Entries by Ronaldo Gomez

Care Solace Names Visionaries As 2024 “Super Care Heroes”

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Congratulations graphic with Visions staff

Care Solace Names Visionaries As 2024 “Super Care Heroes”

Visions is excited to share that two of our staff were recognized as Super Care Heroes by Care Solace, our partner in mental health care coordination to give our community access to care at no cost. The Super Care Hero Award celebrates mental health advocates, school counselors, and school mental health staff who go above and beyond to connect students to the care they need.

Congratulations to Counselor Kiely Anderson and Social Worker Sergio Fuentes on being recognized for their commitment to providing Visions students with the best support possible. This recognition highlights their dedication to changing lives in and around Visions by supporting student well-being, and creating a positive impact in our community.





Hear Sergio Explain Why He Chose To Work With Visions In Education

Moments That Make Us

Counselor Anderson spoke to the importance of supporting families and connecting them with these resources.

“When I worked with a family who had been struggling to access mental health services for their child, they had faced long waitlists, complex paperwork, and a general sense of discouragement.”

Not all families have the same comfort level with asking for assistance, and Anderson helps to ensure those concerns are heard.

“I was able to help initiate the first step and walk with them through the process. The family was initially hesitant, as they have faced many barriers receiving support before. After being matched with the right counselor, they expressed a sense of relief and hope,”says Anderson.

What advice would you give to someone that is struggling to seek support?

“There are so many trusted adults that care about you and will guide you,” Anderson emphasizes. “It is always ok to start small. Reach out to a teacher, counselor, or other important adult in your life. Making the first step is the hardest part. You matter, and we care about you being here.”

Please join us in congratulating these amazing individuals on this well-deserved honor. Their hard work and compassion makes a difference! We are #VisionsProud of you!

Congratulations Visions In Education’s Early Graduates Of 2025

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Crowd and stage at 2025 graduation

Congratulations Visions In Education’s Early Graduates Of 2025

On February 4th, Visions In Education celebrated the graduation of over 220 students at our very first Fall graduation ceremony at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium. This ceremony is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our early graduates who completed all graduation requirements by January 2025. 

“To the graduating class of 2025: Congratulations! You’ve shown tremendous dedication and perseverance,” says Director of Student Services, Matt Patterson. “Keep striving for greatness – you’re well on your way to achieving things!”

Each year, Visions In Education’s graduating classes get larger and larger as we serve more students than ever before. In our ongoing effort to get 1% Better for our students, we expanded our graduation ceremony offerings to include a February commencement. Visions will also hold two June ceremonies and a Summer graduation for the rest of our 2025 graduating class.  

This additional ceremony allows graduates to celebrate in real time and gives us more space at Memorial Auditorium to accommodate more families and friends that want to attend these special moments.

As we say farewell to our newest Alumni, we can’t wait to continue to serve you well after graduation! Stay up to date with our new Alumni Hall of Fame & Newsletter established this school year. Will you be our next Graduate Spotlight? Updates coming soon! 





SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE BIG DAY!




WATCH OUR STUDENT PERFORMANCES!








Visions grads can share their pictures by using #VisionsGrad on social media!

Getting A Head Start

For our students, no matter what they achieve in their lives, the ability to graduate early will bring benefits such as the ability to fast track their lives, start working sooner, and continue their education at their pace. 

Words from our Fall Graduates below:

"Visions In Education gave me the opportunity to reclaim my education, to focus on what truly mattered, and to finish my senior year strong. I found a new sense of independence, responsibility, and strength. My only regret is not starting sooner… To Mr. Knight and Mrs. Nino, and all my teachers and staff at Visions: You didn’t just teach us; you believed in us. You saw our potential, even on days we doubted ourselves. You reminded us that education isn’t about perfection - it’s about progress. Thank you for never giving up on us."

Malalay W.

Malalay W.Class of 2025

“Mr. Kobelt because of your guidance I was able to not only get my grades up and back on track, but ALSO graduate early, which I would have never believed I could do three years ago. I will forever be grateful for you and your dedication to see me succeed.”

