Advertisement

Header Utility Menu

  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Events

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

  • Login

Virginia Business

Mobile Menu

  • Issues
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Advertisement

Header Primary Menu

  • Issues
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • Issues Archive
  • Industries
    • Banking/Finances
    • Law
    • Real Estate
    • Economic Development
    • Education
    • Energy/Green
    • Federal Contracting
    • Government
    • Healthcare
    • Hotels/Tourism
    • Insurance
    • Ports/Trade
    • Small Business
    • Startups
    • Technology
    • Transportation
  • Regions
    • Central Virginia
    • Eastern Virginia
    • Northern Virginia
    • Roanoke/New River Valley
    • Shenandoah Valley
    • Southern Virginia
    • Southwest Virginia
  • Reports
    • Best Places to Work
    • Business Person of the Year
    • CEO Pay
    • COVID-19
    • Generous Virginians Project
    • Legal Elite
    • Most Influential Virginians
    • Maritime Guide
    • Site Locator
    • The Big Book
    • Virginia CFO Awards
  • Company News
    • For the Record
    • People
  • Opinion
  • Lists
  • Awards/Events
    • 2022 Virginia Business Political Roundtable
    • Women in Leadership
    • Diversity Leadership Series
    • Virginia 500
    • Legal Elite
    • CFO Awards
    • Big Book of Lists
    • 100 People To Meet
    • Best Places To Work
  • Virginia 500
    • Read The Issue
    • Power Up Virginia 500
    • Buy an award plaque
    • Suggest execs for 2023

Home News Regions Norfolk ‘micro-school’ will prep kids for future work

Norfolk ‘micro-school’ will prep kids for future work

Published July 30, 2021 by Joan Tupponce

Mike McGalliard is executive director of Yellow, Pharrell Williams’ educational nonprofit, which is launching a STEM “micro-school” in Norfolk. Photo by Mark Rhodes
Mike McGalliard is executive director of Yellow, Pharrell Williams’ educational nonprofit, which is launching a STEM “micro-school” in Norfolk. Photo by Mark Rhodes

Music superstar Pharrell Williams’ educational nonprofit, Yellow, will be opening a new, independent “micro-school” with a focus on STEM and workforce preparation this fall in Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood.

The school, Yellowhab, is intended to be the first of a network of small schools.

“We want to add more schools in Hampton Roads and beyond,” says Mike McGalliard, executive director of Yellow. “This school that opens this fall is one among what we hope to be many schools just like it.”

Williams, who grew up in Virginia Beach, says he has “a deep connection to the region as whole. The opportunity presented itself in Norfolk, and as we grow, we’d like to support and serve families and communities throughout Hampton Roads.”

Yellowhab will open with grades 3 to 5, but will eventually expand to include pre-K to 12, and will be tuition free for its inaugural year, McGalliard says, with children selected via a lottery from appli-cations received from families living in Norfolk. The school’s location has not been announced.

Each class of 10 children will be called a crew, with teachers referred to as crew leaders. “The school will have an emphasis on STEM education,” McGalliard says, “and will initially enroll between 40 and 50 students who will be grouped by skill level and not grade level.”

The immersive curriculum will involve problem solving and examining critical processes and will include access to technology in and outside of school.

“We are looking at what skills they will need to be successful in the future,” says McGalliard. “Half of the jobs a child will be applying for don’t exist yet. We teach adaptability, lifelong learning and creativity.”

The school will emphasize entrepreneurship — the skills and “mindsets children need to bring their ideas to life,” says Stacey Lopez, chief operating officer of Virginia Beach-based Yellow. “We also want children to understand the future of work, to understand what’s out there for them and what’s possible for them and how the skills and knowledge they learn today at Yellowhab connect to real life and real jobs.”

This and subsequent schools will serve children and families who are usually underserved in traditional education. Families must qualify for the federal free and reduced lunch program to attend.

Subscribe to Virginia Business. Get our daily e-newsletter.

Related Stories

Virginia Business logo

State approves more than $780,000 for GO Virginia projects

Virginia Business logo

CBRE|Hampton Roads announces several leases

Virginia Business logo

Got an idea for improving community health? It could be worth $10,000.

Trending

Dollar Tree CEO resigning; former Dollar General CEO to replace him

Rivers Casino Portsmouth opens to big crowds

Framatome CEO retiring; CFO to be promoted

Va. bill aims to reduce mental health stigma for health care workers

Former EAB buildings in Henrico sell for $5.35M

Sponsored Stories

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Advertisement

Advertisement

Trending

Dollar Tree CEO resigning; former Dollar General CEO to replace him

Rivers Casino Portsmouth opens to big crowds

Framatome CEO retiring; CFO to be promoted

Va. bill aims to reduce mental health stigma for health care workers

Former EAB buildings in Henrico sell for $5.35M

Sponsored Stories

In the New Year, Aim for Better Cybersecurity

4 innovative ways to create capacity

WHERE IS THE SUPPLY CHAIN WHEN YOU NEED IT?

P.A.I.N.T. Your Financial Mountain

5 Benefits of Treasury Management Services from Atlantic Union Bank

Blazing trails in the digital landscape

Get Virginia Business directly on your tablet or in your mailbox!

Subscribe to Virginia Business

Advertisement

Advertisement

Footer Primary Menu

  • virginiabusiness.com
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Footer Secondary Menu

  • Industries
  • Regions
  • Reports
  • Company News
  • Events

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

Sign Up

LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Instagram Get Our App

Privacy Policy Cookie Policy

Footer Utility Menu

Copyright © 2023 Virginia Business. All rights reserved.

Site Maintained by TechArk