Entries by Ellie Fazzi

Home School Family Spotlight: Artist, Activist & Entrepreneur Brings Life to Her Community

Nine year old girl with glasses and a floral headband smiles and points to her colorful artwork displayed on a table

Home School Family Spotlight: Artist, Activist & Entrepreneur Brings Life to Her Community

Taylerann G.’s art takes many forms. Sometimes, it’s drawing. Sometimes, it’s painting. Other times, it’s sculpting with clay, making her own dollhouses or sewing clothes for her Barbies. Every time, it’s where Taylerann truly shines.

Art began as a form of therapy for Taylerann, who has autism. Since she was two years old, Taylerannhas loved to scribble, finger paint and play with clay, all things that her aunt, Bernadette W., used to develop Taylerann’s fine motor skills. When it finally came time to put her into school, Bernadette enrolled Taylerann in our Home School Academy for the opportunity to receive a personalized education.

“We chose home schooling to be able to best support our childrens’ individual educational needs and to be able to learn as a family,” shares Bernadette, who has another student in the Home School Academy. “I was mostly excited for the opportunity to have more options to best support Taylerann’s specific educational needs and her love of art.”

With support from her credentialed teacher, Jennifer Buck, Taylerann has found incredible success in her school work and in her artwork.

“We have built an amazing rapport with Mrs. Buck,” says Bernadette. “She is a great support in advocating and encouraging Taylerann’s art exploration projects, helping us find places to attend art enrichment classes and finding amazing vendors here in Sacramento for Taylerann to use her stipends.”

Christmas in August

Taylerann often begins her day with activities that support and encourage her creativity, like making her art or listening to her favorite music, opera. Then, she completes her daily school work, and soon after, goes straight back to her art. This flexibility has encouraged her creative exploration and made school something manageable for Taylerann.

One of her favorite projects is using cardboard boxes to construct her own dollhouses, which she insists on building as opposed to asking her family to purchase.

“Taylerann often uses leftover boxes from what we as a proud home school family call a ‘Christmas in August’ due to the fact that all of our curriculum orders often come in, leaving us with many empty cardboard boxes!” says Bernadette. “Taylerann is in her element using these boxes to create dollhouses with fully detailed bathrooms, libraries, play rooms and kitchens! She insists on us saving our money, because she is an artist and can make her own!”

“Black Girl Magic”

Taylerann’s art often depicts what she likes to call “black girl magic,” things such as representations of black hairstyles and culture. Recently, Taylerann was depicted as Sojourner Truth in Children of the Village, a mural dedicated to the children of South Sacramento. Taylerann had previously won a Black Historical Figure costume contest, where she had dressed up as Truth, and her photo served as the inspiration for the mural artwork.

“We are a family who supports our children embracing their African ancestral and cultural roots,” says Bernadette. “Taylerann is supported and encouraged by our artist community members, and you will see that in the pictures that created the mural.”

Community-Centered

The Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum in Sacramento helps support Taylerann and her family, even setting up a Youth Entrepreneur Booth for Taylerann in their neighborhood. There, she is able to showcase her business, Tay Tay’s Treasures & Trinkets, and participate in Youth Entrepreneur Days.

Taylerann is passionate about her community, and when she’s not creating art, she’s trying to make the lives of those around her better. At the unveiling of the Children of the Village mural, you would have found her in the corner creating a Clean Water Advocacy Project drawing. She recycles, picks up litter in her neighborhood and discusses the concerns of pollution and keeping the Earth and oceans clean. She makes her Tay Tay’s Treasures & Trinkets products affordable to ensure her cousins and friends can purchase her creations, and she dreams of one day opening up an orphanage and pet rescue with her earnings.

The home school program at Visions allows Taylerann to explore and express herself, while also ensuring she stays on track with her education. With guidance from her teacher, family and community, Taylerann will undoubtedly continue to bring beauty into this world through her art and her heart.

Fun Fact: Some of Taylerann’s favorite Enrichment Vendors are Lotus & Ivy and EG Space 4 Art!

Welcoming New Staff at Visions’ Kick-Off Event!

Large group of Visions leaders, administrators and managers gather and smile for a group photo

Welcoming New Staff at Visions’ Kick-Off Event!

