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Entries by Ronaldo Gomez

Celebrating A New Era At Visions In Education

August 13, 2025/in News

Celebrating A New Era At Visions In Education

On August 12, we kicked off the 25/26 school year with our August Back-to-School gathering and a special Open House. These events celebrated our new Visions headquarters and the conclusion of our 25th anniversary.

The day was filled with milestones, including the introduction of our first-ever Alumni Hall of Fame class and much more.

Showcasing Our New Headquarters

Teachers, staff and guests gathered to see our new headquarters in person. Since moving in June 2025, staff have enjoyed larger meeting spaces, improved collaboration, and a better work environment.

During the event, key leaders reflected on the significance of this moment.

“Today is a special moment for all of us – a chance to celebrate not only the work we do, but also the incredible space we now get to call home,” said Superintendent Dr. Steve Olmos.

He added,

“This space was designed with a purpose, to serve you, our staff, better and in turn, to better serve our students and families.”

Chief Academic Officer Dr. Micah Studer also emphasized the team effort behind our progress:

“None of this happens by accident. Every inch of this progress reflects people who care deeply and work hard, often behind the scenes, to make Visions better every year.”

Recognizing Our Move Team

Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya honored the dedicated staff who made the move possible. Their hard work organizing materials and coordinating logistics ensured a smooth and efficient transition to our new home.

“This building is more than offices—it’s a symbol of what’s possible when we unite behind a shared vision. It represents progress, stability, and a bright future for Visions and the students we serve,” said Tom.

Tours, Stories, and a Time Capsule

In the afternoon, managers and staff led guided tours, sharing stories and fun facts about the building. Attendees also took part in a variety of activities including a health fair, 360 photobooth and creating a work of art. Visionaries took photos that were transformed into a color mosaic featuring our new building and 25th anniversary logo, which will be displayed in our corridors for the next 25 years. Individual mosaic photos and 360 videos will be available soon!

Gratitude

Thank you to the departments and vendors who made the Open House celebration possible.

Special thanks to our guests that joined us including current Board Members Clark Shueh and Sandra Morales, former inaugural Board Members Thomas Knox and Katie McCleary, former superintendent Jody Graf, friends from Folsom Lake College, Dr. Art Pimentel, Dan McKechnie, Greg McCormac and Kaitlyn Baumgartner, Mika Klinnsman from Senator Roger Niello’s office, Mori Elliot from Gateway Community Charters, Steven Swift from PowerSchool, Sharon Thomas and Mark Rosson from Capital Program Management, friends from the El Dorado CHELPA and Improve Your Tomorrow and Kris Kalmbach of Cushman & Wakefield.

To our valued staff, partners and guests, thank you for joining us as we begin this exciting new chapter in the history of Visions In Education.

Grad Spotlight: Racing Toward Success

August 6, 2025/in Student Spotlight

Grad Spotlight: Racing Toward Success

From a young age, Ridgeley W. has dreamed of becoming a professional race car driver. He started watching Formula 1 racing and Indycar competitions at just 8 years old, mesmerized by the speed and tenacity of the drivers who manned the wheels. As he enters his young adult life, his dreams are becoming a reality.

Ridgeley enrolled in Visions’ Independent Study Academy to allow him the flexibility to pursue his dream and the sport of racing. Not only did this give him the ability to train, but he was also able to explore other passions of his, including 3D design and printing. “Visions allowed me to explore my interests by giving me time to learn the skills and also through some of the classes they offer,” he shared.

Ridgeley the Racer

Ridgeley has been racing for eight years, specifically regional level Formula 4 and go karts, and has been competing for six. From Los Angeles to Las Vegas, his nearly 20 races per year have brought him to new places and to new people, all who love the sport as much as he does.

“I love driving and also having tight competition with opponents but I also like the fact that almost everyone there has similar interests and are always nice and good people,” said Ridgeley.

While the sport may seem simple, racing takes an extreme amount of training and discipline.

“Being a racing driver is not as simple as it seems, especially at the competitive level. You have to stay fit and work out consistently,” Ridgeley shared. “I currently bike about 10 miles a day, and do as many as 40 situps in a single set to keep solid core strength, along with many other exercises.”

His hard work and determination have paid off, as he will be taking the wheel of the VMB Driver Development F4 for the Formula Pro USA F4 Championship’s 2025 season.

Balancing Passion and Education

Finding Visions has been instrumental in Ridgeley’s pursuit of a professional racing career. By enrolling in a program that allowed him the flexibility to learn at his own pace, he was able to chase his dream and train at the level expected of a true professional.

