Entries by Ronaldo Gomez

Sharing Our Story: COO Tom Tafoya Interviewed On BuyQ Podcast

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Sharing Our Story: COO Tom Tafoya Interviewed On BuyQ Podcast





Listen Here

BuyQ’s Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation’s Top Charter School Operators podcast is dedicated to highlighting the “behind-the-scenes” business of running a successful charter school.

On December 19th, 2024, Visions’ Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya sat down with Charter School Insider host Daniel Casselli to discuss how Visions seamlessly manages the purchase and distribution of learning materials, resources, technology, and services as a non-classroom based charter school. This is no simple task as Visions serves over 7,500 students, in nine counties, across 9,200 square miles.

From recounting ordering challenges that Visions faced in its infancy to illustrating how we’ve streamlined our processes over the past 25 years with systems like LPAD and integrations with Amazon, Mr. Tafoya gives insight into how Visions continues to get 1% better to meet the needs of our staff, students, and families by using best practices.

“For us to grow and serve our students, we have to be able to resource them with materials, books, supplies, and services,” says Tafoya in the episode. “Having multiple programs in multiple modalities is complicated, but it’s also fun to solve these types of situations and develop solutions to meet the needs of all these students.”

Listen to the full episode here!

About BuyQ

BuyQ is a group purchasing organization devoted specifically to charter and private schools. Originally founded in 2012 as an initiative of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, BuyQ is now an independent, mission-driven company focused on serving schools throughout the country. Learn more here.

Samuel Smalls Joins Visions In Education Board of Directors

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Samuel Smalls Joins Visions In Education Board of Directors

On December 19th, the Visions In Education Board of Directors approved Samuel Smalls to join the Board. Mr. Smalls will fulfill the remainder of retired Board Member Tom Knox’s term through June 30, 2025. 

Samuel brings more than thirty-three years of experience in business management, government relations, public policy making, and board experience in the Sacramento area. A graduate of Harvard University with Honors, Samuel currently works as the Treasury and Debt Manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, overseeing finances for an organization that provides water to more than 19 million Californians. 

Samuel’s Board of Directors experience includes local organizations such as membership positions on the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, the Capital Region United Way Foundation, and the City of Sacramento Inclusive Economic and Community Development Investment Committee. He is also a former Board President of the Sacramento Downtowners Toastmasters and the former President/Chair of the Alternative Family Services Foster Family Agency. 

Samuel is excited to join the Board to contribute to Visions In Education’s mission of preparing each student to succeed in a rapidly changing world. 

“I want to advance the mission of Visions In Education to expand its reach and impact on the next generation of youth in need of alternative platforms to learn,” says Samuel.  

Visions In Education thanks Samuel for joining our Board of Directors and looks forward to working with him in service of our students, families, and staff.

Charter Renewal Secured For Another Five Years!

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Charter Renewal Secured For Another Five Years!

We are thrilled to announce that our school’s charter was officially renewed by unanimous decision at the San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD) Board Meeting on December 17, 2024. This renewal affirms our commitment to providing high-quality education options and ensures our ability to continue serving our students, community, and staff.

Visions has grown and changed significantly since its last charter renewal in 2017. To prepare for this renewal, we started working on it in July 2022. The outcome of this work was a nearly 1,000-page document detailing our school operations, fiscal management, student outcomes, and much more. We are also proud to be the first charter school to submit for renewal and receive approval since the pandemic.

The new charter term will begin on July 1, 2025, and run through June 30, 2030. This milestone is the result of a collaborative school-wide effort, and we are incredibly grateful for everyone’s support in bringing this project to a successful conclusion.

We also want to express our gratitude to Director of Accountability & Data Services Soren Gutierrez, who managed the project with dedication and expertise and guided our team every step of the way.

We are grateful to our educational partners at SJUSD for over 25 years of support and our community for their ongoing support in preparing students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Happy Holidays! Winter Break is December 23, 2024 – January 3, 2025

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Happy Holidays! Winter Break is December 23, 2024 – January 3, 2025

Visions’ main office and Student Technology Services (STS) will be closed Monday, December 23rd, 2024 – Friday, January 3rd, 2025 for winter recess. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6th, 2025.

