For Zac S., playing guitar is more than just his career of choice. It’s a way to express himself through music. For more than ten years (since he was twelve years old) Zac has been honing his skill with his instrument as a way to communicate his feelings.
“I’ve never been good with words,” says Zac. “[Guitar] is how I communicate to other people how I feel.”
With aspirations of playing professionally, Zac came to Visions looking for the flexibility to pursue his passion and a school free of distractions.
“You’re not exposed to bad influences as much,” says Zac. At Visions, Zac connected with Credentialed Teacher Donald Bisio who helped Zac plan his schedule so that he could complete his schoolwork while continuing to improve his musical talents. In his sophomore year, Zac took community college classes to get a jumpstart on college while touring with musical groups across the country.
“If you just put your mind to it, you’re gonna get it done,” says Zac, when asked how he managed to balance his obligations as a high school student and his budding musical career.
Zac worked with his teacher Mr. Bisio to get his assignments completed ahead of his tours across the country to places like Germany and Ukraine. In 2017, Zac even set a world record by playing 41 notes in .98 seconds!
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Zac has continued to travel and play guitar since graduating as part of Visions’ Class of 2020. Compelled by his love of music and his faith, Zac has since been touring the country, performing with acts such as Dennis Agajanian and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Organization while completing his undergraduate work. He is currently on the cusp of receiving his AA in Recording. After performing at Liberty University in Virginia, he has accepted an offer to study there in the very near future.
“There’s no way I would have been able to do all this stuff in a conventional high school,” Zac says, looking back on his time with Visions.
Whatever the future holds for Zac, it seems that his love of music will continue to take him far.
In September 1992, Governor Pete Wilson signed the Charter Schools Act (SB 1448). Authored by state Senator Gary K. Hart, this act gave charter schools, parents, teachers, and educators more independence and flexibility to build schools that meet the different needs of all students. Thirty years after the enactment of this legislation, California’s charter public schools have educated more than eight million students and currently serve nearly 700,000 throughout the state.
To educate and celebrate the success of charter schools the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) created an interactive website chartersat30.org.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary CCSA hosted an online event to discuss the history and impact of charter schools throughout the state.
March is recognized as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This recognition promotes the respect of people with developmental disabilities and raises awareness of the barriers that people with disabilities still sometimes face.
Developmental disabilities are defined as impairments in physical, learning, language, or behavior areas. These conditions begin during a child’s developmental period and may impact day-to-day functioning throughout their lifetime. Recent US estimates show that approximately 17% of children aged 3 through 17 years have one or more developmental disabilities, such as ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, vision impairment and other developmental delays.
Watch this video to hear the perspectives of four people with different disabilities.
Post artwork by artist Calvin “Sonny” Clarke.
Women’s History Month recognizes the vital contributions of women throughout history and inspires girls to have the courage to achieve everything they set their minds to.
Check out these resources including stories on historical women, podcasts, books and activities.
“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fears; knowing what must be done does away with fear.” – Rosa Parks
Watch this quick video to learn about the origins of Women’s History Month and how a school teacher in Sonoma County, California helped make it an annual event.
Emon V. was playing tennis before he could lace up a pair of tennis shoes. Since three years old, he’s been honing his athletic abilities and climbing the tournament ranks as his skills on the court improved.
“I really started enjoying tennis when I started competing,” says Emon. “That’s what pushes me every day to work harder.”
With aspirations of one day going pro, he needed a school that supported his ambitions while providing him with the academic skills to succeed in college. As he transitioned into 9th grade and joined the University Prep academy, Emon began balancing his schoolwork with more rigorous tennis training.
“I have a busy schedule,” says Emon. “I couldn’t miss that much time in a traditional school. When I joined Visions, my tennis improved.”
Following the advice of his teacher, Lily Nichols, Emon plans his schedule carefully to complete his work at his own pace, working hard to stay on top of his studies while continuing to push his skills as a tennis player and compete in tournaments. He’s even planning to take community college classes this fall!
“I appreciate his intrinsic motivation to challenge himself to achieve his best,” says Lily Nichols. “Whether on the court or in class.”