The support of his teachers was also critical during his high school experience. When asked about his relationship with Visions staff and teachers, he stated that his relationship with his teachers was, “awesome.” They maintained a close relationship during his educational journey, from his first day to the moment he graduated from Visions as part of the Class of 2025.

Looking to the Future

Beyond racing, Ridgeley plans to continue his education at community college, hoping to dive deeper into a few of his other interests – Computer-aided design (CAD) software and 3-dimensional design. Beyond college, he dreams of racing with the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) and Indycar, the races he’s been watching since he was just a young boy.

When asked what he’d say to another student considering Visions, Ridgeley said “go for it”, emphasizing the ability to plan your own schedule and “live a better, less stressful lifestyle.” He also leaves students with this:

“No matter what, always keep your head up and go for your dreams and always embrace change.”

Partnering With Lincoln Learning To Deliver On Personalized Education

August 6, 2025/in News

Partnering With Lincoln Learning To Deliver On Personalized Education

One Vision, One Mission

As a school that serves over 7,700 students across nine California counties, Visions needed a curriculum partner that could match our mission: delivering flexible, personalized education at scale. We sought a robust, customizable digital curriculum to support student achievement, empower educators, and integrate smoothly into our existing learning platforms.

Since 2024, Visions has partnered with Lincoln Learning to provide high-quality, customizable online curriculum in English Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, and Science. Designed to meet diverse learning needs and learning styles, Lincoln’s content gives us the flexibility to personalize instruction while maintaining a consistent academic experience for all students.

Equitable Education

To support seamless access and scalability, Visions collaborated with Lincoln Learning to integrate its curriculum with Buzz, a cloud-based learning management system powered by AWS. This integration allows families to leverage tools and access courses more easily and enables us to manage enrollments, updates, and customizations efficiently.

The impact of the partnership has been measurable and meaningful.

More than 50% of Visions families now use Lincoln Learning to educate their students.
Students using Lincoln Learning courses are outperforming those who are not, according to an internal analysis.
Visions has experienced increased efficiency in enrollment and access, thanks to the Buzz integration.
The partnership has strengthened over time through responsive communication and shared commitment to continuous improvement.

“The partnership between Visions In Education and Lincoln Learning has positively impacted student learning. Our students using Lincoln are often outperforming those that aren’t. Additionally, our partners at Lincoln Learning have been great at listening to feedback and continually improving and updating their curriculum.” — Michael Brubaker, Senior Director of Operations, Visions In Education

A Model for Learners

The partnership with Lincoln Learning reflects Visions’ mission to build meaningful, collaborative relationships that help us succeed in delivering equitable, high-impact education.

“At Lincoln Learning, we strive to build healthy, reciprocal partnerships — and our relationship with Visions In Education has become an exemplar of that ideal. Together, we’ve created a scalable, flexible learning environment that supports student success, empowers educators to personalize instruction, and fosters the development of thoughtful, collaborative solutions.” — Charles Thayer, Chief Academic Officer, Lincoln Learning Solutions

Moving Forward

As Visions celebrates 25 years of empowering students, Lincoln Learning celebrates 20 years of building adaptable curriculum and flexible solutions. We are proud to continue partnering with Lincoln Learning. Together, we are proving that, with the right curriculum and the right partnership, personalized learning at scale is not only possible — it’s powerful.

Welcome To Visions! Gathering For A Strong Start To 2025-26

August 5, 2025/in News

Welcome To Visions! Gathering For A Strong Start To 2025-26

On July 29th, Visions leadership and new staff members came together for an official welcome into the Visions In Education community. This marked the first year that the event was held at our main office – one of the many exciting benefits of our new building!

After opening remarks from Superintendent Dr. Steve Olmos, the group was treated to a session from keynote speaker Armoni Easley, co-founder and CEO of Project Optimism and author of LifeWork. Armoni helped everyone set their intentions and get excited for the new school year.

“Each and every one of us needs to do our part to set students up for success,” Armoni declared. “Let’s be intentional and set the tone for 2025-26.”

The event closed out with a presentation from Chief Academic Officer Micah Studer and Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya including a “Meet Our Students” video and a group photo.

Reflection, Celebration & Vision

With incredible milestones behind us – our 25th anniversary, the opening of our new building, and the launch of our inaugural Alumni Hall of Fame – and exciting events on the horizon, including August’s Professional Development Day and Open House, the day left Visionaries energized and inspired for the year ahead.

