Justina Janas, Author at Visions In Education

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Entries by Justina Janas

Virtual Teacher Job Fairs

January 15, 2021/in Events

Virtual Teacher Job Fairs

Visions In Education is holding virtual job fairs for prospective teachers to meet with faculty and staff. You’ll learn more about our school and meet representatives from our Independent Study, University Prep, Home School, Special Education and Human Resources departments.

Why Attend?

Whether you are interested in helping students who are struggling to graduate or those who are already at the top of their class, Visions provides every teacher with rewarding teaching assignments.

We offer competitive salaries and generous benefits including medical, dental, vision, STRS and PERS. Visions is a non-site based school so teachers have the flexibility to meet with students in their community.

Virtual Job Fair Details

The virtual fairs are organized by county and credentials. See the schedule below for time options.

Sacramento County – Single Subject
February 17, 2021
San Joaquin County – All Credentials
February 24, 2021
Contra Costa & Solano Counties – All Credentials
March 3, 2021
Sacramento County – All Credentials
March 10, 2021

Schedule

To accommodate schedules, each virtual job fair date will have two webinar sessions to choose from. Attendees will also be able to request an optional 10 minute one-on-one interview.

Webinar Session 1 – 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Includes presentation and Q&A.

Webinar Session 2 – 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Includes presentation and Q&A.

Individual Interviews – 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.
10 minute interviews for interested attendees will be scheduled during this time.

RSVP

To RSVP for a virtual Zoom job fair webinar and optional interview, please complete this Google Form. We will email you a Zoom link within two working days.

If you have any questions, please email hr@viedu.org.

About Visions In Education

Visions is a free WASC accredited public charter school that proudly serves approximately 7,200 students. Our service area includes Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties. Established in 1999, Visions is celebrating over 20 years of serving students.

8th Grader Elissia Declared Winner of 2020 Spelling Bee

January 12, 2021/in News

8th Grader Elissia Declared Winner of 2020 Spelling Bee

Visions is proud to announce that 8th grader Elissia is the winner of our 2020 Visions Spelling Bee!

The Spelling Bee, which was held on December 15, was the fifth Visions Bee that Elissia competed in since third grade. It was also her last opportunity to participate since the Bee is open only to 2^nd – 8^th graders in accordance with Scripps, the Bee’s rule officiators.

“It feels incredible to finally win,” said Elissia. “Knowing this was my last year to compete in the Spelling Bee made me study harder and made me more determined to win.”

The Bee Goes Virtual

Due to COVID-19, schools all over the nation were unable to compete in the Bee in person. To adapt to the parameters of distance learners, Scripps created an online version of the Bee wherein students were able to compete from the safety of their homes.

A total of 42 students participated in the Visions Spelling Bee, with five competing in a finalist round. Elissia said she liked that the online version of the Bee decreased her nerves since she didn’t have to stand in front of a crowd.

To prepare for the Bee, she [amazingly!] studied the 450-word list provided by Scripps three times a day everyday since October.

Elissia advises that students wishing to participate in a Spelling Bee should do the same. “I also suggest that you say a word, spell a word, and say a word,” Elissia added. “Those things really helped me every year that I’ve competed in a Bee.”

#VisionsProud

Elissia will go on to compete in the Central Valley Spelling Bee for a chance to advance to the National Scripps Spelling Bee to be held in Washington DC in June. Scripps is monitoring the pandemic and will decide in Spring if the national Bee will be held in person or adjusted to an online format.

Runner-ups for the Spelling Bee were 7^th graders Sadia P. and Chloe F., with 5^th grader Reja B. and 8^thgrader Keely M. also receiving top honors for competing in the finalist round.

Congratulations to Elissa and to all our participants in the 2020 Visions Spelling Bee!

Student Spotlight: Small Business Owner Hones Her Craft

January 5, 2021/in Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Small Business Owner Hones Her Craft

Not many students can claim to have started a business before graduating high school, but Briyannah “Bri” Elich has taken her love of crafting and turned it into a successful online jewelry store.

“I started playing around with different ideas and putting my creations together, to find what makes me happy,” says Bri. “And it turned out to be that I really like making customizable jewelry.”

