About Ellie Fazzi

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Entries by Ellie Fazzi

Home School Family Spotlight: Making Space for Exploration

October 3, 2023/in Student Spotlight

Home School Family Spotlight: Making Space for Exploration

The Lau family loves traveling and being outdoors. Among many other things, they hike, bike, camp, ski, golf and ride go-karts. The Home School Academy at Visions offers families like the Laus flexibility and choice in their children’s education, granting them the freedom to learn around the world.

“We enjoy exploring the Bay Area and beyond,” says mom, Gina. “We have traveled domestically and internationally over the years. More importantly, we find time to get outdoors as much as our schedule allows.”

Spending this time together is made possible thanks to the ability for students and families to set their own schedules. With good planning and continuous communication, Gina helps manage the family calendar and, along with staff and support services, ensures that students Julian and Justin stay ahead academically.

“Visions was recommended for its structured support. I met several other home school families who gave me insight into what homeschooling entails and how personalized learning can help children study at their own pace,” shares Gina. “Students are the master of their learning. I provide them with the tools that best fit their learning needs.”

Shooting for the Stars

Gina’s approach to homeschooling along with the support received from their credentialed teacher, Kira Lewallen, have expanded Julian and Justin’s academic ventures beyond what they could have achieved in a traditional public school. Both boasting 4.38 GPAs, Julian and Justin have had incredible academic, professional and personal opportunities made possible by the unique structure of Visions.

“By attending Visions In Education, in addition to my academic pursuits both in high school work and community college courses, I can participate in extracurricular activities such as my volunteer activities at Chabot Space & Science Center, being an active member of the Alameda Junior Golf Association and winning third place at ‘The Chinese Language Teachers Association of California’,” shares Julian.

“I have achieved [a lot] academically and personally in my time with Visions. By attending Visions In Education, I can volunteer at the Chabot Space & Science Center, [where I’ve] logged 260 plus hours, earn the Certificate of Merit Level 4 for piano with high scores, participate in ‘The Chinese Language Teachers Association of California’ Mandarin speech contest and [be] an active member of [the] Alameda Junior Golf Association,” adds Justin.

In addition, both Julian and Justin are members of the California Scholarship Federation, participate in dual enrollment at Diablo Valley College and will both finish their senior year with 38 college credits. To top it all off, Julian and Justin both completed summer internships at NASA.

“I was in an internship program at NASA Moffett Field this summer and I really enjoyed the experience working with my mentor,” shares Justin.

Julian adds, “I was amazed at the experience gained by working with my mentor and fellow interns.”

Sharing their Skills

As mentioned, Julian and Justin both volunteer at the Chabot Space & Science Center. Discovering that they had a knack for working with visitors and leading demonstrations, both boys found a niche sharing their world with others.

“The program required me to conduct floor demonstrations for visitors and, at the same time, join teams to learn more about STEM and building science demonstrations,” explains Justin. “The floor demonstrations allowed me to help the visitors at the center. I give science demonstrations and also guide visitors around the observatories.”

“I enjoyed working with the visitors at the demonstration tables. I have a skill I could share with others, and they could gain something from it, even if it was just a quick look at a device or a science experiment,” explains Julian.

For their dedicated service to others, Julian and Justin have been awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award the past two years in a row.

“I enjoy giving back or helping others,” exclaims Julian. “Receiving The President’s Volunteer Service Award wasn’t my intent when I joined [the] Chabot Space & Science Center, as I am happy to go to the center and help out.”

Justin agrees, stating, “It is good helping people of all ages and backgrounds. Winning The President’s Volunteer Service Award was the icing on the cake because I enjoy volunteering and giving back to the community.”

Julian with his President’s Volunteer Service Awards

Julian’s Favorite Things

Subject – Biology

Activities – Swimming, automobiles, golfing, hiking, biking, gaming and hanging out with his dogs

Justin with his President’s Volunteer Service Awards

Justin’s Favorite Things

Subject – Physics

Activities – Golfing, hiking, biking, 3D modeling, constructing go-karts, playing piano and reading novels by his favorite author, Rick Riordan

Student Spotlight: How One Student is Championing Public School Choice

September 26, 2023/in Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: How One Student is Championing Public School Choice

Tori B. has been a Visions student since first grade. Beginning in the Home School Academy, she worked closely with her parents to pursue her education. Now, Tori is working more independently in the University Prep Academy, experiencing firsthand how public school choice, and the flexibility of a school like Visions, allows students like her to succeed.

