Entries by Ben Drahmann

Student Spotlight: Teen Champions Mental Health Advocacy

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Portrait of Visions student

Student Spotlight: Teen Champions Mental Health Advocacy

As the world begins to recover from quarantine, the mental health effects of dealing with prolonged social isolation and fear are beginning to be felt. According to the World Health Organization, global cases of anxiety and depression have risen 25% over pre-pandemic times. 

While some teens may feel uncomfortable discussing mental health issues, Visions Senior Ma’Shaya Pryor (University Prep) is trying to help people struggling with mental health issues find their voice. Her senior project titled “The Loudest Silence” aims to capture stories of mental health struggles and raise awareness about good mental health practices. 

“The Loudest Silence” was a project that I’ve always wished existed in our society today,” says Ma’Shaya. “Mental Health is the anchor to any individual’s mind. It affects the way individuals function in their daily lives.” 

The Loudest Silence encourages volunteers to share their stories through a Google Form. Submissions can either be short passages, prose, or even poetry. 

“Every participant gets to choose what they want to submit,” says Ma’Shaya. “There are no rules on what you can or can not say. I refuse to silence these individuals more than they already are.” 

Supporting Others

As a part of this project, Ma’Shaya has had the opportunity to read stories about the hardships and mental struggles many people walk around with on a daily basis. While each story is unique, the project has revealed some common traits among those suffering from past trauma. 

“Reading other individuals’ stories has made me realize how much schools, and friends can save a person,” says Ma’Shaya. “Many individuals go to school to escape the abuse that they are facing. They avoid being home, they try to distract themselves with tasks because they are taught that not being okay is not okay.”

The Loudest Silence has also revealed that simply talking about mental health challenges may not be enough. 

“Some people who want to seek help don’t because they can’t afford to pay hundreds of dollars for therapy or counseling,” says Ma’Shaya. “In many mental health awareness videos the most common thing that is said is to speak to a family member or a close friend. The problem with that is, these family members or friends can be the reason why these individuals have gone through abuse or trauma.” 

Thankfully, Ma’Shaya isn’t alone in her mission as she has the support of her teachers and counselors. 

“I have had the support of my teachers and counselors right from the beginning,” says Ma’Shaya. “My English teacher Mrs. Singley has offered to help me if I needed it and I am very grateful to have such amazing teachers.“

Mental Health Warrior

It’s no surprise then that Ma’Shaya would like to make mental health advocacy a full time career. After graduating Visions, she intends to pursue sociology and psychology in college with the goal of becoming a therapist for kids and teens. She hopes that using creative writing can help people come to terms with their past so they can begin to make sense of their futures. 

“It is okay to feel pain, it is okay to break, it is okay to scream and feel as if nothing matters, but it is also okay to speak up on the abuse that you have experienced. It’s your story to tell, your life to change and find peace in, and you have the right to be heard.” 

If you wish to participate in The Loudest Silence, please fill out this Google Form. Responses are anonymous unless users wish to identify themselves and all responses will be kept confidential and used only for educational purposes. 

To learn more about our mental health support, read about our partnership with Care Solace here. If you are in crisis or in need of immediate help, call the 24/7 Crisis Hotline at 800-843-5200.

Visions Proudly Sponsors the Improve Your Tomorrow Sneaker Ball

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Visions staff at the Improve Your Tomorrow Sneaker Ball

Visions Proudly Sponsors the Improve Your Tomorrow Sneaker Ball

In a packed auditorium on November 5th, Visions In Education turned out to support Improve Your Tomorrow (IYT) at their 2022 Sneaker Ball hosted at the Safe Credit Union Convention Center. Community leaders and sponsors from across the region gathered in their finest sneakers to raise money for IYT’s programs. Visions was proud to sponsor this event alongside regional leaders like Kaiser Permanente, the City of Sacramento, and SMUD. 

