Charles A. McCullough II facts for kids

Charles McCullough, born in 1978, is an American leader and activist. He is known for working to make things fair for everyone. When he was just 16 years old, he made history. He was the first African American student to be directly elected to the school board in Montgomery County, Maryland. As a student board member, McCullough worked hard to protect the rights of all students and staff.

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Becoming a Student Leader

First African American Student Board Member

In 1995, Charles McCullough was elected to a very important role. He became the student member of the Board of Education (SMOB). This board helps run all the public schools in Montgomery County. He won with a huge number of votes, getting 25,923 out of 29,544 total votes. At that time, the school system was very large. It had 117,000 students in 179 schools.

Making Schools Fair for Everyone

As the student board member, McCullough had full voting rights. This meant he could help make big decisions about school policies. He worked to make sure all employees were treated fairly and equally. He wrote a special policy, Resolution No. 240-1996, about human relations and inclusion. This policy was debated for several months. It even got attention from news channels across the country. When it was finally approved, Montgomery County Public Schools became one of the first school systems in the U.S. to protect its employees from unfair treatment. This policy then became an example for other school districts.

Other Achievements as a Student Leader

During his time on the school board, McCullough did even more. He helped create a scholarship for future student board members. He also brought back the middle school sports program. Plus, he stopped a plan that would have charged students a fee to ride the school bus.

Leading at College

In 1998, McCullough continued his leadership at college. He became the president of the Pepperdine University Student Government Association. He was the second African American to hold this position. While there, he led a student protest. This protest helped the college officially recognize Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Helping a Credit Union Grow

Later, in 2009, McCullough was elected to the board of directors for the United States Postal Service Federal Credit Union (USPSFCU). A credit union is like a bank, but it's owned by its members. In 2014, at age 26, he became the chairman of the board. During his time as chairman, the credit union added new online banking services. They also opened a new branch location, making it easier for members to use their services.

Working for Community Change

In 2017, McCullough decided to run for the Arlington County Board. He ran as an independent candidate. After a sad event in Charlottesville, Virginia, McCullough spoke out. He called for the renaming of Jefferson Davis Highway in Arlington County. This road was named after a leader from the Civil War. McCullough believed the name should be changed to reflect modern values. He received support from several progressive political groups.

His Professional Work

Education and Legal Career

Charles McCullough studied law at Boston College Law School. He also attended the Lynch Graduate School of Education. He is now a lawyer who can practice in the District of Columbia. He can also practice in the highest court in the country, the United States Supreme Court. He has worked with many important organizations. These include Harvard University, the U.S. General Services Administration, and the District of Columbia Public Schools. He also worked with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. He even represented the Australian government at a big international education meeting in 2012.

Starting His Own Company

McCullough is also the founder of his own business. It's called The Conglomerated McCullough Company LLC (CoMcCo). This company helps other businesses with software engineering. This means they help create and improve computer programs. They also help with organizational management. This involves helping companies run smoothly and efficiently.