“Everyone has to understand their own journey,” explains Tori. “University Prep is an individual plan for each student, so it’s great for unique people like me, or students who want to do more than a standard, one-size-fits-all school. The flexibility has helped me overcome my challenges and grow.”

Tori especially credits her current and former teachers, Sarah Grassinger and Hilary Ducharme, for helping her find her way through school. Now in the 11th grade, Tori is nervous about being a junior, but knows that she has people in her corner who will support and encourage her every step of the way.

“My teachers have been amazing. I really appreciate how they help me navigate school and stay on track,” shares Tori. “All of the Visions staff on my IEP team actually listened to me and what I felt when helping me plan my high school career. That helped me have more confidence.”

With one-on-one relationships with her teachers, the flexibility to create her own learning environment and the opportunity to receive an individualized education, Tori understands and appreciates what non-classroom based charter schools have to offer students like herself. Recently, Tori got to celebrate the value of public school choice by presenting an award to one of our local senators.

“I presented the Golden Apple Award to Senator Roger Niello on behalf of California Parents for Public Virtual Education, which advocates for schools like Visions,” shares Tori. “I was able to talk with Senator Niello about how school choice was important to students like me and many other families, and thanked him for his work to support children and school choice.”

The Golden Apple Award is presented to a policy maker who has demonstrated dedication to ensuring students have options to attend a school that works for them. Tori was joined by Folsom Mayor Rosario Rodriguez, who also has a student at Visions (check out her post!), and got to spend some time at the Legislative Office Building advocating for alternative education.

Tori presenting the 2023 Golden Apple Award to Senator Roger Niello.

From left to right: Mayor Rosario Rodriguez (Folsom), Tab Berg (Tori’s father), Tori and Senator Niello.

Get to Know Tori

When she’s not championing public school choice, you can find Tori at meetings or on field trips with the Champions Club at Visions. Outside of school, Tori loves reading, going to the movies with her family and playing at the lake with her dog, Wallie. She also loves spending time with her twin sister Melissa, listening to music, playing video games or just talking about life. She wants to do volunteer work with animals or support NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) babies when she’s older, already setting her sights on further service to her community.

“Although being ‘independent’ is challenging, I learned to take responsibility for my time, but still have support to encourage my learning experience,” shares Tori. “A lot of that has to do with my parents who helped with home school, and my teachers like Mrs. Grassinger and Mrs. Ducharme, who helped me overcome my disabilities to learn and succeed. I really adore all of my teachers and therapists and hope that I take advantage of their support and they can be proud of what I accomplish.”

#VisionsFirstDay Photos & Spirit Store Code Recipients

September 21, 2023/in News

#VisionsFirstDay Photos & Spirit Store Code Recipients

Thank you to all of our students and families for sharing your back to school photos! It was great to see so many happy faces ready to learn. See all the photos in the #VisionsFirstDay 2023 album on Facebook!

This year we have 10 winners! Click below to see their photos.

Winning families will be contacted by email. Congratulations! We hope everyone has a great year and thanks again for sharing your memories!

Learning for Life: A Spotlight on the University Prep Department

September 20, 2023/in News

Learning for Life: A Spotlight on the University Prep Department

Back-to-school is always an exciting time. For some of this year’s returning Visions students, their back-to-school was full of new classes, new curriculum and new faces. But for many of our recent University Prep Academy graduates, their back-to-school was even more exciting – their first day of college!

From Sacramento State all the way to the University of Alabama, our grads packed up, moved out and moved on to their next adventures. The opportunity to pursue postsecondary education would not be possible without the University Prep Department, which helps our students in the University Prep Academy get ready for the world of higher education.