Mi'Kayla T.

Mi'Kayla T.Class of 2025

Parting Words

Hear from some Visions teachers who attended the ceremony:

“Corian and Alex, I’m happy I was part of your high school journeys. I can’t wait to see what you do with your future!” – Christine DeSoto, SPED Case Manager – Independent Study Academy.

“Congrats to all the grads for their hard work and dedication. They deserve this day to celebrate with Visions and their families.” – Kate Aguilar, Independent Study Academy.

“Elsie A. is well on her way to success with two college courses completed before graduating! Congratulations!” – Elisa Reuter, Home School Academy.

Thank You Staff

To the Visions staff whose collective efforts made this graduation ceremony possible, Visions extends deep appreciation. Your unwavering commitment and dedication — rain or shine — ensured that we could provide an exceptional celebratory experience for our graduating students. The successful execution of this commencement was a testament to our team’s collaborative spirit and shared commitment to student achievement.

“I want to give special acknowledgment to Jackeline Ochoa, Keely Adams, Georgina Rios, and Angelica Gallardo, as well as the entire Graduation planning team,” said Patterson, “Our team consisted of Student Services, Marketing & Communications, Facilities, the Internal Data team, and the Superintendent’s Office who provided incredible support in making graduation possible.”

Shop The Spirit Store

Need a gift for your grad? We have Visions merchandise and Class of 2025 swag available in our Spirit Store – start shopping!

Independent Study Vice Principal Andrea Leuschen Interviewed by CBS13

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Portrait of Andrew Leuschen with CBS News logo

Independent Study Vice Principal Andrea Leuschen Interviewed by CBS13

Spotted: Visions on the news! Independent Study Academy Vice Principal Andrea Leuschen was interviewed by CBS13 to promote the Sacramento Stock Market Challenge this March! In partnership with Junior Achievement Sacramento, Andrea and Visions’ Future Business Leaders Club will be participating in the challenge to gain real-world experience in financial literacy and decision-making. The Stock Market Challenge helps students develop their communication, critical thinking, and teamwork skills, and empowers them to envision a brighter future based on learned life skills.

“As an educator, I’ve seen firsthand how the Stock Market Challenge engages students in ways the traditional classroom setting can’t,” Andrea shares. “This is a chance for students to experience the thrill of decision-making in a fast-paced, competitive environment while learning financial concepts that they’ll carry with them for life.”

During her interview, Andrea represented Visions (peep the shirt and background!) and the great work our Future Business Leaders Club does with Junior Achievement Sacramento. As a nonclassroom-based school with flexibility and choice for our students, working with partners like Junior Achievement Sacramento is a great way for students to maximize their personalized education and experience these unique opportunities.

Visions-preneurs in the Making!

Andrea and the Future Business Leaders Club also participated in the 2nd Annual Business Pitch and Program Showcase. They presented a five minute business pitch about their fictional company, Love Lung, which creates customizable inhaler covers. The pitch was observed by a panel of judges, including the mayor of Citrus Heights. The club was up against some veteran schools, but that didn’t stop them from coming in 3rd place out of 12 teams!

“First, thank you to the judges who took time to listen to the students’ pitch,” Andrea shares about the competition. “And, special thanks to the National Association of Women Business Owners and Junior Achievement for providing our students a chance to compete. The students worked on their presentation virtually and Saturday was the first time they came together as a group. They showed maturity and confidence as they delivered their presentation. Words cannot express how proud I am of our students.”




Andrea would like to thank Independent Study Academy Principal Shannon Alward for her support in Andrea pursuing something that she loves, as well as Associate Director of Equity & Student Engagement Ron Thomas for giving her guidance in running a student club and allowing her to have a vision.

“When Andrea first met with me and shared her vision for the Future Business Leaders Club, I was immediately impressed with her passion and determination,” shares Ron. “She is a true role model and mentor for all members of the club. I look forward to all the wonderful things that this club will accomplish.”