This year’s sneaker ball was a smashing success, raising more than $300,000 to continue its mission of supporting young men of color in Northern California! Visions is proud to support an organization that promotes the value of education and positively impacts the lives of students in our region. 

“Great mission, great event and great people!” Says Visions COO Tom Tafoya.

About Improve Your Tomorrow 

Improve Your Tomorrow is a Northern California based non-profit with the mission of helping young men of color (YMOC) attend and graduate from colleges and universities. IYT organizes mentorship programs, college tours, tutoring, internships, and other opportunities to help YMOC envision a future in higher education and prepare for college life. 

Student Spotlight: Aspiring Veterinarian Hits Her Stride

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Online high school student prepares to become a vet

Student Spotlight: Aspiring Veterinarian Hits Her Stride

“I was in home school, but I wasn’t learning.”

Hannah Heath needed an education option that fit her personalized needs and provided her with the tools she needed to succeed. A lifelong lover of arts such as drawing and sculpting with ambitions of one day going into veterinary medicine, she found that the schools she attended in the past did not support her unique learning needs or accommodate her personal interests.

At Visions In Education, Hannah connected with credentialed teacher Christina Schreiber and counselor Jen Nino who helped Hannah with schoolwork, professional learning opportunities, and opportunities to explore her passions. As an Independent Study Academy student, Hannah takes charge of her own schedule and pursues things that are interesting to her, such as the Career Technical Education Program which puts high school students in touch with career training in highly sought-after fields.

Hannah says that the structure of her classes and the support of her learning team make learning easier and more effective for her.

“I love the progression and instant grades of my work,” says Hannah. “I love to see that my work is tracked and that I am able to see myself reaching my goals.”

Planning For The Future

Hannah has been taking introductory medical classes as part of Visions In Education’s health care program as a way of test-driving a career in medicine. After getting hands-on experience with administering care, she plans to attend a two-year college after graduating and continuing to pursue her dream of becoming a veterinarian. Hannah thanks her learning team for helping her stay on track and giving her the support she needs to reach her goals.

“The relationship between my teachers and my counselor is great,” says Hannah. “They both understand me individually on a daily basis.”

Grad Spotlight: Young Singer Graduates Ahead of Schedule

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Young singer graduates early

Grad Spotlight: Young Singer Graduates Ahead Of Schedule

When Angelina Correia learned that she might not graduate on time, she was forced to make a decision; attend continuation school and graduate a year behind, or take charge of her future and try and find a school that would help her graduate. An avid lover of music and an active singer, she was determined to put in the work so that she could graduate on schedule.

“I was told by my previous school that I would have had to go to a continuation school,” said Angelina. “My best friend had told me about Visions in hopes of graduating on time.”

At Visions, Angelina was connected with her teacher Megan Brunkhorst who helped her formulate a plan to catch up on credits while still making time for those who matter.

“I was really nervous about having to make my own schedule in the beginning,” said Angelina. “But now I am so used to it. I love planning things! I thought that being in Independent study would take a toll on my social skills, but it actually gives me more opportunities to spend time with those I love.”

Even while working hard to catch up on her education, Angelina still found time to pursue her love of music and spend time with her church’s youth group.

Drumroll Please…

After all her hard work and with the support of her friends and family, Angelina not only graduated from Visions as part of the Class of 2022, she was able to graduate early and begin pursuing her dreams! She plans to attend Diablo Valley College this fall before pursuing a career in ministry. She gives thanks to her faith, her community of friends, and her teacher Mrs. Brunckhorst for seeing her through to the end.

“My teacher has been one of the most supportive teachers I have ever had!” says Angelina. “She has been so helpful to me in my journey. Thank you Mrs. Brunckhorst; you’re AWESOME!”

Student Spotlight: Coast Guard Hopeful Pilots His Own Course

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Home School student aspires to join the Coast Guard

Student Spotlight: Coast Guard Hopeful Pilots His Own Course

Since Zakry Bassett was twelve years old, he’s known that his future lay out at sea. An avid rock climber and fan of multiple sports, he knew that he wanted to serve his country and his community as a member of the United States Coast Guard. 

