Odyssey Charter Schools Governing Board

The Odyssey Charter Schools Governing Board is composed of up to nineteen members who serve to provide leadership and guidance to the school as related to fiscal and governance matters. Our diverse board members bring a variety of experience, expertise, and talents which work in unison to ensure the success of our school and students.

Interested in being on our Board? Community members are encouraged to learn more about the role and function of the Governing Board (Informational Packet). 

Dr. Mikala Rahn is the CEO of Public Works, an education research firm, Dr. Rahn specializes in preK-12 education reform, curriculum and assessment, teacher retention, and more. Her work combines qualitative and quantitative research to inform policy and practice, and she has conducted numerous large-scale evaluations at the federal and state levels. In 2008, she founded Learning Works Charter School to serve high-risk youth, including dropouts, probation youth, and parenting teens, demonstrating exceptional success in addressing the needs of students underserved by traditional education systems.

Additionally, Dr. Rahn serves as the Chief of Research, Evaluation, and Strategy at Homeboy Industries, where she leads internal evaluations, research partnerships, and government reporting efforts. Her team is spearheading a significant initiative through the Annie E. Casey Foundation, utilizing a customized therapeutic database, Care 4, and conducting Homeboy’s first 12-month follow-up study. She plays a key role in government-funded and strategic initiatives for the organization. 

Committed to translating research into action, Dr. Rahn founded Community Works to support educators, parents, and students and co-founded artWORKS, which provides creative opportunities in various arts for youth. She also started HopeWorks, a drop-in center offering essential services to homeless youth. With a Ph.D. in Educational Policy, two M.A. degrees, and a B.A. in Human Development Communications, Dr. Rahn has also served as a Pasadena Unified School Board member, embodying a lifelong dedication to education and community impact.

Ms. Caitlin Reilly is a seasoned art professional with extensive experience across various roles in the film, television, commercial, and music video industries. From her beginnings as an Art Production Assistant in 2001, she has steadily advanced her career, serving as an Art Coordinator, Set Dresser, Leadman, Prop Assistant, Set Decoration Buyer, and Assistant Art Director (Non-Union). Since 2021, she has been working as an Art Director, bringing her vision and expertise to a wide array of creative projects. 

Her work spans feature films, short films, commercials, and music videos. Caitlin has worked across diverse locations, including the United States, Canada, China, the UK, Greece, and Turkey, adapting her craft to different cultures and visual styles.

Sandy York is an occupational therapist working with adults in local hospitals and home health. She earned her bachelors in science from California State University Northridge in 2008 and Masters in Occupational Therapy in 2012. 

Erin Fortin is an accomplished creative professional specializing in brand strategy and identity. After beginning her career as a graphic designer in the music industry in 2008, she moved into creative direction and led design departments in branding and project workflow for live music venues with business lines encompassing restaurants, luxury nightclubs, 501(c)3 nonprofits and more.

She’s spent the last decade on design and creative direction focused on driving social impact in the music industry; working with clients who connect underserved youth to educational opportunities and career pathways, pass legislation benefitting independent artists, and work toward social and racial justice and the advancement of marginalized groups in the music industry.

Michael O’Shea is a television writer and producer with over a decade of experience in the entertainment industry. He earned his BFA from the State University of New York at Purchase in 2003 and has since contributed to several high-profile projects, including Chicago Fire (NBC), where he served as a writer and producer from 2014 to 2020, and most recently, Teacup (Peacock) from 2023 to 2024.

In addition to his work in television, Michael is committed to social impact and community engagement. He served on the Board of Directors for the SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition from 2018 to 2020. In this role, he chaired the Policy and Advocacy Committee, led direct outreach efforts, trained volunteers, and helped shape the organization’s pandemic response to support unhoused neighbors.