Congratulations Andrea and our future leaders on your success!

Visions In Education Leadership Presents At CCIS

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Collage of Visions staff and leadership

Visions In Education Leadership Presents At CCIS

Visions In Education leadership and staff presented four educational workshops at this year’s California Consortium for Independent Study (CCIS) conference held in Burlingame. CCIS supports Independent Study leaders with resources and training that directly benefits students.

At Visions, we embrace opportunities to advance our knowledge to continue serving our mission of preparing each student to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Visions In Education’s Presentations 

Director of Instruction Sarah McFarland presented “AI Revolution: Transforming Leadership & Learning,” where attendees participated in a workshop designed to empower Independent Study schools with the latest AI tools. Leaders explored transformative AI technologies that revolutionize personalized learning, and increase student engagement and educator collaboration.

University Prep Early College Principal McKinnis presented, “Creating a Culture of Curiosity,” explaining the culture of curiosity within schools and how to work towards creating an environment where curiosity thrives. In addition, Principle McKinnis also presented, “Using Dual Enrollment to Personalize Learning,” in which she spoke about the benefit of Visions’ Dual Enrollment program that allows high school students to earn college credits while enrolled at Visions.

Independent Study Principal Shannon Alward and Independent Study teachers, Nancy Ortner, and Kimberly Grant presented “Transforming Student Engagement,” an insightful discussion on designing educational experiences to enhance student learning and including ways to expand personalized learning beyond class time.

Thank you to our Visionaries for representing our core values and highlighting some key insights into what distinguishes Visions In Education as a great place for students and staff to learn and grow at their own pace.

Whether our students are enrolling in our credit recovery program, Home School, Independent Study Academy, or University Preparatory Early College Academy, Visions leads the charge to support more students than ever before.

Snakes, Strikes & Silent Discos: Celebrating Our Fall Semester Events

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Collage of Visions students at community events

Snakes, Strikes & Silent Discos: Celebrating Our Fall Semester Events

If you can believe it, we are already halfway through the school year! There were so many fun highlights to the first half of the year, including our charter being renewed and the launch of our 25-year Impact Report, but one of the best was all of our amazing regional and community events!

From field days to museum tours to our Winter Dance, both our home school and high school events were a great way for students to hang out with their friends, say hi to their teachers, and explore the many offerings here at Visions. With a variety of themes and topics for each community, such as health and fitness, wild animals, and theater, students had the chance to be immersed in different learning experiences and social opportunities. Thank you students and families for coming to these events and making them so special for our communities!

Want to relive the magic? See some photos from a handful of our Fall Semester events below!


















Thank You Staff and Teachers!

We love seeing students come together at our events, and that wouldn’t be possible without the staff and teachers here at Visions. Our Events team, Counselors, Principals, Vice Principals, Teachers, and support staff are integral in planning, coordinating, and overseeing these events that are so important to our students’ school experience. We can’t thank you enough for making our events so meaningful for our families!

National School Choice Week 2025

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Celebrating National School Choice week graphic

National School Choice Week 2025

National School Choice Week is considered the largest celebration of educational options in America. From January 26th-February 1st, we’re raising awareness of the different types of schools and education options available for parents.

Visions In Education is proud to be a public charter school that offers school choice and flexibility in our Independent Study, University Prep, Home School, and Online Middle School programs. Check out our Alumni Voices or Student Spotlight pages to hear more about how students can succeed in a school of choice.

Get Involved!

National School Choice Week is celebrating 15 years! Here are some fun ways to celebrate:

  • Check out the activity center, with puzzles, worksheets, and other ways to get crafty!
  • Connect with NSCW on social media! Don’t forget to use the hashtag #schoolchoiceweek.
  • Help grow our community: Do you know someone who might benefit from Visions? Start a conversation about your experiences and let them know they have options available to them.






Throwback Thursday: 25 Years Of Visionaries

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Throwback Thursday graphic

Throwback Thursday: 25 Years of Visionaries

At Visions, sharing student stories has been one of our most enduring (and favorite!) initiatives. From our earliest days to our 25th year, our students have always been the best testaments to our program.

