Entries by Justina Janas

Grad Spotlight: Aspiring Nurse Finds Her Path

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In sixth grade, Alani transferred to Visions where she connected with qualified credentialed teachers who helped her succeed at her own pace in a drama-free environment.

Grad Spotlight: Aspiring Nurse Finds Her Path

In elementary school, Alani B. was a good student on the path to success. But when sixth grade came around, social pressures from bullies made it hard for her to reach her full potential and goals of becoming a nurse. 

“My mom pulled me out of school because the teachers and principals didn’t take action,” says Alani. If Alani was to succeed, she would need a safe environment with supportive staff. In sixth grade, Alani transferred to Visions where she connected with qualified credentialed teachers who helped her succeed at her own pace in a drama-free environment.

Preparing For Life

After starting high school, Alani transferred into the University Prep program to pursue her goals. There, she found the structure that allowed her to work at her own pace and pursue her career aspirations. In this program she developed an interest in the medical field and was able to take community college courses. With the support of teacher Deborah Costello, Alani was able to balance her high school work with community college, work, and extracurricular activities like the Find Your Voice writing program. 

“She has always reminded me that I’ve got this,” Alani says. “That it’s not about making other people happy; it’s about making the decisions that I’m okay with.”

Moving On

Having graduated as part of the Class of 2021, Alani is now pursuing a career in the medical field with the ultimate goal of becoming a registered nurse. Alani’s time taking community college classes gave her a headstart on her degree and put her on the track to graduate early! Looking back on her high school experience, she credits her teachers with helping her achieve her true potential and giving her the tools she needed to succeed in college. 

“If It weren’t for the challenges my teachers gave me I wouldn’t have realized how smart I am.”

Recognizing Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

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Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month banner with Latino, Latina, and Hispanic grad photos

Recognizing Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month. To encompass the diverse group this holiday recognizes we’ve included Latinx in the official title. Latinx references a person of Latin American origin or descent and is a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina. Hispanic refers to people who speak Spanish or are descendants of Spanish-speaking populations.

History

This month of recognition begins on September 15 because it coincides with national independence days in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico’s national independence day is 9/16, Chile’s is 9/18, and Belize’s is 9/21.

Learning Opportunities

Heritage months are the perfect time to immerse yourself in a culture and learn more about it. The Smithsonian has many virtual events available over the next few weeks including art demonstrations, storytelling and environmental justice webinars. 

The Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA) also has various online exhibitions and resources to elevate your learning. 

Learning Spanish or want to brush up on your skills? Listen to this podcast, News In Slow Spanish, that covers current events, Spanish grammar and expressions at a slow pace to help with learning and understanding.

Additional Resources & Activities

Visions’ Instructional Team put together a curated list of additional learning resources.

Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Google Slides – Visions collected lessons and resources with a main focus on stories shared through Latinx voices and perspectives.

Hispanicheritagemonth.gov – The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join together to pay tribute to the generations of Hispanic Americans who have positively influenced and enriched our nation and society.

Hispanic Heritage Teacher Guides – Information and lessons about Hispanic and Latinx heritage and history in the United States.

Scholastic – A month of ideas for celebrating Hispanic heritage from Scholastic.

Community Resources

Visions is proud to serve a diverse population. These local organizations provide programs and services to support our Hispanic/Latinx families:

Grad Spotlight: Globetrotting Grad Charts Her Own Journey

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Female young adult smiles at camera in senior photo; graduating from online high school

Grad Spotlight: Globetrotting Grad Charts Her Own Journey

When Ashley Curle was fourteen years old, her family made a journey that took her out of her familiar environment and brought her across the world. 

“I moved from Africa and did not know how to deal with the culture shock,” says Ashley. “It was scary enough just moving, but then going into high school would have just been too much.”

As she entered high school, Ashley made a decision; she wanted to focus on her studies and graduate early so that one day she could return to Zimbabwe to visit. At Visions, she connected with a qualified credentialed teacher that put Ashley on the path to her goals. 

“Mrs. [Alison] Sampson is an amazing woman,” says Ashley. “We were able to relate on a lot of different things and none of our conversations were boring; I consider her a friend, not just a teacher.” 

Ashley’s determination to finish high school early drove her to work hard and focus on graduation, at first competing with her brother to see who could finish high school quicker. In addition to her schoolwork, Ashley managed to find time to pursue her interests, both working a part-time job for an IT company and attending college classes at Sierra College while working on her high school diploma. 

“It became a routine to work when I felt like it, without forcing myself. This gave me the chance to grow to like school and actually enjoy my work.” 