“I guess I’ve always been interested in it,” says Zak. “I’ve always wanted to be a pilot in the Coast Guard.” 

To achieve his goals, Zakry participates in regular Coast Guard drills and training in preparation to enter the service after graduation. A Visions student since second grade, Zakry takes advantage of the flexible at-home schedule, He plans his education around his training and his love of sports, including soccer, football, and golf. 

“I really just make a schedule and I make sure my sports fit into my schedule,” says Zakry.

Part of his success is credited to his teacher, Jessica Wall, who Zakry says is always open to talking about his personal educational needs. 

“She’s a great teacher,” says Zakry. “She actually likes talking to you about your needs and what she can do to help.” 

Setting Sail

Zakry just kicked off his senior year at Visions In Education! After graduation, Zakry plans on getting his EMT license with the hopes of joining the Coast Guard after he graduates. When asked if he has any advice for students just starting high school, Zakry said: 

“If you see something you want, just go for it; don’t be scared to try something new. Don’t let fear invade that.” 

LPAD Fulfills Its 1,000,000th Order!

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Galaxy background with text and logo overlay. LPAD Student Support System with rocket. Headline reads 1,000,000+ orders filled!

LPAD Fulfills Its 1,000,000th Order!

The LPAD Student Support System (LPAD SSS) has served as a resource to connect Visions students with resources for more than 17 years. As Visions grew as a school, the need to respond to student needs quickly outpaced traditional pen-and-paper ordering. Our team pioneered a unique ordering system that allows our staff to connect students in nine counties, from Walnut Creek to Lake Tahoe, with learning materials and resources that make our school run. 

This August, our Ordering Services team filled its 1,000,000th order in LPAD! This milestone could not have been possible without the dedicated work of our Ordering Services and Student Technology Services teams who work tirelessly behind the scenes to get families the learning materials they need. 

“This is an amazing accomplishment which shows how our steady and focused approach has allowed us to reach this milestone,” says Visions’ COO Tom Tafoya. “The LPAD Student Support System is a continuously evolving tool that helps our staff do amazing work!

“17 years in the making, this is the brainchild of many who saw the vision (pun intended) and potential of what this system can do,” says Visions’ Director of Technology Uriel Gonzalez. “This investment in Visions has afforded numerous efficiencies, which I’m proud to say that I was a part of that. Kudos to my team for making this LOOK easy.”

And We’re Not Done Yet!

LPAD SSS continues to improve as our hardworking Technology Services team continues to find ways to make our services better. Last week, we also rolled out a new events and announcements feature that brings upcoming news and events straight to your Launchpad dashboard!

Thank you for the years of continued support that has made this milestone possible and we hope that LPAD continues to be an invaluable resource for our students, teachers, and families. 

Congratulations Class of 2022 Summer Grads!

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Class of 2022 Commencement graphic

Congratulations Class of 2022 Summer Grads!

At an intimate ceremony in Carmichael, Visions In Education proudly celebrated our final Class of 2022 graduates as part of our Summer Graduation ceremony! This marks the first summer ceremony we’ve had in person since 2019 and the final graduation ceremony of the 21/22 school year.

“Each hurdle cleared and challenge met spurs growth and belief and confidence in your ability to overcome,” said Dr. Steve Olmos in his opening remarks to the grads and their families. “There is also an opportunity for empathy, caring and service to others and sometimes, to be surprised by your own capacities and capabilities.”

Tons of family and friends gathered to celebrate the twenty graduates of the summer Class of 2022. As it was a smaller ceremony, our graduates were given the opportunity to briefly address the crowd and offer their thoughts on graduation and their time in high school.

“The last three years my teacher, my principal and my family have all pushed me and given me the chance of a lifetime; chance after chance,” said Monty Hutchenson (Pictured above).