On August 1st, over 50 new staff gathered at Milagro in Carmichael for a Welcome to Visions Kick-Off event! With guest speakers, gratitude exercises and group activities, it was a great opportunity for new staff and teachers to get to know the Visions organization and their fellow colleagues.

“The welcome event was a humbling experience. It was amazing to begin building new relationships by team building from the heart,” says Maleesha Grimes, one of the newest members of our Ordering Services team.

For many Visions veterans, this wasn’t their first welcome event, but each time they come together in that space is equally important and impactful.

“There is no better feeling than to welcome our new staff to Visions,” says Micah Studer, Chief Academic Officer. “This is especially true when they see the amazing support systems that our business and instructional teams put together to ensure that they can meet the needs of our students and their families.”

With the 2023-24 school year right around the corner, we’re excited to welcome all of the amazing new Visionaries who will come to make a difference in so many students’ lives. Thank you teachers, staff and Visions leadership for coming out and kicking the year off right!

See all photos on our Facebook page!

Grad Spotlight: From Foster Care to Future Attorney

High school girl smiles in bright blue graduation cap and gown wearing yellow tassels at her high school graduation.

Grad Spotlight: From Foster Care to Future Attorney

At Visions, we empower our students to take ownership and responsibility for their present and future learning. Jalissa W., an early graduate of our Home School Academy and valedictory medal recipient, is someone who has embodied this mission throughout her life. From an early age, Jalissa was part of the foster care system, and after finding her way to Visions during the COVID-19 pandemic, achieved impressive academic and personal success.

“I chose Visions because of all the amazing opportunities I received,” says Jalissa. “You can do your school work on your own time and there are plenty of resources that you are able to take advantage of.”

Not only did Jalissa excel academically, graduating with a final GPA of 4.14 in the 11th grade, she was heavily involved in many of the extracurricular opportunities that Visions offers, such as clubs and regional events

“I was able to attend the winter dance and prom with some friends that I made at Visions, and I was able to complete my driver’s education,” shares Jalissa. “I was also able to join Black Student Union and the California Scholarship Federation. I became the secretary of the first year of Black Student Union. I was happy to help Ms. Alexia Thomas and Ms. Dominique Asuncion start up the club with fellow elected officials.” 

Jalissa’s stellar academic achievements and all of these extracurricular activities helped her get accepted into UC Davis, where she’ll start in 2024 after finishing her associate’s degree this fall.

Staff Supported

Jalissa was able to graduate early thanks to support from her teachers and counselors, as well as her participation in dual enrollment. Her plan is to become a family law attorney, which will let her focus on underrepresented children in the foster care system.

“I must give special thanks to all the teachers and my counselor, Ms. Deanna Stevenson, for helping me achieve my school goals,” shares Jalissa. “I am very thankful for my time at Visions. I do not think I would have accomplished as much as I have without it. Thank you to everyone at Visions that makes everything possible.”

Student Spotlight: Conquering the Rubik’s Cube

High school student smiles for his photo wearing glasses and a shirt with a Rubik's Cube on it

Student Spotlight: Conquering the Rubik’s Cube

Tyler H. can solve a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube in 6.56 seconds. He has memorized over 100 algorithms and has even solved a 21×21 cube. A “cuber” since 2018, Tyler was inspired to get into cubing, or “speedcubing,” which is trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube as fast as possible, after watching another cuber break the 3×3 world record. His dad bought him his first Rubik’s Cube shortly after, and since then, Tyler has been practicing his skills, participating in cubing competitions and making videos for his YouTube channel. On top of all of this, he has been able to stay on track with his schooling thanks to Visions’ unique educational model and flexibility.

“I do school first, then do cubing and recording,” says Tyler. “I like the idea of a school that can be flexible, but still feel like school.”

Check out one of Tyler’s videos!

Competition Cubing

Apart from the difficulty of solving a Rubik’s Cube, there are intricacies to the sport that only cubers would know. High-end cubers can turn the cube at over ten turns per second, meaning they’re unable to use the old, clunky Rubik’s Cubes. Sometimes, they spend up to $80 on the newer cubes, but it’s worth it when it comes to competition time.

“A cubing competition is exactly as it sounds,” explains Tyler. “[It’s] a bunch of cubers doing the same thing as usual, except their times are officially recorded.”

