Dr. Maribel Galan began her career in Los Angeles Unified School District 25 years ago as a middle school teacher and grade level chair in English Language Arts, Social Studies, Literacy, and English Language Development. She joined East Whittier School District, where she was asked to take on leadership roles in developing English Language Development programs.

In 2005, Dr. Galan was hired to open the first elementary school under Aspire Public Charter Schools in the city of Huntington Park. She then opened the first Aspire middle school in the same area. Under her leadership, the school made a 79 point API increase in just the second year of operation. She also served as an elementary school principal in the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District. She became the Director of Curriculum and Instruction in the Anaheim City School District, responsible for district-wide professional development and planning. Dr. Galan previously served as Senior Director of School Transformation at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, serving the lowest performing schools in high poverty communities under LAUSD.

Dr. Galan earned her Bachelor’s degree in Law and Society from the University of California, Santa Barbara, a Masters in Education and Administration from California State University of Dominguez Hills and then went on to earn her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Public Policy from Pepperdine University where she taught as an adjunct professor in the Masters of Education program.