About Mike Molina
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
BIOGRAPHY
With nearly twenty years of professional experience as an educator, education advocate, and non-profit leader in diverse environments, Michael earned a J.D. from Yale Law School after receiving his B.A. in English from Xavier University of Louisiana. Michael comes to BWS after heading a wrap-around student support program for boys of color at Gilman School in Baltimore. Prior to Gilman, Michael helped launch a language immersion public charter school and directed education programs for an organization serving U.N. designated refugees. As an advocate for youth development, then as a national and tri-national (Canada, U.S., and Mexico) advocate for education, Michael won a competitive fellowship to design a program of holistic family support for youth from New Orleans displaced to Atlanta as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Michael has taught at the middle, secondary, post-secondary, and graduate levels in English, African American History, Urban Studies, and Creative Writing. Michael lives with Jessy, his wife, and their two children Maya and Miles.
Mr. Molina's educational Philosophy is rooted in these core beliefs:
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I believe our students can develop into independent, resilient, confident life-long learners.
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I believe our teachers can achieve professional excellence and personal fulfillment in their work.
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I believe our school must be a vibrant and inclusive environment so that students and teachers engage in a thriving garden of ideas, perspectives, backgrounds.
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I believe our school’s sustainability and organizational focus are the foundation of this work.
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Sustaining a warm, safe, dynamic, and thriving learning environment is paramount.
The 2022-23 school year has started with great joy. We welcomed founding executive director James Woody back to celebrate the naming of our campus in his honor. The entire school traveled to Episcopal Church of the Atonement for our first ever school opening convocation, led by our chaplain Rev. Ricardo Sheppard. BWS' annual service of evening prayer at the National Cathedral saw our scholars return in person for the first time since the start of the pandemic as we welcomed five new board members and the return of founding board member Sandi Hannibal. Our first ever BWS Alumni Weekend was the culmination of the intentional work of our Director of Outplacement and Graduate Support, Brian Harris, who is building a network of opportunity and support that will walk Bishop Walker School graduates into young adulthood.