As mentioned, Tyler has participated in a few of these competitions himself. His favorite thing to do is break his previous records, and his most proud is his 6.56 second 3×3 solve.

Speedschooling

Tyler’s credentialed teacher, Jennifer Russell, has been able to support his educational plans as he continues to pursue his cubing. This past school year as part of the University Prep program, Tyler participated in a high school co-op and took Spanish at a local community college, some of the options made available through Visions’ dual enrollment and enrichment opportunities.

“I love all the perks at Visions, such as a budget you can use for extracurricular activities,” says Tyler. “I plan to take a math course at community college next year and learn how to play the guitar.”

School, like speedcubing, can be challenging, but with a personalized schedule and individualized education, Tyler has found a way to solve both.

Tech Time: A Spotlight on the IT Department

Tech Time: A Spotlight on the IT Department

The IT offices look exactly how you’d guess they would – couches along the wall, a poster of Bill Murray on the door and a Dungeons and Dragons meme stuck to the back of the air conditioner. When the Marketing team came to conduct interviews and asked to take a few photos, one of the guys quickly pulled up a fake hacker screen before we were able to snap a pic.

Despite their spirited personalities, the IT Department takes the importance of their roles very seriously. Whether it’s helping with staff technology and support, developing and maintaining systems or improving our infrastructure, the team serves as one of the core units of the organization.

“We are here to serve the organization and to help it run better by leveraging technology,” says Technology Services Manager Michael Miller. “We aren’t doing the work of serving families, ensuring the records are filed, the bills are paid or the multitude of other tasks required to run a school, but we can develop tools to make those tasks easier and faster to accomplish and allow those individuals to work on other important tasks.”

As the Director of Technology, Uriel Gonzalez is responsible for the IT Support, Programming and Student Technology Services Departments, and ensures that we have stable, running IT systems for our staff, students and families. Alongside Mike, he works to make sure that the team exceeds their many expectations.

“We ensure that what we say will get done, gets done,” says Uriel. “Mike and I constantly push the envelope on what the IT team can do because they keep meeting our lofty goals.”

Behind Door Number One

IT Specialists Nick Veret (soon to be Technology Support Supervisor!) and Ted Hynson are the current boots-on-the-ground team. As some of the newest additions to the group, Nick and Ted are the go-to guys for questions, issues and assistance with staff technology.

“Problem solving and facing unique challenges has always been my favorite part of doing IT support,” says Ted. “We’re not innately gifted with the knowledge of every new system, program or hardware, so we get to learn and become subject matter experts on things and then communicate them out to staff.”

From day-to-day printer problems to big projects, such as the tech audit, the scope of Nick and Ted’s work is large. Not only do they need to be able to do tech things, like run software, they also need to be able to do physical things, like run new data cables.

“When people saw us in the ceiling tiles [running cable], they seemed surprised,” shares Nick. “We do plenty of work away from the desk. We’re not just glued to the screen.”

Behind Door Number Two

The other level of support comes from the Programmers, who are Yamin Noor, Francois Tcha, Tony Cervo and Matt Mueller. Overseen by Mike, this is the team that does all the back end work so our staff, students and families have the highest quality, most user-friendly systems with which to work.

“Technology is one of those areas where, when we do our job well, most people don’t even realize our impact,” says Mike. “Our job is to build systems that help facilitate the delivery of services to our families, to act as a force multiplier for other departments and to be good stewards of the data we house.”

One of the biggest platforms that the Programmers work with is the LPAD Student Support System. What began as Visions’ attempt to avoid substandard, off-the-shelf education software has become one of the most beneficial and valuable assets of the organization.

“We used to have an older version of LPAD SSS, which became this Frankenstein monster that kept growing and growing with no stable functionality,” shares Tony. “So, we started over with a better idea of what we wanted it to be and developed the LPAD system that we know today.”

Of course, the journey doesn’t end there. With such a unique and dynamic tool, there’s a constant need for maintenance and upgrades in order to keep it functioning at its highest level.

“What I generally do on a day-to-day basis is work on new features to add to LPAD,” shares Matt. “I respond to change requests that come in from stakeholders, and I add features and implement the things that people are asking for. This makes LPAD more useful to staff, students and families.”