But, our current student spotlights haven’t always looked like they do now! Check out some archival student articles that appeared in Visions View, an old Visions-run newspaper!

Old school newspaper clipping from 2002
Old school newspaper clipping from 2002

“When I picked up my first string instrument back in the fourth grade, I hated it. When I became a student at Visions In Education, my attitude towards practice changed. I started enjoying playing the violin for the first time.”

Matthew S., Student – Visions View: December 16, 2002 (Cont. in image 4 below)

“Joshua wrote that the flexibility of Visions has given him the opportunity to earn elective credits for serving in the CAP (Civil Air Patrol) – ‘for doing what I love to do.'”

Joshua G,, Student – Visions View: September 15, 2002

1% Better Every Year

Today, we continue to tell student stories in hopes of highlighting what Visions can do for our community. Whether our students want to be an actor, an athlete, an author, or a musician, Visions is the place that gives them a flexible schedule, one-on-one support, and an education tailored to their academic and personal needs. We’re proud to say that for a quarter of a century, Visions has been changing student lives.

“I’ve become more…confident all thanks to the people at Visions and what they do for their students. Best decision I’ve made in my life!” – Jessica V., Independent Study Academy, Class of 2022

Here’s to 25 more years of success stories!

Click through the gallery below to see more!






Board Of Directors Spotlight: Meet Samuel Smalls

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Board member Samuel Smalls

Board of Directors Spotlight: Meet Samuel Smalls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Student Spotlight: Five Rounds In The Ring

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Visions student in the boxing ring

Student Spotlight: Five Rounds In The Ring

Before the sounds of Sarama, before the noise of the crowd and the voices of the commentators, 17 year old Zee H. carefully wraps his hands and puts on his gloves, a bright red that matches the stripe running down the sides of his shorts. He knows he’s put in the hours – conditioning, sparring, and bag work – but can’t help the nerves. Despite them, he loves everything that comes with competing, and knows he’s ready for whatever may happen the moment the first bell dings. With the adrenaline of competition and a team steady in his corner, Zee touches his gloves together, steps forward in the ring, and begins the fight.

Zee’s been training in Muay Thai, or Thai boxing, since he was 14 years old. Spurred by the pandemic when he and a friend would watch UFC on television, Zee joined Rocklin’s UFC Gym under Coach Ezra Regan to try the sport himself. Although he’ll be the first to admit that he wasn’t the best at it in the beginning, he’ll also proudly say that he’s loved Muay Thai since day one.

“[I] always loved it, even when I wasn’t so good, it was always fun to show up and sweat,” says Zee. “It kept me busy and out of trouble.”

The sport quickly went from an observational pastime to a true passion for Zee. The skills he’d only seen on television – jabs and hooks, knee strikes and front kicks – he was now doing himself, and his daily life began to take form around the sport.

“Daily training starts with a plethora of stretches right before we take off for a three mile run. After the run is completed I jump rope for 8-10 minutes. After jump rope I will clinch with a partner for 10-15 minutes, then I will do five rounds of heavy bag work,” explains Zee. “After that, me and another Thai boxer will proceed with offense/defense drills, sparring, or holding Thai pads for one another depending on the day of the week or what my coach has in order for the team.”

Visions student competing in a boxing ring

“Just Doing What I Need to Do”

Zee enrolled in Visions’ Independent Study Academy two years ago, wanting to work at his own pace and in the comfort of his own home. A student in our Credit Recovery Program, Zee has been finding academic success through individualized support from his teachers, guidance from his counselor, and an education tailored to his specific needs.

“[I have a] good relationship with both my teacher and counselor. They are nice, friendly people,” Zee shares. “I think the Credit Recovery Program is quite helpful, it has helped me with lots of work I’d struggle with in [traditional] public school.”

