Board of Directors Spotlight: Meet Samuel Smalls

Please share why you volunteer on the Board at Visions In Education.

As a resident of the Sacramento County region, I support my local education organizations as a critical building block of our community, nation and advanced societies across the globe. Not only does education help create an informed and culturally aware citizenry, but it also provides a pipeline of competent talent for our nation’s future workforce, as well as opportunities for upward mobility for those of a lower socio-economic status. For these reasons and more, I volunteer my time to Visions In Education because I believe its mission supports these goals.

What is it about Visions that made you want to be part of our school community?

Visions In Education is committed to using alternative methods of reaching and teaching youths from a wide array of backgrounds who are not thriving in traditional school programs. Meeting youth where they are and empowering them with the attention and tools to excel is what attracted me to be part of the Visions school community.

How might you describe the difference that our teachers and staff are making by meeting the individual and unique needs of each student?

Our teaching and administrative staff are able to give the customized attention that our students need. With Visions’ approach, our students can’t easily hide or fall through the sometimes evident cracks of traditional educational systems.

What is one way that Visions is making a difference in our community from your perspective?

Visions is transforming lives, one student at a time. Any story of a student that is able to gain academic stability or, in the best of circumstances, academic excellence is a great story that needs to be told. Moreover, because students have access to non-classroom activities like music, arts, and sports, they can tap into the creativity and skills that make each unique. This journey of self-discovery can often lead to self-confidence, thereby sparking correlated academic improvements.

As a member of the Board, you have an important policy and oversight role to ensure the school is achieving its mission. How would you describe your role in holding Visions accountable for meeting our goals to a variety of stakeholders, including families, staff, and taxpayers?

As a public servant in my current job, I understand the importance of public accountability to stakeholders. In my role as a Visions Board member, I hope that my past and current public sector experience will help me ask good questions of staff, assist in Visions’ focus on and allocation of resources to meet the priority needs of the organization, be an ambassador of the great work Visions is doing, and be an advocate to various partners and critics on how we all can help solve the challenges facing our youth in the area of education. As a Board member, I seek to build bridges between the organization and outside stakeholders to help us achieve our collective goals.

What are you most passionate about? How are you able to pursue that passion by serving on our Board?

I am passionate about seeing the eyes of our youth light up with hope. I want to be a part of an organization that seeks to bring out the best in its employees and students. While new to the Visions Board, I’m excited about the prospect of doing just that during my tenure.

Please share a bit about your background, family, and what you like to do in your spare time.

I am married and have two teenage boys attending Jesuit High School, a senior (Class of 2025) and a junior (Class of 2026). I am an avid lover of music, live or recorded, ranging from Jazz, R&B, and Gospel to Pop Rock and Classical. I also like a wide range of movies and live musical theater. Last but not least, I’m a foodie – I love to cook (and eat) – gourmet, BBQ, and Asian cuisine.