“Being in a brand new space with new and excited faces was so inspiring and such a great way to prepare for the new school year,” said Sierra Horton, Visions’ newest Communications Coordinator. “As a group, we had the opportunity to tell powerful student stories, think of personal words, quotes, and songs that empower us, and learn more about what makes Visions such a great place to work.”

We look forward to another year of service and success – it’s good to be Visions!

Powering Student Success: Visions At The PLC At Work Conference

August 5, 2025/in News

Powering Student Success: Visions At The PLC At Work Conference

At the core of every successful professional learning community (PLC) is a shared commitment to student learning. At Visions, we deepen that commitment through ongoing professional development and collaborative PLC work – ensuring our instructional practices remain aligned with our mission to support every student’s growth and achievement.

In July, 168 Visionaries participated in the three-day PLC at Work conference hosted by Solution Tree. The event featured a mix of informative sessions, hands-on learning, and meaningful collaboration designed to strengthen our PLC practices. Each session was thoughtfully selected to support reflection on the 2024–25 school year, guide planning for 2025–26, and align directly with Visions’ LCAP goals.

Leading by Learning

The spirit of shared commitment was on full display during Visions’ Team Time, where educators from across departments and academies came together to reflect, plan, and set goals for the 2025–26 school year. Led by PLC leadership, this shared time included team-building, gratitude sharing, and establishing best PLC practices.

“We are proud and excited to do this work,” shared Victoria Soria, Professional Learning & Innovation Manager. “As a team, we truly embody the three pillars of a PLC – a focus on learning, a collaborative culture, and a results orientation – and we learn together so that students can thrive.”

As the 2025–26 school year approaches, Visions teams leave the institute more aligned, more connected, and more ready than ever to turn big goals into daily action as we focus on supporting every learner in a rapidly changing world.

Limited Office & Tech Support: August 11–12

August 1, 2025/in News

Limited Office & Tech Support: August 11–12

Dear Visions Families,

Student Technology Services (STS) will not offer in-person support on Monday, August 11 and Tuesday, August 12.

On Monday, August 11, STS staff will still be available to help you virtually.
On Tuesday, August 12, both the main office and STS will be closed for a staff event and training.

We’ll be back to regular hours on Wednesday, August 13. Thank you for your patience!

Visions In The News: Sacramento Business Journal Visits The New Office

July 22, 2025/in News

Visions In The News: Sacramento Business Journal Visits The New Office

Visions and our new administrative headquarters was featured in the Sacramento Business Journal AGAIN! The Journal covered the acquisition of the building in Gold River back in September 2023, and returned to highlight all the fabulous work our vendors and move team have accomplished to create our new home.

“This gives us room to grow,” shared Tom Tafoya, Chief Operating Officer for Visions In Education. Our new location will greatly benefit our students, most importantly, with easier access to the freeway and public transit, expanded space allowing us to host more student-centered events right here in our building, and helps us to better serve our school community as a whole.

Thank you to Ben van der Meer, Sacramento Business Journal Reporter, for your coverage of this exciting move for Visions.

Read the article on their website (subscription required) or view a PDF version here.

Thanking Our Partners: Building A New Home For Visions In Education

July 22, 2025/in News

Thanking Our Partners: Building a New Home for Visions In Education

At Visions In Education, our vision for the future continues to evolve—and that evolution took a major step forward with the acquisition and transformation of our new headquarters at the Gold Pointe Corporate Center in Gold River.

What began as a vision in 2018 and part of our “Road Map to 7,000 and Beyond” initiative has now become a reality (learn more about this exciting journey in the Sacramento Business Journal!).

This multi-year journey would not have been possible without the partnership of a team of exceptional vendors.

A Vision Made Possible

Capital Program Management

Our sincere thanks to Capital Program Management, especially Sharon Thomas and Mark Rosson, for their expert project management and support. Your attention to detail, planning, and coordination ensured that the vision stayed on track, and your leadership kept every phase of the project running smoothly. Your work helped turn a complex project into a successful reality.

GRA Architecture

We’d like to give special thanks to Michael Buschow and Dan Johnson for their dedication and thoughtful collaboration throughout the process. They played a crucial role, not only in designing the building, but also guiding us through key phases of the project and helped us overcome many challenges.

Creekside Construction

Turning a largely unusable shell into a warm, functional, and inspiring home required incredible craftsmanship and commitment. Creekside Construction managed the remodel from start to finish, giving life to a space that reflects our mission and values. From creating numerous employee training rooms to workspaces and public support areas —every inch of the building has been carefully crafted to serve both staff and students. Thank you for building a space where we can grow, collaborate, and thrive.

