We’ve created a new hub of COVID-19 Resources to provide our students, families and the community with helpful information to support you during the ongoing pandemic. New: COVID-19 Resources Page This page includes links to various resources offered throughout our nine-county service area, virtual learning supports, mental health services, meal assistance and more. Click the […]
Jessica Vargas found Visions In Education after her health issues made it difficult for her to attend traditional public school. In 9th grade, she decided to drop out due to a low GPA brought on by her diabetes and low attendance record. At the time she wasn’t sure where to turn but she knew she wanted to continue learning. After doing some research and not finding an online high school that was a good fit, she saw an ad for Visions and knew Independent Study was the exact program she was looking for.
“Without Visions I wouldn’t be learning and growing and taking care of my medical needs,” said Jessica. “I’ve become more social and confident all thanks to the people at Visions and what they do for their students. Best decision I’ve made in my life!”
After enrolling in Visions her sophomore year, Jessica was able to raise her GPA and focus on her interpersonal skills. Her teacher, Amy Salvatori, is her biggest motivator. Her support has helped Jessica focus on her education, manage her diabetes, improve her mental health and increase her confidence.
“Amy is by far the best teacher I have had. From giving me a courage boost, to helping me with my goals, she does it all because she is passionate about her job and cares about her students,” said Jessica.
Now that Jessica has gotten back on track she plans to take advantage of the enrichment services and free community college opportunities offered at Visions. In the future, she hopes to study to become a veterinarian and volunteer to help at-risk communities. We’re so proud of Jessica’s progress and look forward to seeing her succeed.
The 2020/21 school year starts on Tuesday, August 25 and we want to see your back to school photos! Say Cheese! To participate you’ll need to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Show us what your first day of school looks like using the hashtag #VisionsFirstDay and be entered to win one of several $25 […]
Shalini K. came to Visions last year after having a difficult time in another school’s independent study program. Her family was looking for a school that would provide a flexible schedule, academic support and college planning. In Visions’ online high school program she has been able to get back on track and reignite her love for learning.
At her old school Shalini felt lost and was unsure what her goals were. She’s an artist and she’s currently exploring different career options including law, medicine and entrepreneurship. At Visions, she’s found the support and opportunities she needs to learn, grow and plan for the future.
“Every day I look forward just to sitting at my desk and studying. You [Visions] made learning a hobby for me,” said Shalini. “This school is a genuine lifesaver.”
With the support of her teacher, Kristen Wetzel and counselor, Jen Nino, Shalini has found her passion for learning again. She’s participating in a career technical education heath course and plans to take college classes during her senior year. In addition to her studies, she’s focusing on her art and plans to open an Etsy shop to sell her designs.
“Kristen is the best teacher I’ve had in a very long time. She emails me almost immediately and she explains things well and in detail,” said Shalini.
Shalini is ready to jump into the new school year. She’s working with her counselor, Jen, to plan for college and creating sticker designs for her online shop. We can’t wait to see what she does in the future!
Linda R. found Visions in 8th grade while researching schools that offered flexibility and extra support. She knew she needed a school that would help her pursue her various interests and goals.
Linda took honors courses and began exploring her interest in healthcare by earning her CPR certification. She’d always had an interest in the medical field but also wanted time to pursue her artistic interests including painting and manicuring. At Visions, she was able to pursue both her academic and personal interests in our online high school program.
“Visions helped me tremendously, they offered tutoring, college classes, driver’s education, honors courses and the tools I needed to achieve my goals,” said Linda.
Linda is also bilingual and was awarded the California State Seal of Biliteracy for mastering both Spanish and English. This award recognizes high school graduates who are able to proficiently speak, read and write one or more languages in addition to English.
Linda credits much of her success to her teacher, Don Bisio and counselor, Julie Winalski. Don always liked to start each week with motivational quotes to inspire his students. Julie provided the additional support Linda needed to prepare for college.
“Julie is an incredible counselor. She always makes time for her students,” said Linda. “During my senior year, she helped me and my other classmates tremendously.”
Linda graduated in 2020 and is moving on to pursue her degree in nursing at California State University, Sacramento. #VisionsProud
When Jeremiah C. was in third grade he read his science textbook in 24 hours. At that moment his parents realized they needed to find a school that could fit his advanced needs. Fast forward nine years and he is proudly graduating from Visions’ online University Prep high school program.
At Visions, Jeremiah’s teachers encouraged him to dig in and learn more about the topics he studied. His flexible high school schedule allowed him to pursue his various interests while also accelerating his learning.
Jeremiah woke up early each morning to attend seminary class, participated in various Shakespeare productions, helped plan and lead a week long camp and served as an intern at SeaQuest Folsom and the Sacramento County Election Office. During his senior year he served as the President of the Visions’ chapter of the California Scholarship Federation. He also joined his local First Robotics team and competed nationally. During his two years with the team they were awarded various honors including the Creativity in Engineering award which came with a $5,000 NASA sponsorship!
“He just didn’t fit the traditional school model,” said Jeremiah’s mom, Brenda. “We liked that Visions was flexible with creative ways to ‘show-what-you-know’ beyond just workbooks and tests but still held him accountable and challenged him to progress and grow at his accelerated pace.”
Jeremiah worked closely with his teachers, principal and counselors to find ways to get ahead. He took AP Calculus and participated in Visions’ community college program by taking Physics at Cosumnes River College. This experience helped him prepare early for his college career. Being able to learn at home also gave him the time to advance in his studies while also enjoying his hobbies like kayaking, mastering complex board games and solving Rubik’s cubes.
Jeremiah will be attending UC Santa Barbara in the fall to pursue a degree in Physics. After a year of school he plans to take a break to serve on a two year mission for his church. In the future he hopes to work at CERN, a European research organization that studies subatomic particles.
National Charter Schools Week is May 10-16 and this year’s theme is “Above and Beyond”. We’re proud to be a charter school with students, parents, teachers and staff that are going above and beyond to keep moving forward during this difficult time. We want to use this week to celebrate the fact that Visions In […]
Many young writers dream of publishing their first book, few can claim to be a published author before they even start high school. But Visions 8th grade student, known as Allie Kat*, has been writing since she was ten years old. She is the proud published author of multiple children’s books.
“My friends moved away a few years ago,” Allie Kat said when asked why she started writing. “[My book characters] were immediately my friends.”
At the urging of her mother, Allie pursued her passion and turned her first writing project into her first story. As she made the transition into middle school, Allie and her family looked for a flexible choice that would allow her to pursue her writing career. This eventually led her to Visions In Education and credentialed teacher Megan Edens.
“I really enjoy being her student,” Allie Kat said.
At Visions, Allie Kat is able to work at her own pace and balance being a successful author and student. She is able to keep writing her own work, in a creative writing exploration class and as part of our Find Your Voice writing class that brings young authors together to publish an anthology. Allie Kat has been published multiple times, both as part of collaborations and in her own standalone projects. Her latest book, Adventures of Baby Matzu, is a children’s book that was inspired by her aunt and uncle’s new baby.
“I didn’t expect it to become a book,” Allie Kat said. “I just got inspired and started writing.”
Allie Kat was recently featured at the Great Valley BookFest and has a number of projects in the works. Including a sequel to Adventures of Baby Matzu. She is looking forward to the challenge of high school and thanks her family and teacher for supporting her in her creative journey.
*Student’s real name was withheld by request.
During this unprecedented time where many schools are closed due to COVID-19, Visions In Education is proud to offer programs that allow our students to continue learning. Our Home School, online Independent Study and University Prep programs are already built to offer distance learning to give flexibility to families. To help other students and families […]
