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Travis Hill Schools

Our History

In the spring of 2016, BreakFree Education applied to open a new school inside of the New Orleans juvenile detention center (called the Youth Study Center).  We opened our doors at the detention center just months later, in August of 2016.  As a team, our school staff elected to name the school the Travis Hill School.

One year later BreakFree applied to open a second campus, this time inside of the New Orleans adult jail (called the Orleans Justice Center). We started at the jail on August 28, 2017.

In the 2018-19 school year, we're excited to continue serving students at both of these facilities and to continue working on improving the quality of our schools and meeting our students' needs.

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 Youth Study 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.

01/09/2025
Full time
Chief Operating Officer
Travis Hill Schools
Position Description​ Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the Chief Operations Officer (COO) is responsible for enhancing and, in some cases, establishing all internal and external operational processes and functions across THS’ two campuses located at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) and the Orleans Justice Center (OJC). The COO is also responsible for overseeing the human resources and transition divisions. The COO, along with the Chief Academic Officer (CAO), the CEO, and the principals at the two campuses, comprise the THS leadership team. In addition to collaborating with the internal leadership team, the COO works in close cooperation with external agencies to ensure that every school function is performed with excellence so that students and staff can flourish. The COO will supervise 2 direct reports (including contractors) and an overall team of roughly 10 personnel. Primary Responsibilities Leadership Serve as an integral...
09/05/2024
Full time
Special Educator (24-25 School year)
Travis Hill Schools
SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHER Travis Hill School at  Juvenile Justice Intervention Center     The Schools.  The Travis Hill School provides students detained at the Orleans Justice Center and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center with a high-quality education rooted in restorative, trauma-informed care, a curricular and instructional design that emphasizes relevance, meaning, and engagement, and an approach to learning centered around relationships, trust, and mutual accountability. The Travis Hill School also provides significant transition support for students when they return home by offering support with school placement and retention, workforce development, and ongoing, day-to-day case management. ​ Through work with families, community partners, and scores of individuals, we work to create an unbreakable network of...
05/03/2024
Full time
General Educator (24-25 School year)
Travis Hill Schools
GENERAL EDUCATOR  Travis Hill School at the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center and Orleans Justice Center   The Schools.  The Travis Hill School provides students detained at the Orleans Justice Center and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center with a high-quality education rooted in restorative, trauma-informed care, a curricular and instructional design that emphasizes relevance, meaning, and engagement, and an approach to learning centered around relationships, trust, and mutual accountability. The Travis Hill School also provides significant transition support for students when they return home by offering support with school placement and retention, workforce development, and ongoing, day-to-day case management. ​ Through work with families, community partners, and scores of individuals, we work to create an...