Graduation and Beyond

Ashley graduated as part of Visions’ Class of 2021 and has gone on to continue her education at Sierra College. She hopes to complete her Associate’s Degree and become a Humane Law Enforcement Officer, continuing her lifelong goal of helping animals and her community. She believes her time at Visions gave her the tools she needed to take charge of her own responsibilities and supported her personal and educational goals. 

“Visions changed my life and it really set the bar for how schooling should be done, at each person’s own pace and how they work best,” says Ashley. “It showed me that I am capable of anything I set my mind on.”

Share Your Back to School Photos & Videos – Submission Deadline Extended to 9/19!

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Share Your Back to School Photos & Videos - Submission Deadline Extended to 9/19

Updated: 9/13/21

Deadline extended! Post your photos and videos on Facebook and Instagram by 9/19 for a chance to receive a gift card!

Message from Superintendent Steve Olmos Ed.D.

Welcome to the new school year! As a large school with families in nine different counties a “digital pep rally” is a great way to build community and celebrate our students. This is my first back to school at Visions and I’m so excited to see the photos and videos our students and families share. Wishing you the best for the fall semester and I look forward to serving you.  

Digital Back to School “Pep Rally”

The first few weeks of a new school year are always exciting. Digitally sharing photos and videos is a great way to connect members of our Visions community.

For the past few years we have collected and shared your back to school photos. And this year we are adding the option to share a short (10 – 20 second) video as well! Seeing our students smiling faces in a photo is great but hearing their laugh is even better!

To participate you’ll need to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Share your back to school “pep” in a photo OR video post on social media using the hashtag #VisionsFirstDay to be entered to win one of several $25 gift cards!

Please make sure that you have a public account so we can see and share your photos and videos. Submissions must be posted by September 19. See additional details below*.

Here’s some ideas to help you get inspired:

  • Capture your first meeting with your teacher.
  • Take a selfie or short video showing your back to school excitement.
  • Show off your “home classroom” or workspace.
  • Model your first day of school outfit.
  • Create your “back to school checklist” in a creative way and share via photo or video
  • Super organized? Post a picture of your planner or desk or give us a short video tour.
  • Create a poster to hold in your photo or video. Include grade, age, teacher and list of favorite things.

Take a look at last year’s photos on Facebook for even more inspiration.

*Photos and videos must be posted on your personal Facebook or Instagram account using the hashtag #VisionsFirstDay. To be eligible, participants must be enrolled at Visions and have a public Facebook and/or Instagram account so we can see the submissions. By using the hashtag (#VisionsFirstDay) you grant Visions permission to use and repost your photos/videos on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, the Wire and viedu.org. Winners will be chosen based on the creativity of their photo or video. Photos and videos must be submitted by September 19 to be eligible.

Welcome to the 2021/2022 School Year

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Welcome to the 2021/2022 School Year

Welcome to the first day of the 2021/22 school year! I know that your teacher has already reached out to you to ensure the year is off to a great start. I am grateful that our team has everything in place to serve and support our students. If you need anything, remember you have an entire team working with you to support your student and you in your Visions’ experience!

The past year and a half has been tough on our students, families, and staff. Because of that, we know we are going to need to spend time rebuilding relationships, re-establishing routines, and supporting students in learning recovery. The good news is we learned a lot during the pandemic and are prepared, more than ever, to implement new and innovative ways of helping our students be successful. We are committed to ensuring that each of the Visions’ communities establishes a positive culture focused on student learning and providing the support necessary to make that happen.

Welcome back, and have a fantastic start to the school year!

Steve Olmos, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Visions In Education

Grad Spotlight: Class Valedictorian Champions a Great Cause

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Valedictorian succeeds in home school program at Visions

Grad Spotlight: Class Valedictorian Champions A Great Cause

“The work that I’m passionate about today started when I received a heart transplant at two,” says Christian Sutton, Class of 2014 Valedictorian and Donate Life California Ambassador. “The greatest hero that I never met was the three year old who donated my heart.” 

The heart transplant that saved his life was only the first of many ongoing health issues that made schooling a challenge for Christian’s family. Christian needed a school that would accommodate his needs and allow him opportunities to succeed, which he found with Visions when he came in sixth grade.

Christian worked with his teacher to find ways to complete his schoolwork while traveling for medical appointments. During his Junior year at Visions, Christian began exploring community service opportunities with the support of his teacher, JeanAnn Walth. His personal experiences provided a unique perspective on the organ donation process and he reached out to Donate Life to become an ambassador for their program.

“It is so important to start with a conversation,” Christian says. “It starts with asking the question; what is organ donation? I want to have those questions answered with the facts.”