“We support students through building multiple paths of success toward graduation. The most unique path is by meeting A-G and NCAA requirements necessary for graduates to attend a four year university,” shares Christy McKinnis, Principal for the University Prep Academy. “However, what we are realizing through 14 years of supporting this program is that encouraging high school students to earn 12 credits of community college credit while in high school increases their success in postsecondary education. So our team ensures that academic plans include community college opportunities and that we have systems in place to support success in those classes.”

College Ready

Students in the University Prep program dream big, setting their sights on schools like Purdue and UCLA. Many of those dreams begin early; in the University Prep Academy specifically, 106 students are currently taking community college courses while also enrolled in high school. Visions’ dual enrollment and other early college opportunities allow these students to get a head start on their goals and set them up for even more success in their postsecondary pursuits.

A visual of where our Class of 2023 UPrep graduates are currently going to school!

World Ready

Despite the name, University Prep is not exclusively focused on preparing students for college. The program also prepares students for work life, military life and more, focusing on what the academy calls a six-year plan as opposed to a traditional four-year plan.

“In our model, we like to focus on a six-year plan (four years of high school and two years of post-high school) to ensure students have the opportunity to successfully transition into their postsecondary plans,” explains Christy. “Each student who comes to University Prep has unique needs and goals, and we have instructional resources and systems to support the many different plans our students have for beyond high school.”

The program also focuses on preparing students socially and emotionally for life after high school and college.

“My role is the 9th grade school counselor for the University Prep Academy,” explains Estrella Rosales. “I am responsible for helping the 9th graders understand what the A-G requirements are and why they are important, help build community among the 9th graders as a cohort, and be a support person if they are experiencing any socioemotional distress, among other things. It is crucial in our academy that students in 9th grade have a solid foundation to reach their postsecondary goals while also having the skills to cope with different situations.”

With a myriad of dreams, goals and aspirations, each student at Visions is unique, and the University Prep staff sees that. With support from academy credentialed teachers, principals and counselors, our students make their dreams become reality.

“Students in the UP Academy are ambitious,” shares Estrella. “I feel privileged to be able to work with these students as well as the amazing staff that work together to help students accomplish their goals and help them get ready for life after high school.”

Success Stories

“We have many examples of how UP prepares students for success, but one comes to mind. This student was non-verbal for the better part of all four years while enrolled in UP. Our teachers banded together to determine how to help the student communicate effectively, engage in school activities and meet their high school goals. The teachers found that the student was exceptionally able and enjoyed communicating through Google Chat. After developing trusting relationships with their teachers, the student even participated in the US Government debate.” – Lynda Laymance, University Prep Vice Principal

Check out the story of Class of 2023 University Prep graduate, Salwa!

Grad Spotlight: Choosing a Different Path

September 13, 2023/in Student Spotlight

Grad Spotlight: Choosing a Different Path

Class of 2023 graduate Dulce S. came to Visions looking for safety, support and a place where she could be herself. Enrolling in the Independent Study Academy, Dulce found a program that provided her with an educational alternative that met her needs.

“I decided to join because I felt no longer safe with public schools and I wasn’t in the best mental place being in public school,” shares Dulce.

A fan of music, anime and collecting Jordans, Dulce was also seeking a community of students who shared her interests.

“My hobbies are collecting Jordans, music and watching anime. I noticed a few students who were into the same hobby as me and it felt nice to not be judged for once.”

Working Ahead

At Visions, not only did Dulce find social and emotional support, she also found academic support from her teacher, Matthew MacKay.

“Mr. MacKay was a teacher that I felt comfortable with and someone who could help me with anything I needed questions for,” says Dulce.

With Mr. MacKay’s support and the dual enrollment opportunities at Visions, Dulce was able to take an Introduction to Administration of Justice course at Sacramento City College during her senior year. This not only helped her get ahead academically, but also gave her a head start on her career.

“It [Visions] helped me get a head start into college and even working,” says Dulce. “I was able to work good hours and balance school credit with Visions and Sac City.”

Now a freshman at Sacramento City College, Dulce will be graduating in 2025 and transferring to Sacramento State, where she will be pursuing a degree in Criminology.

