Mikala L. Rahn

Mikala L. Rahn is the CEO and founder of Public Works, an education research firm specializing in preK–12 education reform, curriculum and assessment, teacher retention, after-school programs, school-to-work transition, and parent involvement. She has extensive experience in school improvement, curriculum and assessment, teacher professional development and support, juvenile justice intervention and prevention programs, and workforce development. Rahn previously founded Learning Works Charter School to serve high-risk youth, including dropouts, probation youth, and pregnant and parenting teens, focusing on students not addressed by mainstream educational systems. She also founded Community Works, turning research into practice by supporting teachers, parents, and students through training, classes, and hands-on assistance. Additionally, she co-founded artWORKS, providing creative spaces for youth to engage in various media, and started HopeWorks, a drop-in center offering essential services to homeless youth and young adults. She has served on the Pasadena Unified School Board and is the chief of research, evaluation, and strategy at Homeboy Industries. Rahn earned both her MA in education administration and PhD in educational policy from the University of California, Berkeley.

updated 2025