On behalf of everyone at Visions In Education, we wish you a merry and magical holiday season!

Building Updates: December 2024

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Building Updates: December 2024

It took a whole week to get a new floor put into our tech services area at our new Gold River Facility, but you don’t have to wait that long to see how it was done! See this video showing how we refurbished the floor of our tech warehouse.

Work It Out

Staff will also have access to a fitness center at our new facility accessible by an app. This center has weight machines, cardio machines, and a locker/shower area to freshen up after your workout. Staff will need to sign a release form and more details will be available when we’re ready to move.

A Career And A Calling: A Spotlight On Soren Gutierrez

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A Career And A Calling: A Spotlight On Soren Gutierrez

Soren is many things – a New York native, an army vet, a husband, and a dog dad. But he’s been many things before and between, including an Executive Assistant and Project Manager on Wall Street. He’s seen Germany and Iraq, the inside of private jets and more ginger root than he’d care to in his lifetime (you’ll have to ask). His tough exterior is equally matched by his soft center and desire to serve, qualities that have steered his life for over 20 years.

“I started my educational and professional career in the military by attending West Point and serving five years in the Army as an Infantry Officer. I was stationed at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore, Georgia) and in Germany and did a 13 month tour to Iraq in 2006,” says Soren. “After active duty, I worked in New York City for two years as both an Executive Assistant and Project Manager for a very wealthy individual and had an opportunity to actually start a parochial school on his behalf.”

Despite what seemed like an impressive career, Soren struggled with the transition from the military to civilian life. The financial sector wasn’t a fit for him, and although he felt the smallest glimmer of light when he launched the parochial school, he still had a difficult time finding his footing back in society.

“I was in the National Guard in the traditional ‘one weekend a month/two weeks a year’ model and that really helped me transition, especially meeting and talking with the other combat veterans about our experiences,” Soren explains. “After two years, I took a full-time job with the National Guard on a National Guard Disaster Response for the East Coast.”

Unfortunately, with the Disaster Response position came a lot of travel, and Soren was looking to settle down. So, he began seeking other opportunities and found an open position for a Director of Operations with a classroom-based charter school network called Achievement First at one of their Connecticut middle schools. That light that Soren had felt while opening the parochial school flickered a bit brighter, and after two years of working at Achievement First, he decided to continue pursuing his own education. A Master’s in Business Administration and a move to California later, Soren is now in his eighth year at Visions and has become a veteran leader in the organization.

“Over the years I have appreciated Soren’s ability to add value to our school by improving our systems, processes and approaches by sharing his lens of systematic thinking and common sense approaches to our work,” says Chief Operations Officer, Tom Tafoya. “He helps take our creative thinking to the next level through this lens.”

As the Director of Accountability & Data Services, Soren’s job is extremely multi-faceted. He oversees three different departments in the organization – Enrollment, Assessments, and Internal Data & Systems Services – each with their own bodies of work. From enrolling thousands of new students every year to supporting all local and state assessments efforts to overseeing a team that provides a variety of systems and analytical support to our teachers, principals and staff, Soren’s role is never short of impacted.

“The IDSS Department does a lot behind-the-scenes to make sure systems work for our teachers and families, everything from checking that all of our K-8 students are rostered in i-Ready to reconciling invoices from our Special Education services providers to creating class registration workbooks for our teachers and counselors to easily collaborate and select classes for next semester,” explains Soren. “Given Visions’ large size and scale, there are a lot of opportunities to make things easier and faster, and our team strives to deliver those efficiencies.”

Working closely with SPED, Counseling, Student Services, and Instruction, Soren not only leans on his strong group of managers and analysts, but also his military background and extensive leadership skills to help his teams and other departments in the organization find success.

“We’ve adopted the After Action Review (AAR) process that I used in the military to consistently review the results of projects and initiatives to find out what went well as well as opportunities for improvement,” says Soren. “It’s great to see good ideas come to fruition and get improved over time.”