Balancing creativity with being a full time student isn’t easy, but Bri takes advantage of Visions’ flexible schedule to make the most of her time and stay on track academically.

“I balanced [my business] with a routine and a plan to make sure I get everything done in school and my orders without feeling overwhelmed,” Bri says.

High School Her Way

At Visions, Bri worked with her learning team to create a personalized learning plan that lets her stay on top of schoolwork while expanding her craft. Bri worked with her teacher, Mindi Rold, and counselor, Karla Gonzalez, to determine her academic and professional goals to come up with a plan to achieve them.

“My relationship with my teacher was great,” says Bri. “She helped me get through some of the toughest times in my subjects and went over and beyond to make sure I understood everything.”

Bri also got the opportunity to grow creatively in Visions’ Find Your Voice writing class which allowed her to participate in a writing program with other students her age.

“Being a part of that class allowed me to grow and put together my feelings in writing and I was able to contribute and share ideas with other people I was working with,” says Bri.

Turning the Page

After Visions, Bri’s plans include going to college to continue her academic and personal growth. She hopes to explore and find a career that makes her happy and plans to continue making jewelry.

“I’m glad I was a part of this learning experience,” Bri says of her time at Visions. “It was what I needed to grow and succeed.”

Visions Sees Record Number of Applications For 20/21 School Year

December 8, 2020/in News

Visions Sees Record Number of Applications For 20/21 School Year

Visions has been providing distance learning programs for over 20 years. Visions is one of the most stable nonclassroom-based charter schools in California serving over 7,000 students in Sacramento County and the eight surrounding counties. We offer TK-12 Home School and two high school options, Independent Study and University Prep. Watch this video to learn more about our school.

Consistent Student Engagement During COVID-19

In March, Visions decided to briefly “close” the school to address impacts of COVID-19 and give allowances to students that may be negatively affected by the pandemic. After creating a plan, teachers began engaging with families virtually and students continued their studies. During this time, 96% of our students continued to be engaged in their learning. Our education model made it easy for teachers, staff and students to adapt. Our systems also allowed us to continue offering extra benefits to our students virtually including online field trips, group meetings, one-on-one teacher meetings, tutoring, writing and math classes.

Increased Demand

Over the past summer, Visions enrolled over 2,100 new students across our three academies for the 2020/21 school year. The number of enrollment inquiries and applications skyrocketed, and our summertime waitlist for fall enrollment approached 2,000 students. We usually have a Home School waitlist but historically we’ve been able to enroll most of the students that apply for Independent Study and University Prep. This year was the first time in our school’s history that we had waitlists for all three programs. It’s clear that the need for nonclassroom-based distance learning schools, like Visions, has increased due to the pandemic.

Read our success stories here to see how Visions’ flexible programs help students thrive.

Technology and Connectivity

Visions is proud to provide access to technology, MiFi internet devices, laptops and more to our families. Approximately 50% of our student body is “unduplicated” which includes low income, foster youth and English Learners. In our Independent Study and University Prep programs students are given a free Chromebook to complete their work in SchoolsPLP, our robust online learning management system. With these services, access to learning is possible for students when otherwise access is a barrier. Our technology team has also created a custom online system that allows families to easily order curriculum, register for enrichment services and much more. Being able to offer these support services makes distance learning possible for our students.

About Visions In Education

Visions is a free WASC-accredited public charter school that serves TK-12 students in Amador, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano, Sutter and Yolo counties. Established in 1999, Visions offers flexible and personalized educational programs in their Independent Study, University Prep and Home School academies. Learn more at viedu.org and connect with Visions on Facebook.

This article was contributed to a California Charter Schools Association email newsletter.

Charter Schools Development Center Recognizes Leadership at Visions

November 4, 2020/in News

Charter Schools Development Center Recognizes Leadership at Visions

Visions is proud to be a member of the Charter Schools Development Center (CSDC). Last week they honored charter leaders, including our Superintendent Jody Graf, for their dedication to the charter movement.

CSDC Green Apple Awards are given to “recognize the contributions of charter leaders who recently retired or will soon be retiring, and to encourage those who follow in their footsteps to continue the tradition. This year’s winners have successfully served their schools for at least 15 years, including a decade of executive-level leadership, and have guided their schools’ teams soundly, increasing student achievement, ensuring sound financial management and operations, and successfully petitioning for charter renewal.” Leaders were presented their awards virtually on Facebook Live.

