History

History of School Programs 1999-Present

Dr. Mike and Natalie McDermott began inspiring schools at a young age. Dr. Mike began traveling to local elementary and middle schools as a high school student with the local police department as a D.A.R.E speaker and Natalie headed up school clubs focused on character. Upon the massacre in Littleton, Colorado at Columbine High School and several copycat shootings across the nation, several students in Mike's school created hit list, made bomb threats, caused school evacuations, and other student led terrorism threats in his school. As the football captain, all conference athlete in multiple sports, Home Coming King, and a christian he felt the divine responsibility to stop these student led threats of terror. Knowing that he would be the number one target and candidate to take the big hit in his school he decided to launch BLITZ anyways. BLITZ was a student led and student initiated anti-violence and bully prevention club. BLITZ attracted over 150 students to their weekly meetings. Mike and his team created and distributed over 200 T-Shirts with a Stop The Violence message.. The BLITZ team also raised funds to purchase curriculum for every student in their public school. BLITZ was highlighted in several newspapers and highlighted through interviews on several television networks. BLITZ launched Mike instantly into a career of reaching students, never to look back.

Upon graduation from High School both Dr. Mike and Natalie became assembly speakers for several successful school programs such as Reach For The Best from New Mexico's CareNet and Aim For Success from Texas. Dr. Mike also worked with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America paring students with mentors. Additionally, they have reached thousands of students internationally in schools on the continent of Africa. Dr. Mike and Natalie built some of the largest student programs in the nation reaching thousands of young people in local non-profits and launching several other school initiatives reaching countless thousands of young people.

History of School Initiatives Continued...

In 2011 Dr. Mike was a founding board member and co-managing director for a school program called Bully Proof USA that attracted further media attention, celebrity endorsements, reached countless thousands of students and more. With Bully Proof USA, Dr. Mike co-authored the book Not In My School. After much demand from both public and private schools for a broader school program that focused on how life decisions dealing with drugs, alcohol, sex education, equality, identity, and character affect grades and test scores the McDermotts decided to expand the Bully Proof USA program into what is known today as UpGrade. The McDermotts expanded into UpGrade, as 501c 3 non-profit initiative to elevate grades by upgrading entire schools, dioceses, and school districts one student at a time through education and awareness. Combined the McDermotts have more than 40 years of experience in student education, student programs, and school initiatives speaking to countless thousands young people across the globe. They have worked with hundreds non-profits and hundreds of schools of all sizes. They have been keynote speakers, managing directors, and/or founders for school programs that have been featured by ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox Sports, ESPN, Time Magazine, Rolling Stones Magazine, newspaper publications, endorsed by heads of state, worked with celebrities, and worked with and endorsed by major league sports teams such as the NHL Dallas Stars and MLB Texas Rangers.

Dr. Mike & Natalie have traveled the world for business, politics, humanitarian efforts, and education. Dr. Mike has led with as many as 10 different companies and organizations in several nations at one time, managing hundreds of staff, millions of dollars, and working with multi-billion dollar companies. Some of the companies and organizations he has led include drug and alcohol rehabilitation centers and clinics, humanitarian organizations that focus on feeding, clothing, and educating children in poverty and orphans in the poorest nations in the world, reaching inner city at risk youth in some of America's largest cities, job training in low employment communities, affordable housing projects, and more. For many years Dr. Mike has traveled regularly to Africa every 30-60 days and domestically across the U.S.A monthly.

Some of the other nations and territories Dr. Mike and Natalie have traveled are Mexico, Panama, Peru, Costa Rica, Thailand, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique, Portugal, Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Honduras, Germany, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Switzerland, St. Lucia, England, Belize, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Martin, West Indies, Barbados, France, Spain, Italy, Vatican City State, Tunisia, Greece, Qatar, the territory of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua, and to over 35 of the 50 United States.

Dr. Mike has been a public figure, greater county president, and regional director for a political party to represent ages 18 to 40 in a region of America larger then 35 of the American states. He has hosted candidate forums for US Senate in his home, State Senate, State Representative, and local offices as well as assisted in events for U.S. Presidential candidates. His efforts have attracted positive attention and awards from other nation's heads of state.

Since their marriage, Natalie has worked side by side with Dr. Mike in their student ministry efforts. Natalie has earned a Master of Organizational Leadership in Consulting and a Bachelor of Professional Development. Natalie also has several years experience mentoring and leading student groups on international trips. Dr. Mike's doctorate is in the area of Leadership and his two masters degrees are in the areas of Humans Services, Counseling, and History. Dr. Mike and Natalie have a passion for education and young people. They would be thrilled to visit your school or organization with the UPGRADE team!