Claire Jecklin

About

Claire Jecklin is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the New Orleans Career Center (NOCC), a nationally recognized nonprofit organization that prepares high school students and adult learners for high-wage, high-demand careers through industry-based training, credentialing, and career-connected learning. Since founding NOCC in 2017, Claire has grown the organization from an inaugural class of 135 students to serving more than 750 high school and adult learners annually, helping thousands of individuals build pathways to economic mobility and career success.

With nearly two decades of experience in education and nonprofit leadership, Claire is a recognized leader in workforce development and career and technical education (CTE). Prior to launching NOCC, she served as Principal of New Orleans Charter High School for Science and Math (Sci High), where she championed innovative approaches to student success and college and career readiness. She has also served on the City of New Orleans Workforce Development Board's Youth Committee, the America Achieves Good Jobs Economy Peer Learning Task Force, and is a 2025 Pahara Institute Fellow and lifetime member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network.

Claire has received numerous honors for her leadership and community impact, including being named the 2024 NFL Inspire Change Changemaker for the New Orleans Saints, a 2023 New Orleans Magazine Changemaker, a 2022 New Orleans CityBusiness One to Watch, and one of Biz New Orleans' 500 Most Influential Leaders in Business in both 2024 and 2025. Through collaboration with schools, employers, and community organizations, she continues to champion innovative solutions that connect education to meaningful careers and strengthen Louisiana's future workforce.