An Extension of Service

From serving his country to serving our students, Soren is proud of the path he’s taken to get to where he is. He speaks of his journey with candor and of course, some humor, and remains intentional about how he shows up in every space. For him, working at Visions is an extension of his service, that ever-growing light that’s allowed him to shine from the inside out.

“I believe charter schools are vital to improving education in California and America and that Visions as a nonclassroom-based school has an opportunity to serve countless students that may not ‘fit’ in traditional brick and mortar schools,” says Soren. “I see working for Visions as an opportunity to continue to serve my community.”

Soren is now settled in Auburn with his wife, Cassandra, whom he met while stationed in Germany (and the reason for his move across the country, which Soren says was “the best decision ever”), and their two German Shorthaired Pointers. They share memories of the Elvis Presley festival that took place while they were both in Freidberg, their wedding in Key West, and their early years together on the East Coast. Since then, Soren is proud to say that he has found a career and a calling, his role at Visions representative of his lifelong service.

“For a variety of reasons, my wife wasn’t successful in high school until she was able to do independent study and then she bloomed, and now she has a successful career and not only is the first college graduate in her family, but she also earned a Master’s degree,” Soren shares. “Visions provides that opportunity for so many students and I am so proud and happy to work with our amazing staff and teachers to be a part of it.”





More About Soren

“My father was Colombian (hence Gutierrez) and my mother is of Swedish descent (hence Soren) so I’ve got a unique set of names.”

“Despite completing Airborne and Ranger school, I hate heights, falling and motion – no roller coasters for me!”

“Graduation is the most rewarding and favorite day of the year – it’s a huge event that takes months and months of planning but it is awesome to be there and to see hundreds of our students and families graduate and prepare for their next steps in life. It’s a long day but exhilarating!”

From left to right: Soren’s mom, Ann, Soren, and his dad, Omar.

Holiday Hope Program: A Heartfelt Success

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Holiday Hope Program: A Heartfelt Success

Each year, the staff at Visions In Education come together to support families in our community through our gift collection initiative. This year, our goal was to raise over $2,500 to help brighten the holidays for some of our students and families. Thanks to the generosity of our incredible Visionaries, we surpassed our goal, raising a total of $2,904 – more than $400 beyond our target and received over 40 donated gifts!

Previously known as the “Adopt-a-Student” program, we were excited to introduce a new name this year: “Holiday Hope.” This change reflects our broader mission to provide warmth and support during a time of year that can be challenging for many. 

This year’s program was led by Jackeline Ochoa, Charter School Secretary, and Xiomara Whiting, Administrative Assistant. Together, Ochoa and Whiting organized the collection of donations and gifts while coordinating the gift wrapping and delivery dates for our staff. 

“I have felt very honored to take on this project; it has truly been such a heartwarming experience. The overwhelming support we received from our staff honestly made me emotional,” said Ochoa, reflecting on her first time leading the initiative.

We hope the donations from our staff play a role in making this holiday season a little brighter for those in need.





Springing To Action: Virtually

In order to organize gifts and donations, our Communications Coordinator, Ben D. put together a virtual giving tree where teachers and office staff across our nine counties were able to select specific gifts that were needed. This year, due to the overwhelming support we were able to support 51 families in our community.

Ochoa added, “I am very happy and proud to see how many families we will be able to help this season.” 

From the initial donations to the wrapping and delivery efforts, the collective spirit of giving was a reminder of our Visions’ spirit to serve our community. A heartfelt thank you to all of our staff for coming together to bring joy and hope to our students and their families.

“I truly appreciate Matt and Xiomara for all their hard work and support in making this program a success. I am very proud to be a part of this team!” said Ochoa.

A special thanks to our staff who volunteered their time to wrap and deliver gifts: Keely A., Ellie F., Dulce R., Georgina R., Tom M., Gabby S., Jenn A., Daniel V., Angelica G., Stacy C., Matt P., Jackie O., Zeana W., Jamie S., Mariah E., Krissy C., Karen M, Betty B., and Superintendent, Dr. Steve Olmos. 

