Board of Directors
All board meetings are open to the general public. All meetings are held in the Family Center in Room 212. We meet the school site on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:45pm.
On behalf of Sojourner Truth Academy's Board of Directors, we are pleased you are interested in learning more about our school and wanted to take this opportunity to tell you a little bit about our board. Our Board of Directors is currently compromised of eight members, who each bring unique skills and experience to the board. Although coming from different walks of life and occupations, all share the goal of giving our best efforts to support the mission of Sojourner Truth Academy: a rigorous college preparatory high school with an emphasis on social justice and leadership. Some of our board members are lifelong residents of New Orleans, and some are fairly new to our community, but all of us have recognized the tremendous opportunity that now exists to make great schools in New Orleans. Sojourner Truth Academy will be one of those great schools.
In addition to attending board meetings, board members work on various committees, including community relations, development, academic excellence, governance and finance. Each committee, which is chaired by a board member, is designed to contribute to the overall governance and well-being of STA. All board members have committed to not only give their time to STA, but also to make a financial contribution each year of board service. We welcome inquiries concerning board membership or committee membership from anyone able to make those commitments.
- Bob Burvant, Board Chair
Board Members
Robert Burvant, Board Chair
Bob is a member of the King, Krebs & Jurgens, P.L.L.C. firm where he has been an attorney since 1985. His area of expertise is in commercial litigation and advising companies engaged in construction, banking, maritime commerce and leasing. A native New Orleanian and lifelong resident, Bob knows first hand the challenges the city has faced and continues to face with public education. To that end, Bob joined the STA Board to be part of improving public education and to revitalize the city. As Board Chair, Bob’s commitment to STA, New Orleans and the future of the public school system serves as an inspiration to all Board members and the entire STA community.
Annie Balart Michaels, Vice Chair
Anne (Annie) started ARB Meeting and Events in New Orleans in 2004. With her hands on approach to running ABR, it has grown from a one person stay at home operation to a thriving business responsible for managing meeting around the world for large companies. Annie possesses tremendous business management, event planning and fundraising skills. The Board of STA is fortunate that Annie provides the same hands on approach to her work for STA as the chair of the Community Relations Committee. Annie is also a big sister for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeast Louisiana.
Victoria Johnson, Secretary
Victoria (Tori) received her LLM in taxation from New York University in 1987. Tori has served as the General Counsel for Tulane University in New Orleans since 1998 and prior to that as Associate General. As General Counsel, Tori is responsible for all legal matters for the university. Tori’s experience working within an educational institution is a critical component to the STA Board.
Keith Crawford, Treasurer
Keith Crawford returned to New Orleans full time after Hurricane Katrina to found the Loftin Group, LLC, a managerial consulting practice focusing on financial management consulting and the implementation of various Federal disaster response programs. Since March 2007, he has also held the position of Chief Financial Officer of the Idea Village, an economic development organization focused on entrepreneurship and innovation in New Orleans. Keith’s expertise in the areas of financial management and business consulting are key to STA staying on track with its long and short term goals.
Alice Parkerson
Alice is a native New Orleanian and the Vice President of Development at the Greater New Orleans Foundation. With over 16 years of experience in development and donor relations, Alice oversees the development and donor services department. Previous to her tenure at GNOF, she worked as a development officer at both Vanderbuilt University and STARS, a non-profit organization serving youths in 13 counties. Alice is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the National Committee on Planned Giving.
Sybil Favrot
Sybil is a long-time New Orleans resident who's commitment to the city and its people is a welcomed addition to the enthusiasm of our Board of Directors. Sybil is part of numerous New Orleans philanthropic, educational and activist groups including Women of the Storm, Tulane University Board of Administrators, The Junior League of New Orleans and the list goes on. Sybil also helped organize the first annual Sojourner Truth Academy End of Year Gala held in May of 2008.
Charline Wright
A graduate of Cornell University and Cornell Law School, Charline took a one year leave of absence from her Manhattan law firm to serve as a Law Clerk in Louisiana’s United States District Court. The clerkship ended abruptly in 2005 with Hurricane Katrina. Undeterred, Charline relocated to New Orleans permanently and accepted a position as an associate in the Business Group at Phelps Dunbar LLP. Charline’s experience with public schools both locally and in New York along with her dynamic personality make her a valuable asset to STA.
David Perlis
The CEO of Perlis Inc., David Perlis graduated from Tulane in 1964 with BA in History, and Tulane Law School in 1967. He served as Assistant District Attorney in Orleans Parish and practiced law in New Orleans for several years before joining the family business, which he has run since 1978. David has also served on several Chamber of Commerce committees and other civic endeavors, but finds being part of Sojourner Truth Academy to be most rewarding of all.
Dr. Elizabeth Moore Rhodes
Dr. Rhodes
is a 2003 graduate in Educational Technology from Pepperdine University. She earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University of Louisiana. She currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Southeastern Louisiana University. Dr. Rhodes has also served in several capacities at Xavier University of Louisiana; as Director of Distance Learning, School/University Liaison in the Center for the Advancement of Teaching, Director of Student Teaching and as Assistant Professor in the Division of Education.