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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.

05/25/2023
Social Worker
Travis Hill Schools
Position Description​ The Clinical School Social Worker will serve as a key member of our Student Support Services team—providing individual and group counseling to students, offering support and structure to schoolwide programming for all students, and serving as a liaison between the School and the OJC or JJIC staff on behavioral health matters. This will be an exhilarating and demanding job--one that requires a clinician who is fully committed to the students at the OJC or JJIC. We are looking for a clinician who takes initiative, has good judgment and is grounded in doing what is right and just, who is self-reflective and isn’t afraid to ask for help. We are looking for someone who is creative and who works well with a wide range of people--including students, parents, teachers, and secure care staff. For the right person, this is an ideal job. The Social Worker will work with the Special Education Coordinator, ensuring that we provide counseling and related...
05/15/2023
Special Education Teacher
Travis Hill Schools
The Schools. The Background.​ ​ The Travis Hill Schools provide students detained at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) 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 Schools also provide 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.   We are currently looking for a Special Education teacher.   The Travis Hill Schools are run by BreakFree Education. BreakFree Education is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving schools in juvenile and criminal justice facilities across the nation. The first Travis School opened in August 2016 at the...
06/10/2022
GENERALIST TEACHER & SMALL GROUP INSTRUCTOR
Travis Hill Schools
The Schools. The Background.​ The Travis Hill Schools provide students detained at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) 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 Schools also provide 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.   We are currently looking for a generalist teacher and small group instructor who will serve as a floater and substitute teacher, will cover classes, work with students in small groups, and pitch in as needed .   The Travis Hill Schools are run by the BreakFree Education.  BreakFree is a nonprofit...
06/10/2022
Special Education Teacher
Travis Hill Schools
The Schools. The Background.​ ​ The Travis Hill Schools provide students detained at the Orleans Justice Center (OJC) and the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center (JJIC) 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 Schools also provide 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.   We are currently looking for a Special Education teacher.   The Travis Hill Schools are run by BreakFree Education. BreakFree Education is a nonprofit organization devoted to improving schools in juvenile and criminal justice facilities across the nation. The...