Jodey Arrington talks about attending Katrina anniversary events with Former President George W. Bush

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LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura visited New Orleans on Friday to mark the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

President Bush spoke at the historic Warren Easton Charter High School, which was filled with students and dignitaries from across the state.

"We've achieved a lot over the last ten years and with belief and success and a faith in God, New Orleans will achieve even more," President Bush said.

It is a familiar location for Bush, who spoke there on the first-year anniversary of the storm.

It is also familiar to Jodey Arrington, who was asked the New Orleans' mayor to attend these special events.

Jodey Arrington served as a senior advisor to George W. Bush as Governor of Texas and in his first year as President.

In December of 2005, President Bush established a new office by executive order responsible for leading the federal efforts in the rebuilding of the Gulf region in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Arrington was named Deputy Federal Coordinator and Chief of Operations.

"It was pretty nostalgic to see him back there, nine years later, where you can really get a sense for whether our efforts produced the fruit that we all hoped, which was not just bringing the city back and rebuilding the city, but giving the city the opportunity to have a renewal and creating a laboratory of innovation and reform" said Arrington.

Arrington said he knew these things would take time and there is still work to be done, but he said the city's resilience is amazing.

"We think Texans are tough and we will continue to claim being the toughest citizens of the United States, but I'll tell you what, after Katrina, and this incredible tragedy, 80 percent of the city was underwater. About 120 billion dollars in damage, 90 thousand square miles, a million people displaced around the country and on top of that, they had two, three other hurricanes to follow," Arrington said.

Arrington said the City of New Orleans not only endured those storms, but a recession and the B.P. oil spill.

"There is every reason for this city not to stand and not to try to find its new stride, but let me tell you, they have an indomitable spirit," Arrington said.

Arrington said the event at the school was filled with enthusiasm and optimism for the future.

"They have a 100 percent graduation rate," Arrington said.

He said 92 percent of the students in the public school system in New Orleans have improved their graduation rates form 54 percent to 73 percent.

"They basically took over 100 schools and they re-purposed and restructured them as public charter schools and now you are seeing where parents have more choices, students are held to high standards of accountability and teachers and administrators have more flexibility and tools to teach," Arrington said.

Arrington said New Orleans is the fastest growing city in the nation right now.

"They've been very honest about the broken systems, the graft in corruption among their government officials," Arrington said.

He said by being honest and setting high standards for goals for the future is allowing them to achieve great things.

"This unique and great American city is something that can inspire all Americans and inspire other cities to transform their communities just as New Orleans has done," Arrington said.

Arrington now works as the President of Scott Labs, Inc., the holding company for Grace Health System and is responsible for health care innovation and commercialization. His current focus is launching and growing Grace Clinic Online, a telemedicine company.

He received a master's degree in public administration and a bachelor's degree in political science form Texas Tech University.

He met his wife, Anne, while helping rebuild the Gulf region. They have three children and live in Lubbock.