Working with the nuances of our systems also elicits the need to stay up to date on current technological capabilities, both internally and externally. For example, Visions recently migrated its servers to Amazon Web Services to enhance our user experience.

“I started initial research and development on AWS last summer, and it took us a full year to make the transition,” says Francois. “Now, Amazon is able to manage our hardware for us, which is one less thing for us to oversee.”

“It’s always fun to work with the newest technology,” adds Yamin.

Behind the Screens

Although the IT Department works heavily with technology, their attributes extend far beyond all the coding and computers. The team is funny and dynamic, and they lean on one another for support and success. Most importantly, they work hard so that everyone else’s job is just a little bit easier.

“We are so fortunate to have such a great IT team,” says Uriel. “We solve complex problems, we meet our goals and we put student success as our number one priority.”

Grad Spotlight: Future Music Star Shines at Visions

Redheaded high school female in a white dress poses in an open field for graduation pictures

Grad Spotlight: Future Music Star Shines at Visions

Last month, 2023 grad Daniela B. stood on the same stage as The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys and Led Zeppelin and performed Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” to over 1,000 people. Her voice, clear and melodic, echoed through Memorial Auditorium and blanketed the crowd of friends, family and fellow graduates. With such a stunning performance, it was clear that Daniela was used to the spotlight.

A student at Visions since her sophomore year, Daniela wanted a school where she could work at her own pace, maintain a full time job and pursue her music. She also knew she needed a school that was supportive of her dreams.

“I wanted to be supported by staff who were attentive to my goals,” shares Daniela. “I also wanted more time to pursue studying music, doing gigs in the Sacramento area and touring.”

Being in the Independent Study program turned out to be the perfect fit for Daniela and allowed her the freedom to manage her own schedule and learn about topics that aligned to her career goals. At one point, Daniela had a plan for her future that she later decided to change, and it was Visions’ flexibility and incredible support staff that allowed her to redirect.

“I originally was going to attend Sierra College, but going to a four year university sounded more appealing to me,” shares Daniela. “My teacher, Tim Avila, and my counselor, Stacy Callman, supported me so much throughout that decision. Mr. Avila was supportive of me emotionally and academically and was very empathetic to my needs. He taught me to take care of myself and my well-being before anything else. Then, when I made the decision to apply to almost fifteen universities, Mrs. Callman was by my side every step of the way. I told her my dream school was Berklee College of Music and with her help, I got in!”

From Berklee to Belmont

Although Daniela did get into her dream school, she instead decided to attend Belmont University in Nashville due to its location.

“Who can beat going to school in the number one music capital of the world?” says Daniela.

A future Commercial Voice major with an emphasis in Performance, Daniela hopes to record original music and work with other students to perform on Broadway and in iconic Nashville venues. As surreal as it was to perform at her own high school graduation, it was just the beginning of a rock star future for Daniela.

Farewell Board of Directors Member Vanessa Belair!

Female board member poses with award, graphic includes "thank you" message and Visions star logo

Farewell Board of Directors Member Vanessa Belair!

As mentioned last month, Visions Board of Directors member Vanessa Belair ended her service on our Board of Directors last Thursday at our June 22nd meeting.

Member Belair has served Visions with distinction since July of 2021, offering her educator’s perspective on critical issues. She has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in education; her insights, expertise, and tireless efforts have helped to shape policies and decisions that have positively impacted the lives of our students.

“I selfishly want to stay,” said Member Belair. “But I know it’s not best for the organization. I cannot wait to see the amazing things that will happen; thank you all so much. This has been a legitimately incredible experience.”

“[Member Belair’s] experience as a charter leader and a teacher has left an indelible mark on this organization,” said Board of Directors Chairperson Mark Holman. “This has been a critical time, and [her] wisdom and insight were of incredible value.”

While we are saddened by her departure, we wish Member Belair all the best and extend heartfelt thanks for her service, support, and dedication to Visions these past several years.

Visions board members and Superintendent pose in front of frame decorated wall to say goodbye to exiting female board member

Visions In Education Appoints Sandra Morales To Board Of Directors

New board member Sandra smiles at the camera, graphic includes text "welcome board member Sandra Morales"

Visions In Education Appoints Sandra Morales To Board Of Directors

Visions In Education is thrilled to welcome Sandra Morales to our Board of Directors! Board Member Morales was confirmed at our June 22nd Board Meeting to serve the remaining year of former member Vanessa Belair’s three-year term.