Match Point
Emon’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. This last fall, Emon interviewed at a number of universities interested in enrolling him to play tennis at their school. After being offered admission into Harvard, Cornell, Notre Dame, and UCLA, Emon decided to enroll in UCLA to play tennis upon graduating Visions! He says that while it was a difficult choice, the quality of UCLA’s tennis program and his family’s history with the school were the deciding factors. His goal is to start competing as a professional tennis player in college and advance into the Top 100 tennis players in the country. Looking back, he’s grateful for all the support he’s received so far and hopeful about a future that’s looking bright.
“I’m thankful for my parents, family, and friends, and Visions for helping me out with this process,” says Emon. “I’m looking forward to graduating and going to college.”
Taiba Rahmani’s interests have always been eclectic and personal to her. As someone who enjoys spending time in nature and volunteering, Taiba seeks balance between her personal life with her professional and academic ambitions.
Naturally, when it was time to start high school, Taiba and her family wanted a school that allowed her to pursue her interests and make time for the things that were important to her. A family friend recommended Visions In Education and Taiba started her freshman year where she connected with credentialed teacher Matthew MacKay.
“I thought it was the perfect fit for me,” Taiba says. “My relationship with my teacher and counselor was great. They were extremely helpful and understanding.”
At Visions, Taiba got the experience of managing her time and taking responsibility for her education. With her teacher’s support, Taiba worked diligently at her own pace while making time for her family and personal interests. As a student, she participated in the Find Your Voice writing program which featured her work in a published book alongside her fellow classmates. She also participated in the Folsom Lake College Patient Care Pathway program which exposed students to the realities and employment opportunities available in the rapidly growing medical profession. On top of all this, Taiba managed to complete high school while working.
“To be an Independent Study student and manage my own schedule allows me to explore my opportunities and interests deeper, and I can make important decisions,” says Taiba.
Taiba recently graduated early as part of the Class of 2022! After graduation, she plans on attending a community college for two years before transferring to a university of her choice. She looks back on her time with Visions fondly and found that the flexibility and opportunity she received were beneficial in the long run to her academic success.
“As a student at Visions I believe it is an awesome opportunity,” says Taiba. “I have attended all four years of high school at Visions and have not felt as if I ‘missed’ out on school as some may think.”
To recognize Black History Month we are sharing voices from the Visions community. In this Staff Spotlight we interviewed Special Education teacher Ken Mewborn.
Hello, my name is Ken Mewborn, I am a Special Education teacher at Visions In Education supporting students and families with their educational needs.
I had teachers and coaches that encouraged me to go to college on an athletic scholarship. College and the education it gave me opened my eyes to endless possibilities.
“You will know what you want to do, once you start doing something.”
Knowing that I am contributing to students and families in a positive and encouraging way.
It means awareness and recognition for the positive accomplishments of African Americans everywhere, past and present.
I can’t remember the name of the individual, but when I was a member of the Black Student Union in high school, a man held six different careers in order to prove that a Black man could do different professions. I have also been successful in various professions including factory work, the Air Force, law enforcement, entrepreneurship (real estate/mortgages), education, and more to come.
Attend events either in Vallejo or Sacramento. Watch National events on television.
Watch movies like Hidden Figures, Selma, Just Mercy, and 42 (the Jackie Robinson movie). These are movies based on real people and real life events, and they are entertaining.
Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.
Malcolm X, because he changed his life twice for the better. Once in jail from a criminal to a follower of Islam. Then later from a racist person to one who accepted everyone, no matter what their skin color.
Martin Luther King Jr. gave his life for the cause of freedom and equality. This means we can all do a lot more.
My last name had to be corrected on my birth certificate from “Newborn” to “Mewborn”. This mistake still happens today.
We all need to continually grow in our knowledge and understanding of other people.
Click here for Black History Month learning resources.
Each February, we honor the contributions of African Americans who have helped shape our nation. Black History Month recognizes the heritage and important role these leaders play in the story of our country.
Meet some of our very own Black leaders!
Introducing Home School Vice Principal Beyonka Marshall! She supports our Bay Area homeschoolers and lives by the saying “Black History 365”. Read her spotlight here to learn how her heritage helped her become a successful educator.
Introducing Special Education Teacher Ken Mewborn! His favorite mantra is, “You will know what you want to do, once you start doing something.” Read his spotlight here to learn more about his background and what inspires him.