With his teacher’s coaching, Christian began speaking at schools, hospitals, and government offices about the realities of organ donation as well as clearing up misconceptions spread by popular media. He spoke in front of Visions staff during his graduating year and finished his education with Visions as Valedictorian of the Class of 2014!

The Beat Goes On

After graduating, Christian continued his advocacy as he went to school for public relations and communication. He continued to build on his strong academic foundations and received multiple academic honors recognitions from both American River College and Cal State Fullerton.

During the 2020 lockdowns, he was faced with the challenge of completing his internship requirement in a time when few businesses were open. Amazingly, Christian leveraged his connections and past service with Donate Life to create his own internship position with the organization that allowed him to graduate this year – a position that will continue for future students!

Having graduated, Christian is dividing his time between an internship with Disney in Florida (where he hopes to network and see how a Fortune 100 company handles public relations) and continuing to speak on behalf of organ donor programs. Looking back, he is thankful to all his teachers and Visions staff that allowed him to display his full potential.

“Visions was amazing at accommodating that and helping me succeed in spite of those obstacles,” says Christian. “They really created an environment where I could thrive.”

Grad Spotlight: Future Teacher Makes The Grade

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Grace credits her teacher with helping her succeed and Visions with providing a safe environment to graduate high school online. 

Grad Spotlight: Future Teacher Makes The Grade

When Grace Fulton isn’t hiking or spending time in nature, she’s conscientiously advocating for women’s rights and the LGBTQ+ community. Unfortunately her unique perspective on the world was not nurtured and supported in a traditional school environment.

“I fell into a bad depression and had horrible anxiety,” Grace says, speaking candidly about the struggles she faced before coming to Visions. After her sophomore year in traditional school, she decided that she needed a drama free learning plan that would provide her a safe environment to graduate in. At Visions, Grace connected with teacher Stephanie Theodule who provided her with much needed guidance and support in her final years of high school.

“She never gave up on me and always helped me whenever I needed it,” Grace says. “I made a very true connection and gained a supporter; I owe a large part of me graduating to my teacher.”

With Mrs. Theodule’s help, Grace developed a personalized learning plan that allowed her to work at her own pace. In an environment that allowed her to focus on her studies more effectively, Grace was able to catch up on credits and get herself back on track to graduate, which she did as part of Visions’ Class of 2021!

Moving On

Now a high school graduate, Grace hopes to continue her education, focusing on attending a community college before transferring to a four-year college to complete her elementary education degree. She hopes to one day become an elementary school teacher, start a family, and maybe find a ranch with lots of trees to live on. She credits her teacher with helping her succeed and Visions with providing a safe environment to graduate high school.

“If I could do high school all over again, I would definitely choose Visions,” says Grace. “I would have done it from the start.”

Grad Spotlight: Multilingual Musician Makes the Grade

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University Prep student is multilingual

Grad Spotlight: Multilingual Musician Makes the Grade

When Magdalene was in third grade, her elementary school closed and her family was faced with a challenge. They needed to find a school that supported her educational needs while allowing her to pursue her interests and multilingual passions.

Magdalene’s family found that support in our programs and she recently graduated with the Class of 2021! She took advantage of the benefits available to our students throughout her many years at Visions and the independence and work ethic she developed served her well as she participated in tons of extracurricular activities. 

“Outside of school, I am involved in multiple musical activities,” says Magdalene. She’s served as the Antioch Strolling Strings student director, was part of the Music Teachers Association of California Delta Branch, and performed with the Los Medanos College Orchestra. Additionally, she took honors and college classes all while enrolled as a high school freshman with her teacher’s support.

“For me, it was the flexibility of the program that worked for me the most,” says Magdalene. “I did not have to worry about any community college class conflicts between my Visions classes because it was so flexible!” 

Graduation and Beyond

Magdalene proudly graduated with high marks and was also a recipient of the prestigious State Seal of Biliteracy for mastering Spanish as a second language. Magdalene plans to attend University of the Pacific where she intends to double major in biological sciences and music performance. When asked about her success, Magdalene thanked her teachers, counselors, support staff, and of course, her parents for helping her reach her personal and educational goals. 

“I am very glad to have been a student at Visions In Education these past years,” says Magdalene. “All of these individuals have done such a wonderful job in supporting me throughout my educational journey and I appreciate them all!”

2021 Virtual Graduation Ceremony

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2021 Virtual Graduation Ceremony

Dear Graduates, Families, and Members of the Visions’ Community,

We are honored to celebrate our Summer Graduating Class of 2021!