KBM Hogue

Thank you to KBM Hogue for outfitting our new headquarters with furniture that brings comfort, style, and functionality into every space. From collaborative areas to quiet work zones, you’ve helped make our new building a place where employee culture and student success can flourish.

CertaPro Painters

A special thanks to CertaPro Painters for refreshing our external building with clean, modern finishes. The environment you’ve helped create is bright, welcoming, and professional—a place we’re proud to call home.

Kris Kalmbach, Cushman & Wakefield

From the very beginning, Kris Kalmbach of Cushman & Wakefield played a vital role in guiding us through the acquisition process. Coordinating the purchase of our new building in 2023, Kris helped us navigate a challenging commercial real estate landscape and find a space that could meet both our current needs and long-term vision. Thank you for helping us take the first step in creating a lasting asset for Visions In Education.

A New Chapter for Visions In Education

Our new space supports our mission of providing high-quality education and resources to our students. It’s a space that allows us to get 1% better every day, pushing us to serve with greater pride and purpose.

“This will be a lasting asset to Visions In Education,” adds Tom Tafoya, Chief Operating Officer—and we wholeheartedly agree.

To every partner who helped us get here: thank you. You’ve not only built a building, but a bigger and brighter future for the entire Visions community.

Constructing Community: A Spotlight On The Move Team

July 9, 2025/in News

Constructing Community: A Spotlight On The Move Team

Tom Tafoya, Michael Brubaker, Michael Miller, Uriel Gonzalez, Kevin Wellsfry, James Hartley, and Soren Gutierrez are more than just business leaders – they’re Project Managers and interior designers, architects and movers. For nearly two years, this group planned, problem-solved, and executed every detail of the move from Carmichael to our new building in Gold River, bringing life to a project that began as the “Road Map to 7,000 and Beyond” eight years ago.

“In 2017-18, I was working on a plan called ‘Road Map to 7,000 and Beyond’ to plan Visions’ future,” explains Tom Tafoya, Chief Operations Officer. “Back then, we were serving about 5,500 students and had smaller staff. One of the goals to help us grow was purchasing a new building to better serve our families and support our staff.”

In 2019, the search for a new building began, but was put on hold when COVID hit. A year later, as the effects of the pandemic receded, the process restarted, beginning with the idea to purchase the Southgate Glass building next to Visions’ former office. That opportunity, along with dozens of others, ultimately did not pan out, and finally, we found 11931 Foundation Place.

“Suffice to say this has been a multi-year project involving exploration of dozens of properties, listing and selling 5030 El Camino, and finally closing and moving into Foundation Place,” Tom adds.

Supporting Tom was Senior Director of Operations Michael Brubaker, whose role evolved throughout the move process.

“At the beginning, I worked with Tom and our realtor to find the building. Once the building was acquired, I worked with the team (including our architect and project manager) to develop the detailed construction plans,” says Michael. “Once the construction started, I participated in the weekly meetings to ensure the construction was being done as agreed upon and according to our high standards. I also supported several of the projects and oversaw some of the vendors for other building projects that were outside of the general contractor’s purview.”

Collaboration was essential throughout the planning process, with the team logging 300 to 400 hours in meetings from start to finish. Clear roles, open communication, and strong coordination kept both the Visions team and our contractors aligned and moving forward.

“My role was to work in concert with our team, our project consultant and architect, as well as contractors and service providers to obtain quotes and samples/options for our team to review and select,” says Kevin. “I was also responsible for proofing all of the fine details of the many aspects of the ‘physical facilities’ part of the project including carpet, paint, fabrics, finishes, furniture, and construction plans.”

Administrative Assistants Amita Pegany and Randee Ramirez were Kevin and Michael’s right hand women, supporting everything from changing our address with the post office to ordering refrigerators for our breakroom. They helped lighten the load for our Move Team, filling in the gaps and making things easier for the rest of the team.

Also working hard behind-the-scenes were Director of Technology Services Uriel Gonzalez and Technology Services Manager Michael Miller, who collaborated to build our technology infrastructure, making sure both staff and students had the tools they needed.

“I was mainly responsible for implementing the plans and determining the exact details for the technology portion. For example, where would the network drops go, what PA system to use, camera placements, etc.,” says Michael.

“My role included looking at the projects from a balcony view, in order to review and assess risks as part of the move to the new building. Specifically, oversight for solutions on technology and logistics surrounding the move,” adds Uriel.

