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Mike McGalliard: Making It Count
By: Mimi Makabi
By: Mimi Makabi
In an exclusive interview at the elegant Le Chateau-Wine Bar/Shopin The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Mike McGalliard, President and Co-founder of MENTOR LA sits with Mimi Makabi and shares his vision of how he has brought the private and public sectors together as he worksto improve schools and empower neighborhoods in some of the most disenfranchised communities in Los Angeles.
Every young American deserves a topnotch education characterized by high academic standards, great teachers, and a strong commitment to developing the values, character, and skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century that includes a system characterized by equity and excellence. Each year, well-intentioned individuals and foundations commit millions of dollars in philanthropy to education institutions and reform efforts, not all of which succeed. Despite all the effort and money directed at reforming and renewing public education in the many disenfranchised communities, the system has continued to fail so many students, make no major transformations, and has left a problem far from solved. So one must question: Does an effective system exist, and if so, who can help make this vision a reality? The answer… Mike McGalliard, President and Co- founder of Mentor LA.
Mike McGalliardpersonifies the socially conscious, business-savvy professionals who want to make a positive change in the world. In McGalliard’s case, his overarching aim is to enhance the educational and social options available for disadvantaged students in Los Angeles. No small goal, maybe, but he underscores the importance of community and networking in reaching professional ambitions. Armed with his resilient personality and strong commitment to educational reform, he has not only implemented a system which has successfully transformed and empowered many disenfranchised schools and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, but also he has ultimately -- and measurably – helped thousands of youth make a successful transition to adulthood and secure a bright future in our society.
As a pioneer in public education, McGalliard has consistently utilized an unconventional approach to bringing exceptional opportunities to these under-served students and families. For nearly twenty years, his programs have set the highest standard of excellence for thousands of students, helping transform some of the most challenging public high schools in LA and earning McGalliard a reputation for progressive thinking and innovation.
After spending two years in Seattle as an English teacher where he developed a creative and engaging style in the classroom, McGalliard (only 24 years old at the time) moved back to is native city of Los Angeles and co-founded a model program for school-based educational reform in 1995—called The College Pathways Project (CPP). “The idea was to get into disenfranchised schools that were suffering and to inject them with exciting opportunities for learning. CPP’s aim was to get kids to go to college who you wouldn’t ordinarily pick to go. They were kids that were deserving and just needed the opportunity,” explains McGalliard. With its unique, student-centered approach to teaching, CPP quickly became a success. “It was great! 86% of our kids went off to college. But the really cool thing about it wasn’t the statistic—it was the program. Because I was a teacher, I loved being in the classroom and creating experiences for kids that would make them think…. ‘Man, there is so much potential in the world—so many things to study, so many things to do!’ So it became less about college and more about the love of learning,” shares McGalliard.
Every young American deserves a topnotch education characterized by high academic standards, great teachers, and a strong commitment to developing the values, character, and skills necessary to thrive in the 21st century that includes a system characterized by equity and excellence. Each year, well-intentioned individuals and foundations commit millions of dollars in philanthropy to education institutions and reform efforts, not all of which succeed. Despite all the effort and money directed at reforming and renewing public education in the many disenfranchised communities, the system has continued to fail so many students, make no major transformations, and has left a problem far from solved. So one must question: Does an effective system exist, and if so, who can help make this vision a reality? The answer… Mike McGalliard, President and Co- founder of Mentor LA.
Mike McGalliardpersonifies the socially conscious, business-savvy professionals who want to make a positive change in the world. In McGalliard’s case, his overarching aim is to enhance the educational and social options available for disadvantaged students in Los Angeles. No small goal, maybe, but he underscores the importance of community and networking in reaching professional ambitions. Armed with his resilient personality and strong commitment to educational reform, he has not only implemented a system which has successfully transformed and empowered many disenfranchised schools and neighborhoods in Los Angeles, but also he has ultimately -- and measurably – helped thousands of youth make a successful transition to adulthood and secure a bright future in our society.
As a pioneer in public education, McGalliard has consistently utilized an unconventional approach to bringing exceptional opportunities to these under-served students and families. For nearly twenty years, his programs have set the highest standard of excellence for thousands of students, helping transform some of the most challenging public high schools in LA and earning McGalliard a reputation for progressive thinking and innovation.
After spending two years in Seattle as an English teacher where he developed a creative and engaging style in the classroom, McGalliard (only 24 years old at the time) moved back to is native city of Los Angeles and co-founded a model program for school-based educational reform in 1995—called The College Pathways Project (CPP). “The idea was to get into disenfranchised schools that were suffering and to inject them with exciting opportunities for learning. CPP’s aim was to get kids to go to college who you wouldn’t ordinarily pick to go. They were kids that were deserving and just needed the opportunity,” explains McGalliard. With its unique, student-centered approach to teaching, CPP quickly became a success. “It was great! 86% of our kids went off to college. But the really cool thing about it wasn’t the statistic—it was the program. Because I was a teacher, I loved being in the classroom and creating experiences for kids that would make them think…. ‘Man, there is so much potential in the world—so many things to study, so many things to do!’ So it became less about college and more about the love of learning,” shares McGalliard.
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