Growing up in Los Angeles, Dr. Sandra Cano saw gangs and drugs in her neighborhood, but her mother — a housekeeper who worked for some of the city’s wealthiest — was determined to give her daughter the best possible education. Cano tells host Giselle Fernandez she was the first in her family to go to college, despite her surroundings, and eventually earned her bachelor's, master's and doctorate. She went on to become a teacher and rose through the ranks to become a principal, putting special focus on English learners — having known from experience the difficulties they face. Today, she is the executive director of the nonprofit City Year Los Angeles, which partners with educators to provide mentors and tutors for children in school.