CCI, CTE & Dual Enrollment – How Visions is Getting Ahead with Community Partnerships

September 12, 2023/in News

CCI, CTE & Dual Enrollment – How Visions is Getting Ahead with Community Partnerships

The 2022-23 school year was an important one for Visions, marked by success in some of our organizational objectives and efforts towards continuous improvement. One of the biggest areas that Visions excelled in was establishing partnerships with local community colleges and other community organizations. With opportunities ranging from new Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways to Early College grants to capstone courses, there are so many ways for Visions students to get ahead. Check out some of the new (and upcoming) opportunities below!

Early College

Visions has secured an Early College grant, which allows University Prep students to take 12+ units of college courses that count for both high school and college credit. This means that students will have the opportunity to graduate with a high school diploma and an Associate degree! We are still in the planning stages of this, so be on the lookout for more information in the future!

Expanded Dual Enrollment Programs

Visions has negotiated five dual enrollment courses at American River College and three dual enrollment courses at Folsom Lake College beginning this year! We also have dual enrollment advisors – two for University Prep and two for Home School and Independent Study. These advisors will facilitate the dual enrollment courses and be the liaison between Visions and the community colleges. Spring semester registration starts in November. If you’re interested in doing dual enrollment, please email cte@viedu.org or talk to your counselor. Also, stay tuned for NEW courses, including new CTE pathways, beginning 2024-25!

Capstone Courses Beginning 2023-24

Visions has facilitated two capstone courses – healthcare and video game design – beginning this year. A capstone course is the last class in a CTE pathway, and once a student has completed both the entry level and the capstone course, they have completed the pathway. For example, if a student completes and passes both Video Game Design 1 and Video Game Design 2, they have completed the pathway and are considered “Prepared” on the College and Career Indicators (CCI).

Cybersecurity Pathway Beginning 2024-25

Visions secured a K-12 Strong Workforce Grant that is sponsored by the California Chancellor’s Office. This grant is for a cybersecurity pathway that will begin 2024-25. We are currently still in our planning year, and have partners from SMUD, Safe Credit Union, Accenture and Sierra College who are working with us to build the program – stay tuned!

Home School Family Spotlight: Learning by Leaps & Bounds

September 5, 2023/in Student Spotlight

Home School Family Spotlight: Learning by Leaps & Bounds

Trinity and Damen G. both love learning from home. After a few of their former teachers left public school to begin teaching at Visions, mom Teri G. decided to make the switch for her family as well, enrolling the siblings in our Home School Academy at the beginning of 2023. Knowing that Damen could benefit from one on one learning, Teri saw that Visions’ model of individualized education and credentialed teacher support would be especially helpful for her son.

“When I switched my son from site learning to Visions, we were having a really hard time,” shares Teri. “It [Visions] gave him the freedom to learn his own way. He’s now in 4th [grade] and was actually excited for school to start!”

“Best decision I’ve ever made!”

When Damen left public school, he was at a kindergarten reading level and a first grade math level. After just a few months at Visions, Damen is now at almost a third grade reading level and has brought his math up to grade level. Damen’s teacher, Annmarie Woehler, has been instrumental in his academic success, and has supported the Gunderson family for many years.

“Mrs. Woehler is amazing. She was my 24 year old’s 3rd grade teacher. We’ve kept in contact all these years and when we decided to go with Visions, there was no doubt that I wanted her in our corner,” shares Teri. “She has been very helpful and knowledgeable when I was learning to teach my kids. She has an understanding of what I’ve gone through with the district and why I needed her help.”

Alongside Mrs. Woehler, Teri has found incredible success as Damen and Trinity’s parent and primary educator. Although the transition was difficult at first, seeing her kids excel at Visions was worth the learning curve.

“It is very difficult to learn how someone else learns. It took me about a month to figure out what works best,” says Teri. “The best way I have found to teach is by doing the same work alongside them. I will make copies of their work and do it with them. They will show me how to do it and it’s more like them teaching me.”

Just the Beginning

As fourth and fifth graders, Damen and Trinity are just beginning to explore and take advantage of all the unique services that Visions offers, including Enrichment Vendors, in-person events and student clubs. Trinity, who loves rollerblading and playing piano, and Damen, who loves skateboarding, Roblox and Minecraft, will surely be able to find vendors to support and enrich their education.