Thank you to our HR department for creating and leading this program in previous years. Your organization and dedication was incredibly helpful to make this yet another successful season. 

We wish you all a joyful holiday season and continued success in the year ahead!

Visions In Education Recognized At The RAM BEST Business Awards

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Visions In Education Recognized At The RAM BEST Business Awards

Visions In Education is proud to continue our support and sponsorship of the Russian American Media’s (RAM) The BEST Business Award Ceremony & Gala, where the community’s most successful companies and individuals are celebrated for their services. 

The BEST Business Award Ceremony & Gala is an annual event that showcases the achievements of individuals, organizations, and volunteers as voted on by members of the local Slavic community. 

This year, Dr. Steve Olmos, Superintendent of Visions In Education, was honored with a “Best Of” Award for his leadership and dedication to advancing educational opportunities for students in the region.

As part of the recognition, RAM founder and CEO Sergey Ivannikov presented Dr. Olmos with a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives for his contributions to education and the community. His role at Visions In Education helps ensure that every student in our service area, regardless of background, has the opportunity to succeed.

As a part of Visions’ mission to foster student success, we proudly sponsor the BEST Business Awards each year. Collaborating with community organizations and leaders such as Mr. Ivannikov and RAM helps Visions reach and support a wider network of students and families in our community. 

Thank you to the following Visionaries for attending, further solidifying Visions’ commitment to community involvement: Visions Board Members Clark Shueh and Sandra Morales, Superintendent Steve Olmos, and Chief Academic Officer Micah Studer. 

Visions In Education remains committed to fostering student success through its partnerships with local organizations, including RAM. Congratulations to Dr. Steve Olmos on his well-deserved recognition and to all the nominees and award winners at this year’s The BEST Business Award Ceremony!

We look forward to continuing our partnerships with RAM and other community organizations in our shared effort to create a brighter future for students across the Northern California region.

Student Spotlight: Exploring The World Beyond Books

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Student Spotlight: Exploring the World Beyond Books

On an early morning in the rainforest of Costa Rica, 17 year old Lexi A. joined a cohort of volunteers to discuss the day ahead. Their tasks – cleaning cages, preparing food, and caring for re-release animals – were the reason for their shared space at the Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary. The day would end with an evening activity of collecting leaves and branches for the sanctuary enclosures, a quick trip out into the trees. Each volunteer there had a distinct role to play, whether they were a veterinary intern, a wildlife care intern, or an orphan care intern, but they all had one thing in common – passion for wildlife conservation.

“My passion for wildlife conservation started when my eyes were opened to the human impacts harming wildlife every day from social media,” explains Lexi, Visions student and wildlife intern. “I actively worked to find out more about what is happening and how I can help.”

Before she was traipsing through Costa Rican rainforests, Lexi was volunteering at her local cat shelter spending time with cats in need. But with a desire to help on an even bigger scale, and still deep in her educational journey, Lexi knew she needed an alternative school model that would allow her time and space to continue her volunteer work. Lexi came to Visions during the second semester of last year, and in our University Prep Academy, has been able to expand her educational and volunteer opportunities.

“It wasn’t until becoming a student at Visions that I have been able to embrace the [volunteer] experience and spend my time learning the way of veterinary medicine,” says Lexi. “I have been able to foster neonatal kittens that need 24/7 attention and bottle feeding every 2-3 hours because of the flexible schedule Visions provided. I have also been able to take college courses that align with my overall goals, such as Introduction to Zoology and Introduction to Mammalogy.”

At Visions, Lexi has the time, freedom, and flexibility to pursue her passion for animal care while continuing her educational journey. With the support from her Counselor, Julie Winalski, and teacher, Toby Spencer, Lexi has also been able to work toward her eventual career path by taking college courses through our Dual Enrollment program.

