educator.  A graduate of Vassar College and Louisiana State University Law School, Shaun has vast experience as a member of the New Orleans legal community as well as a member of various community causes and concerns.  He serves as the Board Secretary. 

Stephen J. Boyard, Jr. rose from a middle/junior high school history teacher to middle/junior high school principal during his long and distinguished career in Orleans Parish public schools that spanned thirty-seven years and produced award winning schools.  He knows what it takes to produce a world class school.  He holds a BS from Southern University, a Masters from Tulane University and his Masters + 30 from Loyola University.

Simmone Robinson, a New Orleans native, is the Operations and Human Resources Director of the Louisiana Children's Musuem. As such, she is involved in all aspects of the museum's operations and planning. She is a graduate of Meadows Draughton Business College in New Orleans.