Watch the recording here!

Congratulations to Superintendent Graf and the other charter leader winners. Visions appreciates your stable leadership and dedication to students. #VisionsProud

Congratulations to the #VisionsFirstDay Photo Contest Winners

September 21, 2020/in News

Congratulations to the #VisionsFirstDay Photo Contest Winners

Thank you to all of our students and families for sharing their virtual back to school photos! We know this year has been difficult but it was great to see so many happy faces ready to learn virtually.

See all 160 photos in the #VisionsFirstDay photo album on Facebook!

Creativity Winners

This year we have 16 winners, see their fun and inventive photos below. Congratulations!

Back to school photo contest students posing and smiling at the camera on the first day of school

Hannah / Ansh / Korneliia

Lear & Skye / Elizabeth / Dezi / Michael

Devanz & Shalom / Evelyn, Emma, Megan / Elizabeth / Kenneth

Chelsea & Tiana / Ibrahim / Joseph / Romeo / Brooke

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

Student Spotlight: Visions Student Stars In New Netflix Show

September 14, 2020/in Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Visions Student Stars In New Netflix Show

Makenzie Lee-Foster is a 4th grade Visions student with an amazing resume! At only nine years old she’s already become an accomplished actress and author. Visions flexible home school program lets her continue her education while going on auditions, filming and writing.

Rising Star

Her latest project, Emily’s Wonder Lab, is now on Netflix! Each educational episode features a different experiment led by scientist Emily Calandrelli. This show was one of Makenzie’s favorite jobs, as she got to be herself, meet new friends and get messy learning about science. She’s also starred in the popular TV show, This Is Us, and many other commercials, shows and movies.

As if being an actress at such a young age wasn’t impressive enough, she’s also a published author! Makenzie had been yearning to write a book for years and finally took the plunge. The book is called Kickin’ It With Kenzie – What’s Meant For Me Will Be. She chose to collaborate with Bryce Sweely, a 15 year old artist also pursuing her talents at a young age, on the illustrations. It tells the story of a young girl figuring out what she wants to be when she grows up and the challenges that come along with following your dreams.

Learning On The Go

Makenzie’s mom, Shakondi, chose Visions to accommodate their acting schedule and allow Makenzie to learn at her own pace.

“I would say the thing that made the switch such an easy choice for me was the fact that I can teach my daughter myself,” said Shakondi. “I can use her cues when it comes to subjects or topics that she might be having an issue with and give her the one-on-one attention that I felt she needed.”

Makenzie plans to continue acting but she also aspires to go to MIT or another college to study science and engineering. She’s also interested in fashion design. Knowing how talented and determined she is we don’t doubt that she can do it all!

To see more of Makenzie’s work you can watch her demo reel here. She was also featured in the beginning of Nike’s Kobe Bryant tribute ad as the “dreamer”.

Student Spotlight: Visions Helps Student Raise GPA and Stay Healthy

September 1, 2020/in Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Visions Helps Student Raise GPA and Stay Healthy

Jessica Vargas found Visions In Education after her health issues made it difficult for her to attend traditional public school. In 9th grade, she decided to drop out due to a low GPA brought on by her diabetes and low attendance record. At the time she wasn’t sure where to turn but she knew she wanted to continue learning. After doing some research and not finding an online high school that was a good fit, she saw an ad for Visions and knew Independent Study was the exact program she was looking for.

“Without Visions I wouldn’t be learning and growing and taking care of my medical needs,” said Jessica. “I’ve become more social and confident all thanks to the people at Visions and what they do for their students. Best decision I’ve made in my life!”

Overcoming Obstacles

After enrolling in Visions her sophomore year, Jessica was able to raise her GPA and focus on her interpersonal skills. Her teacher, Amy Salvatori, is her biggest motivator. Her support has helped Jessica focus on her education, manage her diabetes, improve her mental health and increase her confidence.

“Amy is by far the best teacher I have had. From giving me a courage boost, to helping me with my goals, she does it all because she is passionate about her job and cares about her students,” said Jessica.