“I want to thank everyone who pushed me and would not let me give up on myself. Thank you for being my motivation when I had none and for being here today to celebrate with me!” 

“I want to take this time to thank my teacher, Mr. David Boughton, for supporting me these last three years,” said Anthony Mora (Pictured above).

“Thank you for giving me a chance and being patient with me; I also want to thank my family in the audience for helping to raise me and staying on this journey with me.”

For more photos, see our Facebook Photo Album Here!

Congratulations Class of 2022! See our Summer Graduation Slideshow Here!

Celebrate with Us on Social Media!

Share your grad memories using #VisionsGrad on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Class of 2022 Merch

We still have some Class of 2022 merchandise available in our Spirit Store but they’re going fast! We will be getting ready to add Class of 2023 merch before you know it, so if you’d like to get some sweatshirts, t-shirts or swag, get them soon!

Visions Shares Lessons From the Pandemic on KVIE

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Superintendent Olmos on Studio Sacramento

Visions Shares Lessons From the Pandemic on KVIE

As schools return to in-person education, school leaders look back to see what lessons can be learned from the two years of distance learning. As a school with more than twenty years of hybrid-learning experience, Visions In Education was able to pivot to a fully remote model of education and support our students with minimal learning loss.

Last Friday, Superintendent Steve Olmos participated in a panel of educators on KVIE’s Studio Sacramento to discuss how learning during the pandemic changed and how schools can best serve students in a rapidly changing world. Dr. Olmos was joined by Placer County Superintendent of Schools Gayle Garbolino-Mojica and Placer County Elementary Teacher of the Year Tiffany McGuire to look back on learning in 2020-2021.

“The students that we had enrolled with us, we didn’t see a lot of learning loss because they were already used to that distance learning,” said Dr. Olmos. “Over the last few years, we’ve learned that not all students learn in the traditional [school] setting.”

Dr. Olmos also shared an anecdote about how non-classroom based education benefited students who had been expelled by their previous school.

“We really thought we were going to lose these students academically,” said Dr. Olmos. “And actually we found they performed better. When I personally talked to these students they would tell me, ‘I do better because I don’t have to worry about drama in the classroom.’”

“There are children who do not thrive in a classroom of twenty to thirty children and there are children who thrive in a more unique educational setting,” said Superintendent Garbolino-Mojica. “Charter schools have really come to the surface in the past couple of years as a vehicle for families who may have a child who thrives in that type of environment.”

The pandemic changed the world as we know it and Visions is thrilled to contribute our lessons-learned to the discussion surrounding the future of education.

SacTown Magazine Recognizes Visions Alum & Board Vice-Chairperson

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Visions Board member smiling

SacTown Magazine Recognizes Visions Alum & Board Vice-Chairperson

“I saw a lack of creative engagement around literacy in the schools,” says Visions In Education Board of Directors Vice-Chairperson Katie McCleary in an article written by SacTown Magazine on the rise of writing nonprofit 916 Ink. “And I saw a lack of confidence, a lack of skills and a lack of knowing how to actually express your own stories, ideas, opinions and arguments.”

A member of the Visions In Education Board of Directors since it was formed after going independent in 2018, Katie McCleary’s interest in education goes much further back. As one of the co-founders of Sacramento’s 916 Ink, Katie has been empowering teens through creative writing since 2011 and teaching creative writing at the community college level.

“I grew up as a really lonely kid who had no creative outlets,” Katie says when reflecting on her childhood and the path that led her to 916 Ink where she served on the Board of Directors until 2017. The organization has grown from a small team of volunteers to a much larger nonprofit that creates a community of teen writers and encourages them to share their experiences and perspectives.

“Young people need expressive outlets to process the world and people around them as they try to figure out who they are and who they want to become,” says Katie. Even before joining Visions In Education’s board (serving one term as the Chairperson and currently serving as Vice-Chairperson), Katie connected 916 Ink with Visions to form the Find Your Voice writing program for our students, letting them experience the program as elective credit.