Changing Through Challenges

It’s hard to fully grasp the countless details involved in coordinating a move of this scale. While the end result is impressive, executing a project of this magnitude came with its fair share of challenges.

“As with anything in life, we make plans but nothing goes quite as planned,” admits Tom. “The team has worked through many challenges and obstacles and still delivered a great building which will be a lasting asset to Visions In Education.”

“We encountered many unanticipated layers of details and requirements with almost every project associated with this process,” adds Kevin Wellsfry, Operations Manager. “Our team went the extra mile through this whole process and especially on the move weekend, in order to ensure that everything was moved out of our old building and staff would be able to unpack on June 16, in order to be ready to service the public that week!”

“The move should have been pretty easy but was anything but when the moving company was quite short staffed,” says Soren Gutierrez, Director of Accountability & Data Services. “James [Hartley], Spencer [Summerhays] and I stepped up big time and physically moved a lot of the bins, chairs, chair mats, down from the second floor to the loading dock. Basically we pushed everything out to the movers so they could load four trucks simultaneously and as quickly as possible. In the end we got it down but it was two, 12 hour days to get it done!”

Alongside external challenges, the team also faced a number of internal obstacles.

“The biggest challenge was integrating the technology plan with other plans – how many cables were needed depended on the number of cubicles. We also had to understand what the goal of the spaces were to ensure we placed the proper technology there,” explains Michael Miller.

A few growing pains – like short-circuited outlets (RIP upstairs Keurig) – were to be expected, but each was a small price to pay for a space that better supports our staff.

Building it Back 1% Better

The new building comes with a host of perks – a quiet room, a gym next door, and endless coffee, to name a few – and starting from scratch gave us the unique opportunity to incorporate a number of 1% better improvements.

“The move provided us an opportunity to reconsider how we do things and implement improvements for long term gains,” says Michael Miller.

Our commitment to being 1% better is perfectly captured in the new tile centerpiece in our lobby. Designed with the Visions logo, it stands as a powerful symbol of the mission that drives everything we do. Thanks to the dedication of our Move Team, we now have a space that not only serves our needs, but also inspires us daily to support our students with pride and purpose.

“The staff may not be aware how many Visions team members it took to be a part of this process,” says James Hartley, Attendance and Records Manager. “It was not just the moving team and the management of vendors but also the Facilities team, the Tech team, and other staff members who put in many hours so that the…transition at the new building could be as smooth as possible.”

Without the Move Team’s hard work, dedication, and creativity, our new office would still be just a plan in Tom’s mind. Thanks to their efforts, we now have a space that better supports our staff and enhances the way we serve our students. Thank you for your commitment to our community – it’s good to be Visions!

STS Turns Five! Celebrating Our Student Technology Services Team

July 8, 2025/in News

STS Turns Five! Celebrating Our Student Technology Services Team

It’s been a busy and exciting summer here at Visions! We recently wrapped up our 25th anniversary, completed our move to the new building, and are now celebrating another major milestone – Student Technology Services’ 5th birthday!

To commemorate the occasion, our STS team began shipping out technology orders for the 2025-26 school year. On July 1st, they set a single-day record of 388 packages shipped – but didn’t stop there. Described as “ecstatic, but unfulfilled” (the words of Director of Technology Uriel Gonzalez), the team said “Hold my energy drink” and beat their own record the very next day by shipping out 450 packages (because what’s a party without some games?)!

“Nick Veret, our Student Technology Support Supervisor, crammed as many packages as our poor little vans could hold. Surprisingly, the van’s shocks were able to hold the massive weight of well over 300+ packages,” says Uriel. “The post office isn’t too happy with us, but we are certainly giving them a lot of business.”

Icing on the Cake

Student Technology Services was established in July 2021, building on years of collaboration with our former technology partner, SkyQ. Driven by a commitment to better support our staff, students, and families, Visions made the strategic decision to form its own in-house student technology team. Since its inception, the team has distributed over 28,791 tech devices to staff and families, serving our community better, faster, and more record-breaking every year.

“We had a great partnership with SkyQ between 2007 and 2021, but it was time to improve our services to our families by taking this body of work head on,” says Uriel. “We have been fortunate to have such an amazing team over the years, that we continue to set records and provide better service year after year.”

To celebrate five years of successful service, the team gathered with each other, STS’ inaugural banner, and of course – a birthday cake.

“Super proud of our team,” begins Nick. “July is our most physically demanding month, and despite the intense heat and the heavy post office runs, everyone stepped up, rolled up their sleeves, and crushed it!”

Happy 5th birthday, STS! Thank you for all you do for our staff, students, and families.