Moving Forward

Now that Jessica has gotten back on track she plans to take advantage of the enrichment services and free community college opportunities offered at Visions. In the future, she hopes to study to become a veterinarian and volunteer to help at-risk communities. We’re so proud of Jessica’s progress and look forward to seeing her succeed.

2020 Virtual Summer Graduation Ceremony

August 19, 2020/in Events

2020 Virtual Summer Graduation Ceremony

Dear Graduates, Families, and Members of the Visions’ Community,

We thank you for bearing with us through these unprecedented times and joining us in celebrating the success of the Class of 2020.

While we wish we could celebrate with you in person, our hope is that these videos will bring the experience of graduation into your homes. The videos are in sections so they can be viewed at your leisure and enjoyed with your friends and family by sharing the link to this page. Clicking on each tab will direct you to the playlist on YouTube where you can navigate each video individually.

On behalf of the Visions’ Board of Directors, and our entire Visions In Education team, thank you for choosing us to partner with you on your educational journey. We congratulate you, summer Class of 2020, on your accomplishments and wish you all the best in the years to come.

Sincerely,
Dr. Jody Graf
Superintendent

To see the June graduates, please click here.

Welcome & Remarks

Join us for our opening processions including a commencement address from our Superintendent and some words of wisdom from two very special guests.

Pledge of Allegiance: Abigail Delgado
National Anthem: Performed by Isabelle Weaver
Welcome & Remarks: Dr. Jody Graf, Visions In Education, Superintendent
Special Guest Speaker: Jamie Anderson, Olympic Gold Medalist, Professional Snowboarder, & Visions In Education Alumnus
Special Guest Speaker: Alyssa Nakken, Professional Baseball Coach, San Francisco Giants

Graduation Performances

Three talented graduates of the Class of 2020 have prepared musical performances to celebrate your accomplishments.

“I Have Nothing” by Whitney Houston: Performed by Eve Sterling
Nocturne in E Flat Major by Frederic Chopin: Performed by Yevgenia Neverov
“See You Again” by Charlie Puth: Performed by Stephanie Manthe

Remarks & Certification

Please join Visions In Education Board of Directors Chairperson Katie McCleary for some inspiring words of wisdom followed by the presentation and certification of the Class of 2020 by Board of Directors Member Thomas Knox.

Remarks: Katie McCleary, Visions In Education Board of Directors Chairperson
Presentation & Certification of the Class of 2020: Thomas Knox, Visions In Education Board of Directors Member

Class of 2020: Summer Graduates

Please join us in celebrating the summer Class of 2020!

Tassel Turn & Farewell

As we bring our ceremony to a close, we invite our graduates to participate in the symbolic turning of the tassel to celebrate your accomplishment of becoming a high school graduate!

Tassel Turn: Dr. Jody Graf, Visions In Education, Superintendent

Student Spotlight: Visions Reignites Student’s Love For Learning

August 10, 2020/in Student Spotlight

Student Spotlight: Visions Reignites Student’s Love For Learning

Shalini K. came to Visions last year after having a difficult time in another school’s independent study program. Her family was looking for a school that would provide a flexible schedule, academic support and college planning. In Visions’ online high school program she has been able to get back on track and reignite her love for learning.

Preparing For Her Future

At her old school Shalini felt lost and was unsure what her goals were. She’s an artist and she’s currently exploring different career options including law, medicine and entrepreneurship. At Visions, she’s found the support and opportunities she needs to learn, grow and plan for the future.

“Every day I look forward just to sitting at my desk and studying. You [Visions] made learning a hobby for me,” said Shalini. “This school is a genuine lifesaver.”

Path to Success

With the support of her teacher, Kristen Wetzel and counselor, Jen Nino, Shalini has found her passion for learning again. She’s participating in a career technical education heath course and plans to take college classes during her senior year. In addition to her studies, she’s focusing on her art and plans to open an Etsy shop to sell her designs.

“Kristen is the best teacher I’ve had in a very long time. She emails me almost immediately and she explains things well and in detail,” said Shalini.

Anything Is Possible

Shalini is ready to jump into the new school year. She’s working with her counselor, Jen, to plan for college and creating sticker designs for her online shop. We can’t wait to see what she does in the future!