Avione believes that an education is both an elevator and a door. She is a driven leader, coach, parent, former teacher, and attorney who is committed to affecting positive change for the children of our world, and especially in her hometown, New Orleans. Her work most recently includes leading a charter management organization merger as Chief Operating Officer by creating new operating systems, brand identity, and internal culture while preserving the strengths of people and organizational systems on both sides. She also served as Chief External Affairs and Administrative Officer for NOLA Public Schools during the height of the historic return to local control from over a decade of state takeover. Before that Avione, as the External Officer and Managing Director of Strategic Partnerships at Teach For America \u2013 New Orleans, overhauled its teacher placement, regional recruitment, and certification functions and was nationally recognized for her innovations there. As an attorney, Avione practiced business litigation, corporate compliance, and founded the education law group at Jones Walker Law Firm, and currently owns a small practice dedicated to helping injured people and small businesses. She holds a B.S. in Psychology from Howard University, an M.S. in Elementary Education from Joseph\u2019s University, and a J.D. from Tulane Law School and serves on the National Advisory Board for Teach For America\u2019s Alumni of Color.<\/p>\n\n\n\n