By Michael Christakis
I’m pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Tipton to the ODK Society Board of Directors as an At-Large Member (“non-academe”). The Board of Director’s formally appointed Michael at the Board’s organizational meeting immediately following the conclusion of the National Convention in Charlotte, NC on July 28th. Michael currently serves as the Executive Director of Teach for America South Louisiana.
Michael joined the Teach For America staff in South Louisiana in July of 2007 after serving as a founding teacher at Mott Hall Bronx High School in New York City. As a teacher he co-created a team-taught and thematically based Humanities program that integrated freshman level English and American History content and ultimately led his students to an average of over a 150% increase in American History proficiency as measured by the New York State Regents exams. In addition to this Michael created an after-school Economics program that prepared students for the rigors of the International Baccalaureate program, coordinated the school’s Service Learning program of community service and professional development for students and served as the advisor to the school’s Student Council. Mott Hall Bronx’s initial class which Michael taught as freshmen had an 87% graduation rate compared with the traditional less than 40% graduation rate in the Bronx.
Michael graduated Summa Cum Laude from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with dual degrees in Political Science and History, where he was initiated into ODK. He completed his M.S. in Teaching from Pace University in New York. As Executive Director, Michael works with the South Louisiana regional board, community members, corps members, and school staff to ensure professional development for our corps members, secure funding, and raise awareness of the impact Teach for America in South Louisiana. Under Michael’s leadership the South Louisiana region more than quadrupled fundraising, is expanding the corps from under 60 teachers in 2007 to 150 teachers this school year, has increased the number of Teach For America alumni living in South Louisiana from 30 to 150, has increased the regions fundraising from $650,000 to more than $2.5M annually and has increased the number of alumni senior state officials from 1 to more than 30. Michael is a recipient of the Baton Rouge Business Reports Top 40 under 40 Award, is a 2009 graduate of the Baton Rouge Leadership Program and a 2011 graduate of CABL’s Leadership Louisiana program.
Michael previously served as an At-Large Student Member of the Board of Directors from 2004-2006. I am thrilled he has agreed to return to the Board as the “non-academe” At-Large Member. Please join me in welcoming Michel to the Board!
