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Travis Hill Schools

Our History

In the spring of 2016, BreakFree Education—now known as Travis Hill NOLA—submitted a proposal to launch a new school within the New Orleans juvenile detention center, the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center. Just a few months later, in August 2016, we officially opened our doors. As a team, our school staff chose to name it the Travis Hill School.

One year later, BreakFree—now known as Travis Hill NOLA—applied to open a second campus, this time within the New Orleans adult jail, the Orleans Justice Center. We officially began serving students there on August 28, 2017.

As we step into the 2025–26 school year—nine years since we first opened our doors—we’re proud to continue serving students at both facilities. Our commitment to strengthening the quality of our schools and meeting the evolving needs of our students remains as strong as ever.

Our Namesake

Travis Hill, also known as "Trumpet Black" was a New Orleans jazz musician from a long linage of renown musicians. He spent time at the youth detention center and in prison early in his life, but upon release, returned to his roots and used his music and talent to mentor teens and support nonviolence in the city. He popularized the phrase “Trumpets Not Guns” through a song released in 2015. Travis Hill died tragically at the age of 28. His mother and relatives continue to carry on his legacy by actively staying involved in the schools that bear his name.

Our Core Design Elements

The Travis Hill Schools are student-centered, with an intensive focus on making school relevant and meaningful, on creating a culture of high achievement, and developing a school climate based on mutual respect and understanding.  We work closely with the custodial care staff at both the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center and the Orleans Justice Center, engage with the families of our students and invite them to be active participants in the life of the school, and partner with members of the greater New Orleans community--building relationships that will support students when they return home.

12/09/2025
Full time
Teacher (10.5 Months)
Travis Hill Schools
ABOUT THE ROLE The Teacher will support instructional services provided to students within a secure facility. The Teacher will be responsible for working with students who are taking accelerated and multiple courses in varying content areas. The role requires flexibility and adaptability with planning and delivery of instructional strategies to meet the needs of students. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to: Instructional Delivery: Facilitate multi-grade, multi-content coursework for students in the school space. Ensure timely delivery and grading of lessons. Adapt lessons to accommodate varied learning styles, abilities, and academic levels of students. Classroom Management: Maintain a positive, structured learning environment for all students. Use restorative practices to support the academic and behavioral growth of students. Collaboration, Support, and Guidance: Work closely with teachers and the principal and secure staff to...
12/09/2025
Full time
Generalist (25-26 School year)
Travis Hill Schools
POSITION: Generalist (12 Months) NATURE OF WORK: Travis Hill NOLA Schools (THS) provide students residing in secure settings, Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC), with a high-quality education rooted in restorative, trauma-informed care. The high-quality education is delivered through a curricular and instructional design that emphasizes relevance, meaning, and engagement and an approach to learning centered around relationships, trust, mutual respect, and accountability. THS also provides significant optional transition support for students when they return home by offering support with school placement and retention, workforce development, and day-to-day case management.    Through this work with families, community partners, and scores of individuals, we work to create an invaluable network of support for pre-adjudicated teens and young adults that will enable them to return to their community as successful,...