20 years after Katrina, New Orleans schools are still ‘a work in progress’ The city’s school system looks almost nothing like it did 20 years ago. By that same year, half of all New Orleans teachers had been on the job less than 5 years. “That makes a world of difference when you want kids to be successful.”Still, many New Orleans schools were struggling when Katrina hit. The teachers union connected new teachers with veteransNew Orleans’ teachers union, United Teachers of New Orleans, had been an exceptional force in the city – and region – before Katrina. About 67% of K-8 teachers and 62% of high school teachers now identify as Black.