While we wish we could join you in-person, we hope these videos will bring the joy and excitement of graduation into your homes.

The videos are presented in sections so they can be viewed at your leisure and enjoyed with your friends and family by sharing the link to this page. Clicking on each tab will direct you to the playlist on YouTube where you can navigate each video individually.

On behalf of the Visions’ Board of Directors, and our entire team, thank you for choosing Visions In Education! It has been an honor to serve each and every one of you. Again, congratulations, Summer Class of 2021!

To see the June graduates please click here.

Welcome & Remarks

Join us for our opening processions including a commencement address from our Superintendent.

Click on the tiles to go to the YouTube playlist, from there you can navigate to each video you’d like to watch. 

Pledge of Allegiance: Ajanae Walker
National Anthem
Welcome & Remarks: Dr. Steve Olmos, Superintendent

Graduation Performances

Two talented graduates of the Class of 2021 have prepared musical performances to celebrate your accomplishments.

“Little Wonders” by Rob Thomas: Performed by Samantha McGhie
“Le Coucou” by Louis-Claude Daquin: Performed by Marina Neverov

Remarks & Certification

Please join Visions In Education Board of Directors Vice Chairperson Katie McCleary for some inspiring words of wisdom followed by the presentation and certification of the Class of 2021 by Board of Directors Chairperson Mark Holman.

Remarks: Katie McCleary, Visions In Education Board of Directors Vice Chairperson
Presentation & Certification of the Class of 2021: Mark Holman, Visions In Education Board of Directors Chairperson

Class of 2021: Summer Graduates

Please join us in celebrating the Summer Class of 2021!

Tassel Turn & Farewell

As we bring our ceremony to a close, we invite our graduates to participate in the symbolic turning of the tassel to celebrate your accomplishment of becoming a high school graduate!

Tassel Turn: Dr. Steve Olmos, Superintendent

Questions?

If you have any questions regarding the virtual graduation ceremony please complete this short form.

If you experience slow loading times please view the videos on YouTube.

To view the June graduates click here.

Graduation Special Feature: Anee & Lee

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Mother, Lee poses with daughter, Anee both graduates of Visions In Education

Graduation Special Feature: Anee & Lee

Anee and her mother Lee are two generations of Visions In Education graduates. Lee shared this touching letter with Interim Superintendent Bowman and granted us permission to share it with the greater Visions community as we celebrate the Class of 2021 this week.

My daughter, Anee B., started at CMP Carmichael as a Kindergartener and is going to graduate from high school at Visions In Education. I am also a graduate of Visions In Education, Class of 2003. This is truly a full circle moment for me. You see, when I crossed the stage at the Memorial Auditorium in 2003 as a 17 year old, I was pregnant with Anee. It was the special opportunity that Visions In Education provided me that enabled me to set myself up for success, even though I should’ve been a statistic. I graduated, went on to continue college courses and landed at a CBO where I began the career that led me to where I am today. I write this as the Director of Workforce Development for a local charter school.

Visions and other charter schools continue to be attacked by politicians who care more about political contributions than they do about the individual lives that charter schools touch. Please don’t lose faith or fight as you battle the state policy makers. Visions In Education changes individual lives and provides opportunities to those who would otherwise struggle or fail in traditional and outdated education settings.

My daughter, Anee, had less than great experiences at the local public high school and found her way to Visions. I enrolled her at Visions because I had a great experience at Visions. Anee has worked with her teacher, Ms. Kunst, throughout her time at Visions. Ms. Kunst is nothing short of an angel in our lives. The love, motivation, belief, accountability, and guidance that Ms. Kunst has shown Anee has been critical to her success. Anee credits Ms. Kunst with much of her success. You truly have a gem in Ms. Kunst, and I hope she is compensated for her incredible work. Any student who has Ms. Kunst as their teacher is truly blessed. Anee told me last night, “Mom, Ms. Kunst believes in me when I don’t believe in myself.”

Not only has Ms. Kunst been outstanding, but her counselor Gabe is also amazing! Anee has had a very rough year. Gabe has been an incredible support to Anee. He’s not just supportive but also follows through. I’m sure you already know this but you have an amazing team at Visions.

Thank you for your leadership and service to the community. From CMP to Visions In Education, you’ve made an impact! Thousands of lives have been changed because of the opportunities charter schools provide. You are truly working and living the mission that Gary Hart worked for in California.

Thank you to the Visions In Education Team for making such a huge impact on our family. Two generations changed by the opportunities that Visions In Education provides.

Thank you, Lee F.

Opinions expressed in this letter belong solely to the author, not Visions In Education.