“Trinity will be starting piano and Damen will be doing guitar at Live Music Center,” says Teri. “My children still get to be around other kids when we attend the events. Visions has some cool clubs my kids are very interested in and [we] can’t wait to talk and join these clubs!”

“I’m excited to start guitar!!!!” adds Damen.

With a new school year just beginning, the Gundersons are looking forward to continuing their academic journeys at Visions. As Teri says, “I would pick Visions again and again!”

Ask the Kiddos!

Why do you like Visions?

Trinity: “I like it because I can work as fast as I want. When I went to school everyday, I would get in trouble because I was bored. We would learn the same thing for 1 or 2 weeks. Now I get to learn and move to the next thing when I can.”

Damen: “I like it because I like my mom to teach me.”

What’s your favorite subject?

Trinity: “MATH!!!”

Damen: “Science. I like experiments.”

It’s Back to School for Staff Too!

August 31, 2023/in Events

It’s Back to School for Staff Too!

On August 18th, the entire Visions organization – classified staff, certificated staff and leadership – kicked off the 2023-24 school year by gathering to hear messages from Superintendent Olmos, words of wisdom from keynote speaker Rosanna Herber, staff celebrations from Donna Glenn and more! As they filled up on coffee and breakfast, they also had the chance to fill up on gratitude and excitement for another year ahead.

“The Back to School kick-off was an exciting event with everything we needed to know as a collective to start the year off right. I enjoyed hearing insights into our strengths and opportunities to improve as an organization,” shared Spencer Summerhays, Business Analyst for the Internal Data & Systems Services Department. “Burritos and coffee were great too!”

With over 50 new staff joining Visions for the new school year, what better way to come together than with important information about the organization, updates about the current charter world and most importantly, appreciation for one another.

“It was wonderful getting to see everyone in person after the summer break and getting to know all the new counselors we have joining our team this year. They are all so kind, approachable and knowledgeable!” shared Jen Nino, Counselor for the Independent Study Academy. “I’m looking forward to the 2023-24 school year with our awesome team and supporting all of our students!”

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s celebration. As all 450+ of us commit to becoming 1% better every day, we hope to carry our shared purpose and inspiration into another successful year at Visions!

Celebrating Our 2023 Summer Grads!

August 31, 2023/in Events

Celebrating Our 2023 Summer Grads!

On August 17th, friends, family and Visions staff had the privilege of graduating over 20 students as part of our 2023 Summer Graduation ceremony. The celebration was kicked off with a performance by one of our recent June graduates (check it out here!), and was marked by a very special Rose Ceremony, where our graduates had the opportunity to walk out into the crowd and present a rose to a teacher, friend or family member.

“One of the elements of Summer Graduation that makes it so special is that since it involves a smaller number of graduating seniors, we can personalize the ceremony,” shares Ron Thomas, Associate Director of Equity & Student Engagement. “The Rose Ceremony is a great example of that. The ceremony acknowledges that family and/or one’s support system is an essential part of a student’s ultimate goal of graduating from high school. Students have an opportunity during the ceremony to directly say thank you for their support. I saw many tears of joy and appreciation during this portion of the graduation ceremony.”

This day was especially meaningful for Independent Study teacher Erica Alexander, who got to watch her little brother, Ryan Richardson, graduate from high school. Not only did Erica get to be a part of her brother’s special day, she got to be on the stage when he received his diploma.

“I can’t thank Dr. Olmos and Sarah McFarland enough for inviting me on stage while my brother walked across it. Being on the stage as my brother graduated was a moment of immense pride and joy, a culmination of years of hard work that I had witnessed throughout his academic journey. Seeing him achieve this milestone is a memory I will never forget, and I am excited for the future he is about to embark upon.”

1% Better

This year’s ceremony was also memorable for University Prep teacher Andy Vanden Akker, who helped oversee the summer graduation program. Under the leadership of Vice Principal JoEllen Graulty, Andy got to see 42 of his 43 students graduate.