“[Member Morales’] combination of skills and experiences will be invaluable to us as we continue to work together in the future to build our educational and interpersonal success,” said Board Chairperson Mark Holman at the June Board of Directors meeting. “We are very excited to have her on the team.”

“I’m excited to be here,” said Member Morales after she was formally confirmed to the Board of Directors. “And happy to learn more about the work that you do supporting children.”

About Board Member Morales

Board Member Morales comes to Visions with a long resume of educational, analytical, and advocacy experience. As a partner at Education Advocates, Member Morales has served as a lead consultant for the Education Coalition, the California Institute of School Improvement, and the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA).

As an advocate, Member Morales successfully advocated for a new $1 billion funding model for county superintendents of schools that provides assistance to districts not meeting performance standards. Recently, Member Morales and her firm advocated for a 100% increase in state funding for CTE Programs statewide, offering students more opportunities to explore careers while still in school.

Our Board of Directors is an all-volunteer board that serves our school and our students without compensation. Visions is grateful to Member Morales for donating her time and wealth of educational expertise to help better our school. Welcome to Visions, Board Member Morales!

From Call Center to Center Stage: A Spotlight on Office Staff Member Raeshon

From Call Center to Center Stage: A Spotlight on Office Staff Member Raeshon Minnifield

Raeshon is many things – a student, an employee, an artist and a creator – but he isn’t defined by any one identity. A lover of EDM and Andre 3000, Raeshon has had a passion for music from an early age. Over the years, he has seen this passion manifest into another identity altogether – DJ and music artist Robot.Ray(); – and has taken the stage at clubs, parties and fashion shows to show off his artistry.

“I’ve been making music since I was sixteen, dabbling in FL Studio on my cousin’s laptop,” shares Raeshon. “Then five years ago, I got into DJing. I started to think of everything I could mix together and found out how therapeutic it is to chain songs together.”

A major stress reliever for Raeshon, crafting his songs reminds him to let go and tap into his creative side. Now, he produces, remixes and shares his music with family, friends and his community, and is even working on his first extended play (EP).

“I have three of the six songs in a place where I’m comfortable releasing,” says Raeshon. “I’m going to do one song a month before the full release, which will most likely be next summer.”

Although he hasn’t officially decided on the title of his EP yet, Raeshon keeps going back to one name: Hard Drive. A student at American River College, Raeshon is studying computer science, something he focuses on while also working in the Enrollment Department and making his music. He credits the amazing staff here at Visions for setting him up to pursue these different paths.

“Visions has really helped support me as a person,” says Raeshon. “Soren, Rick and Tom have been really supportive and have put me in a position to be successful.”

No Pressure

Despite his immense ambition, Raeshon tends to not put too much pressure on himself. Instead, he lets his job, his education and his music take him in whatever direction they naturally go.

“I feel like people succumb to pressures from others or are so wrapped up in the day-to-day routine that they forget to have fun,” says Raeshon. “I try not to take things too seriously. People forget that life innately is playful.”

Through the pursuit of his music, Raeshon takes the time to remind himself of the true nature of being a creator, something that encourages expression, exploration and play.

“You don’t really have any direction, you have inspiration and you go from there,” says Raeshon. “Although I take things seriously, I do it only to the point that I impress myself.”

If You’re Reading This

Visions has allowed Raeshon to do many things throughout his five years working here. The skills he’s learned – time management, organization, networking and professionalism – have been especially valuable. But at the end of the day, the thing that matters most to Raeshon is those around him.

“Life is about people. If you’re reading this, you matter. Sometimes people don’t hear that enough.”

Visions’ Main Office and STS Closed Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Vector illustration on white background red and blue text and a star, text says "July 4th We Will Be Closed"

Visions’ Main Office and STS Closed Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Our main office and Student Technology Services (STS) will be closed on Tuesday, July 4, 2023 in observance of Independence Day. We will resume operations during regular business hours on Wednesday July 5, 2023.

Independence Day is observed every year on July 4 and commemorates the birth of American independence.