It is important to always be learning and understanding how this culture has impacted our history. Below is a library of resources to support your ongoing education not just this month but throughout the year.
Reading Lists
Teens & Adults: choose from this list of 81 new books by Black authors.
Children: use story time to educate on Black History by picking a book from this list.
Free Online Events
February 22 at 3:45 p.m. – watch Paola Velez create a Dominican recipe that reflects and embodies her identity as an Afro-Latina chef. Register here (registration required).
February 23 at 2 p.m. – join this webinar to learn how President Abraham Lincoln welcomed African Americans to the White House during America’s most divided era. Register here.
Activities & Resources
Build on your knowledge using these activities and resources for grades K-12.
Video Break
Learn how February became Black History Month.
To recognize Black History Month we are sharing voices from the Visions community. In this Staff Spotlight we interviewed Home School Vice Principal Beyonka Marshall. Read her spotlight below to learn how her heritage helped her become a successful educator.
Hey, hey! My name is Beyonka Marshall and I am the Vice Principal for the Bay Area Region Home School Academy!
I grew up in a household where education was super important. My grandmother taught me how to read at a very young age and instilled in me that education was the way to open up new doors and opportunities for me. My grandmother made me super “Black Conscious” at a young age and my grandmother’s home was full of books with stories about those who came before us.
My family is super family oriented. Being together and making contact with each other is so important to us. We have a family reunion that is held the first weekend of August every year and it’s a weekend full of love and fun. This past August was our 80th Annual Family reunion which we held in New Orleans!!
My favorite African Proverb is “It takes a village to raise a child”. And it’s so true! It takes a multitude of people to raise a child up into who they are going to be in life. That village can consist of parents, grandparents, family friends, teachers, school staff, etc. As an educator I have been honored to be a part of so many students’ villages. It is such a great honor to be such a great influence.
The students, families, and my staff motivate me. I am such a people person and relationship person. I enjoy having the opportunity to interact with families and my staff when I can.
Black History Month is so important to me. Though I live by the saying “Black History 365”, Black History Month is a month where Black people and their contributions are put on the forefront of peoples’ minds. For example, I drive everyday and never think twice about traffic signals but for some reason during Black History Month I am reminded that the traffic signal was invented by a Black Man [Garrett Morgan]! It really serves as a month of reflection and appreciation for me.
When I was 8 my grandmother introduced me to Mary Mcleod Bethune who was an educator and civil rights activist. I was so intrigued by her passion for education! Her charge was the right to education for African Americans and she also opened up a school for girls.
Personally, I love attending the Black Joy Parade that is held in Oakland. It’s such an awesome gathering of Black folks and it’s a joyous event. I also have discussions with my kids at home. I have a 10 year old daughter and a 7 year old son and they love learning about historical figures in Black History.
Last year for Black History Month, my Principal Edwina Cirelli and I organized different virtual events for the students in our region. It included read alouds of books about historical Black figures and movie discussions. We had a great turn out!
I also love graphic tees and so during the month I try to wear a different graphic tee with a historical Black figure, musician, or statements that show my love for Blackness every day!
One book recommendation would be a book called “Dirty Little Secrets About Black History: Its Heroes and other Troublemakers” by Claud Anderson. It’s a book that is really enlightening.
There are so many documentaries on Netflix right now so it’s hard for me to narrow it down to a few. My current favorite documentary is called “High on the Hog: How African American Cuisine Transformed America”. It’s a must watch!!
I would say one who definitely inspires me is John Lewis. He is so inspirational and really pushes the message that not all trouble is bad. In certain environments and situations I used to be afraid to speak up for fear that I would get in “trouble”. But John Lewis’ life has inspired me to engage in what he calls “good trouble or necessary trouble” especially if my intention is to achieve change.
I am a foodie! I love trying food from different cultures! My most favorite type of food is Caribbean food.
Ethnically I have Nigerian and Cameroonian roots. I was always aware of my Nigerian roots because of my paternal grandfather but recently I did an African ancestry test for my maternal side and discovered that my ancestors were the Bamileke people from Cameroon. So now I am diving deeper into learning about the culture.
Click here for Black History Month learning resources.