“Find your Voice has been a terrific vehicle for Visions students to dive deep into better understanding themselves and their peers as they share stories around the writing table and work on publishing their ideas for an audience,” Katie says.

Finding Their Voice With Visions

In the article SacTown also touches base with Visions alum, Shani. Diagnosed with diabetes at a young age, Shani’s mother searched for alternative school options that would allow her daughter the flexibility to learn from home. At Visions, Shani thrived and grew her love for writing, even winning third place in the 2017 Sacramento Poetry Center’s Teen Poetry Contest for her original work, “Boys are Better in Books”. She’s now studying film production at Sacramento State.

“916 Ink made me more confident in my writing in ways that I most likely would not have been as a teenager. It made me want to actually share my writing with people. It made me proud of my writing abilities.” – Shani

Fun fact: 916 Ink, Shani and her class were featured on an episode of KVIE’s Rob On The Road. Watch it here!

“The class was so beneficial. It was freeing, relieving and surprisingly therapeutic. It brought out the creative side of me that I never knew existed. I learned more about myself and if I hadn’t taken that class I wouldn’t be as open as I am today.” – Julianne

“I didn’t expect it to become a book…I just got inspired and started writing.”

– AllieKat (pen name) said about her published children’s book Adventures of Baby Matzu.

“I love being able to escape into a world that I can control. It just makes me so happy to write!”

– Alivia

Read more about 916 Ink in SacTown Magazine’s article here!

About 916 Ink & Find Your Voice

Visions’ Find Your Voice writing class is available to enrolled students in grades 6-12. The class is designed to manifest a creative, but safe environment for teens to realize that they are all writers. Each week, students will read and discuss published pieces and write during class to several fun and unique prompts. Students will have the opportunity to share what is written in class, but will never be required to share. All work written in class is treated as fiction and all feedback is positive.

Information about signing up for these classes will be available after the start of the school year.

Visions In Education Recognized With Technology Pivotal Practice Award!

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California Pivotal Practice logo

Visions In Education Recognized With Technology Pivotal Practice Award!

The California Department of Education recognized Visions with a Pivotal Practice Award in the Distribution of Technology category. The Pivotal Practice Program was created to recognize schools and districts who rose to the challenges of the pandemic and continued to provide excellent services to their students. Visions was one of only four schools in Sacramento County and the only school in its authorizing district of San Juan Unified to be recognized by the state in this capacity.

“I’m incredibly proud of these schools and districts for their creativity, dedication, and innovation in the face of adversity,” Thurmond said in a press release announcing the award winners.

“Technology education has been a cornerstone of Visions In Education’s success for more than twenty years,” says Tom Tafoya, Visions’ Chief Operations Officer. “When the pandemic hit in 2020, Visions was able to transition to a fully remote model of education and work with minimal disruption to our students. We were able to take what we’ve learned from years of experience and share it with other schools to help them serve their students as well.” 

Part of this process was developing new ways of connecting students with technology to ensure minimal loss of learning. This was only possible due to the hard work and creativity of our staff, especially our Student Technology Services (STS) team and LPAD Student Support System programming team, who quickly adapted to a tumultuous situation. Thanks to their dedicated work, creative problem solving, and flexible solutions, our students were able to continue learning throughout the pandemic. 

Thank You!

A big thank you to all the staff that came together to make this happen! Thanks to the STS Team, (headed by Brandon Neal and supported by Ahmed Alogaidi, Najee Burnette, Brandon Fan, Manny Morteo, Connor Puckett, Blake Sims, James Umiker, and Wellington Wong) and our LPAD SSS programming team (Michael Miller, Francois Tcha, Yamin Noor, Tony Cervo, Matthew Mueller) for ensuring that our students have top-notch technology support.

Thanks also to Justina Janas, Ben Drahmann, Mike Brubaker, Uriel Gonzalez, Soren Gutierrez and Carl Sorenson, who all helped with the award submission!