Paul Vallas wasn’t kidding when he said he would get New Orleans’ residents more involved in their schools—not that we doubted him.

Just a few weeks into his new job, he’s got bigger ideas than bake sales and volunteer tutors. He’s asking community and faith-based groups to propose ways to improve school security and social services.

He’s hoping they’ll tap parents for tasks such as setting up mentoring and after-school programs, serving as truant officers, or monitoring lunchrooms and hallways.

Vallas tried this concept in Chicago and Philadelphia, and he thinks it’s a great way to not only get parents and community members involved in their schools (and get paid) but also for the schools to have some extra helpers who know the neighborhoods. In New Orleans, he says, it’ll also help re-group organizations left scattered after Hurricane Katrina.

I spoke to the fast-talking reformer shortly before he took the helm of the New Orleans Recovery District in June. Our chat, featured as a Newsmaker in the August issue, ranged from political lessons taught by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley to his desire to help N’awlins. (no, he hadn’t gotten the accent just yet).

Later, I spoke with Paul Houston, the retiring executive director of the American Association of School Administrators. Houston noted that Vallas has a lot more riding on this job than rebuilding what has long been one of the nation’s most troubled districts—nationally, administrators will look to him for leadership, and hope, for turning around the toughest districts.

Vallas loves a challenge, though, and we sure wish him well. He’ll need all the help he can find.

Joetta Sack-Min, Associate Editor