Julie Harris Named Founding Head of School at Great Heart Lake Charles

Great Hearts Lake Charles will welcome its first K–3 students when the new Louisiana academy opens in the fall of 2027. The new school has celebrated many exciting milestones over the last few months as we prepare to bring classical education to families in Southwest Louisiana, but none more exciting than welcoming Julie Harris to the Lake Charles team as its founding Head of School. Harris will be moving from her current role as the Head of Lower School at Great Hearts Harveston in Baton Rouge.

“Ms. Harris joined [Great Hearts Harveston] in its second year and quickly established herself as a leader amongst her fellow teachers,” shared Executive Director Jason Doughty. “Twice asked to move into leadership positions last academic year, first as Assistant Head of the Lower School then as the Head of School, Ms. Harris proved more than up to the task of establishing an ordered and joyful classical K-5 culture. She has gone above and beyond to unite both families and faculty to the mission of our school, namely, to cultivate the minds and hearts of our students in the pursuit of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. Her classical leadership experience both in Great Hearts and from other organizations has been a boon to this community.”

Harris explained in an open letter to Great Hearts Harveston families that she had no intention of leaving the school but realized what an opportunity it will be to build a school from the ground up in Lake Charles while moving closer to her family. “I am excited about extending the goodness of Great Hearts to southwest Louisiana.”

Before joining Great Hearts, Harris spent two decades homeschooling her children while leading in hybrid and classical school environments.

“I’m thrilled to become a part of the Lake Charles community as we work to bring tuition-free classical education to the city,” she shared. “There’s something special about the beginning of a new school, and we’ve already been welcomed with such warmth and kindness that I’m eager to be there full-time.”

Her leadership experience, combined with her deep understanding of classical education and joyful presence on campus, makes her a natural fit for the new K-3 academy.

You can learn more about this exciting new academy in Lake Charles at https://lakecharles.greatheartsamerica.org or join the interest list at https://lakecharles.greatheartsamerica.org/interest-list/.

Enrollment for Great Hearts Lake Charles will open on October 23rd for the 2027-28 school year. 

Do you have a story or know of one that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts? Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.

Submit a student application to a Great Hearts Academy by visiting: https://www.greatheartsamerica.org/enroll/.