“My counselor Julie Winalski has been one of the most supportive parts of my high school career. She has not only helped me with enrolling [in] college classes but, she has also guided me through college applications and planning for my future,” Lexi shares. “Toby Spencer, my Advocacy teacher, has been so supportive of my goals and has made himself available for any guidance that I have needed!”

“Working with Lexi has been such a pleasure,” Julie shares. “In every conversation, her passion for working with animals truly shines. She’s already done some impressive work with the Sierra Club, Women in Wildlife, and by founding a new wildlife and conservation club at Visions. I have no doubt she’ll continue to pursue future opportunities with the same confidence and enthusiasm she’s shown as a student at Visions In Education. I’m excited to see where her journey takes her next!”

Getting Involved

Lexi’s love of animals and wildlife care has only expanded since coming to Visions, resulting in her internship in Costa Rica, involvement in the aforementioned organization Women In Wildlife, which works to amplify and connect more women and non-binary persons in the wildlife industry worldwide, and even the founding of her own organization.

“It was through my own research that I learned about the impacts [we] are facing and I decided to create an organization dedicated to youth empowerment in wildlife conservation, animal rights, and environmental justice called Eco Peace Nation,” says Lexi. “This has helped me discover that there are things I can do to help and pushed my passion for helping…animals.”

Her three weeks abroad solidified that belief for Lexi, giving her hands-on experience in one of the fields she’s most passionate about. From eating authentic Costa Rican meals to loving on sloths, Lexi’s work with wildlife in the world is only just beginning.

“This experience taught me so much about wildlife conservation and what really working in the field looks like,” says Lexi. “The vets, interns, volunteers, and staff are all very informed on wildlife conservation and how we can protect these animals in the wild.”

Check out some photos from Lexi’s time in Costa Rica below!








(Wild)life’s Work

Lexi’s desire underneath all that she does is simple – to help. Whether it’s nature, women, or wildlife, Lexi hopes to inspire kids like her to give back.

“I hope to not only inspire women and promote their stories in the industry but also youth, because the issues can feel so far out of reach for many, preventing them from getting involved. I want to change this and promote youth and especially young women in the wildlife field, highlighting jobs, educational opportunities, struggles, and more.”

Lexi is an amazing role model for other students who want to get involved in wildlife conservation, dedicated to sharing her passion and even making it her profession.

“I hope to attend a UC school pursuing a degree in Zoology or Ecology & Evolutionary Biology for pre-veterinary studies. While in college I hope to work in a veterinary clinic or wildlife rehabilitation center and pursue internships dedicated to wildlife conservation before entering vet school.”

But before that, Lexi will be heading back to Costa Rica to continue her work with Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary as a veterinary intern. An extremely selective program, Lexi is excited for the opportunity to work directly in the clinic helping injured and orphaned wildlife.

“I decided to enroll at Visions because of the flexibility,” says Lexi. “[Visions] allowed me to expand my volunteer responsibilities [and] pursue my passion for wildlife conservation while enhancing my educational opportunities.”

“My favorite memory from Costa Rica was getting to know the animals. Specifically, there is a kinkajou named Jimmy who is partially blind and has neurological damage, making him unable to release. My favorite memories with him are being able to train him with food and enrichment. He is nocturnal, but comes out during the day when he sees the other animals being fed, so giving him a snack was very cute.”

Pictured right: Jimmy!


Building Updates: November 2024

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Building Updates: November 2024

Construction is humming along, with many areas already carpeted and new sliding doors for our training facility due to be installed shortly. Once we complete some lighting tweaks, we will be near the end of our principal phase of construction! What follows will be work Visions will be undertaking directly, including purchasing and installing office furniture. A big thank you to our contractors at Creekside Commercial Builders LLC and our project management team at Capital Program Management for all your hard work! View more photos of the construction process below and what the surrounding areas have to offer.






Burgers, Sandwiches, and More!

For now, check out this map of nearby eateries that staff can enjoy during their lunch break. With everything from sushi to Italian food, subs to hamburgers, there’s something for all tastes near our new facility.  (See this link for an expanded map)

There may also be an onsite cafeteria opening in another building as the office complex is filled!