“Zee has been an absolute pleasure to work with this semester. He is focused and principled in both his school work and training schedule,” shares his Credentialed Teacher, Rachel Morphy. “His work ethic in the gym clearly lends itself to other aspects of his life, especially in the way that he always completes his schoolwork on time and with great thoughtfulness.”

“In my experience working…with Zee, he has demonstrated himself to be an incredibly resilient young man who has shown remarkable strength and determination throughout his journey,” adds his Counselor, Rija Gorkhali.

Coming to Visions has not only helped Zee academically, but has also freed up time for him to focus on other things, like finding a job and focusing on Muay Thai. Whether it’s the flexible learning environment or the ability to set his own schedule, Visions directly supports all of Zee’s pursuits.

“Schooling through Visions has helped me a lot. Working at home gives me time to prepare for a day of training, whether it’s laundry or having time to eat a proper meal before the gym,” says Zee.

Between full days of training and frequent competitions, Zee is also focused on his high school education, all of which demand a lot from him. But when he was asked how he balances his studies with his fighting, Zee’s answer was simple: “Not much of a struggle to balance the two, just doing what I need to do.”

Visions student smiling with his dog

Showing the Ropes

Beyond the gym, ring, or Zoom room, Zee’s found another avenue where his skills can shine – helping younger fighters.

“I try to assist the younger trainees whenever I can, whether that’s helping my coach for demonstration, helping them with their stance or guard, or holding pads for them,” he shares. “I’m inspired to help the younger generation because a sport like Muay Thai takes a lot of confidence and perseverance so I feel the least I can do is help the people who are open enough to try the sport.”

Zee one day hopes to compete in Muay Thai for a living, but for now, he’ll continue to focus on obtaining his high school diploma from Visions. We’re excited to watch Zee continue to compete and find success in all of his future endeavors!

A final word from Ms. Morphy: “Zee will be graduating this spring and I am so proud of him for consistently keeping high grades while accomplishing so much in his sport as well. I cannot wait to see what he does next.”

Want to see Zee in action? Check out one his fights here! 

Director Of Special Education Jessica Lauder Featured On MindPlay Education Podcast

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Jessica Lauder featured on Literacy Mindset podcast graphic

Director Of Special Education Jessica Lauder Featured On MindPlay Education Podcast





Listen Here

Visions’ Director of Special Education Jessica Lauder was recently interviewed by MindPlay Education on their Literacy Mindset podcast! In the episode, titled Special Education and Literacy: Jessica Lauder’s Mission at Visions In Education, Director Lauder discusses the topic of literacy and how it functions in Visions’ educational model.

“MindPlay reached out to me and explained that they were approaching special education leaders for alternative school formats,” Director Lauder shares. “I researched a little about MindPlay and the Literacy Mindset podcast and decided that although this may be outside my comfort zone, it would be a good opportunity to engage in a conversation about one of my passions, literacy, at a larger level.”

With MindPlay CEO Jeff Pendleton, Director Lauder discussed literacy supports, intervention strategies, and how we incorporate technology to improve accessibility for our special education students. She also shared information about curriculum and assessments, and some of the anticipated future initiatives in special education.

1% Better

As the special education world evolves and expands, Visions is continuing to meet the needs of our special education students through our structured literacy program, multi-tiered systems of supports, and other important interventions. In providing the appropriate tools and resources, Visions is fostering the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral success of our special education community.

“We’re really building a continuum of services within our model that didn’t exist a few years ago. We’re increasing our synchronous instruction classes, increasing our highest tier of intervention, expanding our structured literacy program, and providing a counseling-embedded program for mental health,” Director Lauder shares in the episode. “It’s really exciting to see all of the different components that we’re bringing to students where they are.”

Thank you MindPlay for providing a platform for us to share our initiatives and supports for our special education students here at Visions. Check out the full episode here!

About MindPlay Education

MindPlay Education has been providing learning content to educators and families for over 40 years. Their educational programs are based on methodologies and science, delivering structured and systematic learning instruction to students that result in powerful learning growth and mastery. To learn more about MindPlay, visit their website here.