Updated: September 28, 2021 On September 23rd Governor Newsom signed AB 167 extending the application timeline in AB 104 to apply for a Pass or No Pass grade instead of the letter grade received in the 20-21 school year. These bills allow the parent, guardian, or education rights holder of a pupil or a pupil […]
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.
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.”
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.”
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 […]
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.”
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.”
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 […]
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 […]
“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!
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.”
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!
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.”
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!”
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!”