“All of the potential summer grads were placed on my caseload and it was my responsibility to motivate them to finish,” says Andy. “I called, text-messaged and emailed the potential grads and their parents/guardians repeatedly to try to get them over the finish line. It was great to see so many of them complete their classes and receive their high school diploma.”

Of course, big events like these tend to have some small hiccups. One graduate and her family were unfortunately in a car accident on the way to the ceremony. Colleen Darling, a teacher in the Independent Study Academy, was willing to jump in her car and go get them, but luckily, they made it to the ceremony, and the student got to walk the stage! Thank you to our staff who acted quickly and helped our graduate and her family enjoy her special night.

Summer Send-Off

“The graduation ceremony was an incredibly heartwarming experience,” shares JoEllen. “The Rose Ceremony where grads gave a rose to a guest that supported them in reaching their goal of graduation nearly brought me to tears. Hearing each grad’s bio as they walked the stage reminded all of us that each of our students is a person with hopes, dreams, and goals. I can’t wait to see what these Visions graduates accomplish next!”

Congratulations again to our 2023 Summer Graduates! We look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in the future! See all photos from the big day on our Facebook page!

From Visions Parent to Visions Staff: A Spotlight on Office Staff Member Anita Bowers

August 24, 2023/in News

From Visions Parent to Visions Staff: A Spotlight on Office Staff Member Anita Bowers

In 1999, Anita Bowers enrolled her daughter Kathryn at Visions, its very first year as a school. A few months ago, Anita celebrated her grandson Noah, who received his high school diploma from Visions. In the 24 years in between, Anita took a job at Visions as a Business Analyst, seeing her work with the organization come full circle.

“My daughter did great in the Independent Study Academy and graduated in 2001,” shares Anita. “My grandson was struggling academically at his old school. His grades improved at Visions and he just graduated early at 17.”

As a mom and grandma of two Visions graduates, Anita has had the rare opportunity to see just how much her role at Visions impacts our families. A former Business Analyst for the Internal Data & Systems Services team, Anita assisted Counselors, Principals, Administrators and Directors with tracking student progress, testing and grades, and completed year-over-year analysis to show how Visions is growing and making progress as a school.

“I did reports each semester tracking assessment scores to report card grades so they [Principals and Directors] could see where there were disparities,” shares Anita. “I also did analysis for the LCAP and assisted with parent satisfaction surveys. It really made me appreciate what the school does for students and everything that goes into it to make it successful. I wish that all kids could have that experience.”

Now in her new role as a Business Analyst in the Fiscal Department, Anita is excited to be taking her next steps. Eventually wanting to step into a leadership role, she has been working on her own time to strengthen and expand her professional skill set.

“I’ve been taking classes and webinars over the past two years,” shares Anita. “I completed and received a School Risk Management Certificate and a Charter Business Official course with CSDC. I figured I’d prepare myself if a [leadership] position ever opens up.”

Anita’s daughter, Kathryn’s, graduation photo!

Anita’s grandson, Noah, who graduated from Visions this past spring!

The Ultimate Project Manager

A DIY-er and home improvement queen, Anita is always working on some sort of project. At home, she and Kathryn are tearing out windows, redoing floors and painting bedrooms. At work, she’s creating systems to enhance Visions’ efficacy.

“One of the first projects I did when I got to Visions was tracking Principal budgets,” explains Anita. “I built a workbook, extracted data out of QSS and made each Principal a tab in the workbook where they could track their spending and balance. Now it’s an automated system in LPAD!”

Anita’s success at Visions can be attributed not only to her self-starter attitude, but to the culture, the leadership and the opportunities at the organization.

“Everybody is respectful and kind,” says Anita. “My manager, Soren, has always been very supportive, and Visions has moved me to advance in my career. I look forward to being with Visions for as long as I can and continuing to grow and learn.”

The Three Gs

When she’s not at work, you can find Anita in her garden, on the golf course or watching the San Francisco Giants (or 49ers). She also has a motorcycle license, but no motorcycle – yet. Anita is now a Visions veteran, and after many years as both a parent and a professional, she has contributed to its success in more ways than one.

Fun Fact: Anita placed third in the state championship for the .22 smallbore rifle marksmanship competition in the California Cadet Corps in high school!