The Louisiana Department of Corrections has a re-entry program (Mister Coffee Bean) sponsored by the Be A Coffee Bean Foundation.
The foundation's website states the foundation's purpose "is to significantly improve the quality of life for at-risk youth and provide second chances for reformed incarcerated individuals through mentorship, education, support and advocacy."
The foundation will "screen and select incarcerated, black men, with non-violent, non-aggravated, low-level offenses, with the aptitude to test into college, who do not have a lot of time left on their sentences (ideally, 5 years)."
If selected for the program these men can earn a bachelor's degree in elementary education while in prison. After passing teacher certification exams, they will be paroled and placed to teach in the most at-risk elementary schools.
Sheriff Prator was asked to identify inmates for the ongoing program Mister Coffee Bean.
Today (Feb. 10), Prator emailed Caddo School Board members and school board superintendent Dr. Goree advising he had been asked by the Department of Corrections to identify inmates for the Mister Coffee Bean program.
"I have strong concerns about this program and the hiring of convicted felons to teach our children. I will NOT be identifying any felons to take part in this program."
More information is available on the foundation website.
Comments can be sent as follows: tlgoree@caddoschools.org; sraill@caddoschools.org; jagreen@caddoschools.org; dlittle@caddoshcools.org; tvinson@caddoschools.org; bdouzart@caddoschools.org; mtrammel@caddoschools.org; didixon@caddoschools.org; ctharpe@caddoschools.org; brachal@caddoschools.org; tnations@caddoschools.org; jalbritton@caddoschools.org; dbell@caddoschools.org.