From Curriculum To Community: A Spotlight On The Home School Academy
From Curriculum To Community: A Spotlight On The Home School Academy
As a public charter school, Visions believes in partnering with parents when it comes to their children’s education. To meet the needs of so many parents who want to be in community and collaboration with their students’ learning, we provide a Home School Academy where credentialed teachers and administrators work in partnership with parents.
“In Visions’ Home School Academy, we believe that education is most powerful when it is a true partnership between families and educators,” shared Director of Instruction Heather King. “Our goal is to provide meaningful support, resources, and guidance to ensure that every student thrives in a learning environment that is both personalized and community-driven.”
We know that our Home School families desire inclusion and involvement in their children’s education, and as partners in this learning, our Home School teachers and administrators serve an important role in fostering connection, collaboration, and community for all students.
“As a Home School Principal, my role centers on fostering adynamic and enriching learning environment,” says Principal Morgan Lynch. “My key responsibilities include promoting collaboration, advocating for student success, and cultivating a strong sense of community.”
Our Vice Principals support this core work through things such as data and caseload analysis and individualized education plans, making sure all students have equitable access to their education.
“We ensure that every student receives the appropriate support,” explains Vice Principal Cassie Backstrom. “We facilitate Family Team Conferences to collaborate with families, teachers, and students in crafting a successful and personalized learning experience at Visions.”
“I strive to meet the needs of our students academically, socially and emotionally,” adds Vice Principal and former Visions Counselor Stacy Callman. “Our counselors are actively involved in our Family Team Conferences and provide direct insight to specific coping skills and services that our counseling program offers.”
An additional layer of support comes from Administrative Assistant Hannah Blackledge and Charter School Secretary Anita Cager, whose roles are crucial to the inner workings of the department.
“Being a part of the Home School support team includes so many tasks that support the overall goals of Home School,” Hannah shares. “Working with Facilities to provide our principal teams and teachers crucial collaboration time, utilizing Fiscal’s vast knowledge to ensure our staff and students have the resources they need to succeed, supporting projects with our Curriculum team that make sure we provide top tier courses and materials. Whatever the goals for the Home School Academy are, I am right there to support them.”
“My favorite part of being on the Home School team is helping parents access the information and resources they need, fostering student success, and supporting teachers and administrators in navigating processes effectively,” adds Anita. “It is inspiring to see how much we’ve grown over the past decade and the incredible resources and opportunities we now offer.”
For Our Families
As a school focused on continuous improvement, Visions has adopted a 1% better every day mentality in all areas of our work. We are always looking for ways to better serve our families, and numerous initiatives have been implemented to increase the quality of services to our students.
“We are continuing to target individualized support for students through multi-tiered systems of support and expanding our opportunities through new Synchronous Instruction classes,” says Principal Edwina Cirelli, who’s been with Visions for close to 17 years. “Those classes just keep getting better, with increased use of technology and resources to engage students in learning and integrating Essential Standards and Learning Targets into every class.”
“When I started at Visions, I was excited about all the possibilities for students and families,” says Principal Heidi Perry.“I have found our…families to be very supportive, student focused and engaged in becoming 1% better every day!”
Our services don’t only include academic supports, but social opportunities as well, including field trip offerings, club activities, and community events.
“As part of Visions’ commitment to providing a well-rounded educational experience, both regional events and field trips play an equally crucial role in the social and personal development of our students,” explains Charter School Secretary for the Events team, Jocelyn Torres. “These opportunities provide them with the skills and friendships they will carry with them far beyond the virtual classroom.”
The Team In Teamwork
The foundational tenet of the Home School Academy is that credentialed staff work hand-in-hand with parents to personalize and deliver quality instruction to their students. In doing this, the Home School team focuses on collaboration and teamwork – our parents truly are our partners in this work.
“Our Home School families are the best! They are creative, resourceful, and eager to engage their students,” exclaims Hallie Ochoa, Vice Principal.
“In our Home School Academy, we empower students to grow and succeed,” says Vice Principal Amy Valuenzela. “By celebrating their achievements, providing individualized support, offering meaningful engagement, and working as a supportive team, we create an environment where every student feels valued and prepared to reach their full potential.”
As we reflect on a quarter century of success, we also look ahead to how we can continue to best serve our communities.
“Over the past 24 years, Visions has evolved into a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that demonstrates resilience, dedication, and vision,” says Principal and 24-year Visionary Julie Cole. “Our success over these 25 years has been built on hard work, equity, engagement and a shared commitment to our students.”
