The 826 team is excited to welcome and introduce our new Director of Programs, Andrea Fullington. Andrea brings with her a passion for supporting educators and youth, as well as a love of the Goosebumps series (well represented in The Haunting Supply Company). Read more about her below!
First & Last Name: Andrea Fullington Pronouns: She | Her Job Title: Program Director Hometown: All around Southern California
What brought you to 826 New Orleans?
I was looking for a space to work with young people outside of schools, but in a space that still focused on their education and personal growth. When I found 826, I was really excited about the quality of the publications, the ways they have managed to preserve and amplify student voices, and the alignment of our goals and vision for New Orleans’ students. It was a very natural fit.
What are you most excited for as our new Program Director?
I’m excited to see all the programs in action! There are so many ways 826 is doing phenomenal work with young people. I want to make sure that we are getting to as many students as possible in as many schools as possible! Kyley has done a tremendous job with this work, so I’m thrilled to be standing on her shoulders to keep building transformative programs.
What was your favorite book as a kid, and why?
I was (and still am) obsessed with books so I have a few faves! I read a lot of Goosebumps and Fear Street stories as a child. I really loved Go Ask Alice. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry was also pretty formative for me. There used to be a series called “Love Stories” in the 90s that was awful and sappy, but teenager me devoured them whole lol.
What are you up to outside of your work with us?
I do a lot of work to support Black educators in the city. I work with other local orgs, and also run a project called Black Teacher Griot that aims to amplify the voices of Black classroom teachers. Other than that, I read, binge entirely too many series, and play fight with my puppy, Luna, a lot.
If you were a ghost for a day, where would you most like to haunt?
My house! I recently became a homeowner and I’m so excited about how I can use this land in service to the New Orleans community. I think it would be really cool to haunt it after I’m not here anymore. OR… I’d go to the future and haunt a flying car! I mean, can you imagine… Every time someone hops in their supersweet flying Tesla to run an errand, there I am, appearing in the passenger seat like, “Where we going, friend?!?” It would be hilarious!
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Andrea is a life-long educator for liberation and a proud community servant. Originally hailing from the sunny shores and deserts of California, she has been in New Orleans since 2015. For over 13 years, she taught Humanities to high school students with stops in Boston, Colorado, and Philly before venturing into the slower pace of the swamp. Her work outside of the classroom focuses on education organizing, supporting Black teachers, and using writing as a tool for personal and collective healing. She is adamant about working with community organizations that tackle social issues and create spaces for marginalized folks, so she’s thrilled to join the team at 826 New Orleans. An avid fan of stories, you can catch her falling into her latest book, overanalyzing binge options, or reworking her Top 5 summertime music and films lists.
