Joshua Jolla

Joshua serves as HYPE’s Director. He is a certified tutor and has been a musician (keyboard & organ) for many years. Joshua focuses much of his personal and professional energy on impacting the lives of others through music. As Lead Tutor of the Academic Resource Center, he leads the team in providing exemplary academic assistance to students from schools across the city.

Arianne Craig Jolla

Arianne serves as HYPE’s Executive Director and Lead Instructor. She received a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary and Special Education from Dillard University and a Masters degree in Special Education from the University of New Orleans. Arianne, a Louisiana-Certified school teacher since 2001. In August of 2017, Arianne released her debut book, Teach Your OWN Kid! Schools Can’t Do It Alone and produces/hosts the Teach Your OWN Kid! Podcast.

Mason Joiner

Mason Joiner is an instructor of English at Delgado Community College, originally from Alexandria, LA, who moved to New Orleans in 2010 and joined Team HYPE in 2015 as an after-school homework assistant. Today he leads the HYPE Writing Workshop, exposing HYPE students to a variety of literary works and bolstering their foundational writing skills, both academic and creative. Mr. Mason believes that HYPE exemplifies a community of good people working together to help shape teenagers into generous, considerate, and productive citizens. In his spare time, Mr. Mason likes to read, write, play tabletop games, and explore New Orleans vegan food!

Sean Tate

Coach Sean brings over twenty years of experience working with local youth through coaching, summer, and enrichment programming. A lifelong New Orleanian, Sean earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English from Tulane University and a Master’s of Science in Counseling from Loyola University New Orleans following four high school years at Brother Martin High School. In addition to his time at HYPE, Coach Sean currently serves as a Physical Education teacher, Athletics Director, Middle School Science and Math teacher at a local elementary school.

Prior to these roles, Coach Sean spent years with Partnership for Youth Development, Firstline Schools, Playworks New Orleans, and the Jefferson Parish Recreation Department in various youth development coordinator and management positions. Through these experiences, Coach Sean aims to provide New Orleans youth with safe and healthy opportunities to have fun and gain positive experiences through games, sport, and other enriching activities. While he loves staying busy in these roles, he also can be found enjoying New Orleans festivities, catching up on movies, crafting, cooking, and when there’s time- playing some video games!

Brianna Holland

Brianna Holland (Ms. Bri), originally from North Carolina, joined Team HYPE in 2020, and is now serving there as an administrative assistant and elementary teacher. She has worked with children her entire life, from running her own babysitting business to daycare to tutoring and teaching. She is well versed in tutoring grades K-6 and working with students with specific learning and behavioral disabilities.

She currently holds a degree in Early Childhood Studies, and is actively working towards Certification in Reading and Literacy for Grades K-6. Along with her professional background as a teacher/tutor, she has over 5 years of experience working in less formal settings such as after school/tutoring programs as a coordinator and in management.

Ms. Bri is a lifelong learner with a passion to serve others. She believes that each child brings his/her own unique gift to the classroom, and that it is her job to discover and empower those gifts. She chose HYPE because it gives her the opportunity to create, foster, and ignite change within the field of education, all while contributing to her culture and community. In her down time, she enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, and spending time with family. She also loves anime, and considers herself a gamer.

Elizabeth Oubre

Elizabeth Brooks Oubre is the Global Coordinator for HYPE Academy’s International/Foreign Exchange program. She was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. She is a proud graduate of St. Mary’s Academy. At an early age, she developed a passion for teaching and volunteering to help youth in any way she could. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, baking, and painting.

Gregory Norman Jr (Coach G)

Gregory Norman Jr (Coach G), serves as HYPE’s Athletic Director. Coach G chose HYPE for the opportunity to positively impact the future of this country through our student body. He feels that HYPE is the opportunity for which our community has been waiting. “A private school created by people of our culture, for our culture, is where I want to be”, Coach says. When Coach G is not coaching the students, he enjoys reading, playing paintball and video games, and spending time with his sons.

Kieya Wilson

Hi, my name is Kieya Wilson. I am a middle school teacher at HYPE. HYPE has given me the opportunity to learn more about myself everyday. I have always had a passion for helping kids, and HYPE gives me the opportunity to be myself while doing just that. Some of my hobbies include baking and being the best ME that I can be.