Entries by Ronaldo Gomez

Visions Closed February 14th & 17th for Lincoln’s Birthday & Presidents’ Day

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Visions Closed February 14th & 17th for Lincoln’s Birthday & Presidents’ Day

Visions’ main office & Student Technology Services (STS) will be closed Friday, February 14th in observance of Lincoln’s Birthday and Monday, February 17th in observance of Presidents’ Day. We will resume services during regular business hours on February 18th.

Both Lincoln’s Birthday and Presidents’ Day are viewed as a time for remembrance and celebration of the patriotism of our country’s leaders. Learn more about Abraham Lincoln and Presidents’ Day at History.com.

Care Solace Names Visionaries As 2024 “Super Care Heroes”

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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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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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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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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.

National School Counseling Week Is February 3-7, 2025

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National School Counseling Week is February 3-7, 2025

Every year during the first week of February, we honor and celebrate our counselors and their unique contributions to student success. Counseling supports and services are an essential part of a student’s education, and National School Counseling Week is an opportunity to educate our community about the importance of the counseling profession.

This year’s theme is “School Counseling: Helping Students Thrive” and “highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.”

Counseling at Visions In Education

The counseling program at Visions provides students with the resources and opportunities to realize their potential and reach their goals. Through academic, social-emotional and postsecondary support, our counselors help our students become informed, active participants and leaders in their communities. Some of the responsibilities of our counseling team include:

  • Proactive, preventative counseling
  • Utilize an educational model focused on student strengths
  • Collaborate with all partners, including students, families, administrators, staff and community members
  • Act as a change agent, especially for educational equity for all students
  • Advocate for all students to have access to rigorous courses
  • Maintain full accountability for student success

For more information on our counseling services and what they can provide to you and your student, visit our Counseling page or set up a meeting with one of our counselors today!








Resources

Check out some National School Counseling Week resources that you can work on with your counselor below, courtesy of Care Solace!

Celebrating CTE Awareness Month

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Celebrating CTE Awareness Month

February is Career and Technical Education (CTE) Awareness Month, a time to celebrate the accomplishments and importance of CTE programs. Career and Technical Education offers students the ability to gain career skills and explore professions that interest them while still in high school.

By learning about the career options available to them early, students are better equipped to make informed decisions about their future and start building the career they really want. Visions is proud to offer three distinct CTE pathways, Medical Careers, Game & Simulation and Cybersecurity, that allow our students to build real-world skills before graduating and connect with valuable work-study opportunities.

Get Involved

  • Explore Your Options: Interested in health care? Want to go into the video game or cybersecurity industry? Learn more about Visions’ CTE offerings here!
  • Start a Conversation: Interested in a CTE program but not sure where to start? Currently enrolled students can talk to a counselor to explore the options that are available to you.

Resources

Check out ACTE, the Association for Career and Technical Education, for CTE information, merch, toolkits, and more!

About ACTE: ACTE is the nation’s largest not-for-profit association committed to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for successful careers. Their mission is to provide educational leadership in developing a competitive workforce. ACTE strives to empower educators to deliver high-quality CTE programs that ensure all students are positioned for career success.

February Is Black History Month

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February Is Black History Month

Since 1976, February has been recognized as Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate African Americans and their role in our country’s history. The origins of Black History Month date back to shortly after the abolishment of slavery and have evolved into the nationwide commemoration of Black history and experience that we know today.

2025 Theme

This year’s theme for Black History Month is “African Americans and Labor”, which recognizes labor industry changemakers throughout history.

“As a citizen workforce, African Americans continue to chart new paths toward economic stability, personal growth, and racial uplift. From enslaved workers in the 19th century to agricultural, industrial, and professional workers in the 20th and 21st centuries, Black men and women have always been vital to transforming and tooling America. During Black History Month, our museum celebrates Black people’s often invisible labor of all kinds — across time, industry, and community.” – Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History & Culture

Resources

Take some time to check out the following Black History Month Resources:

Want to join the celebration in person? Check out this article for some ideas!

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

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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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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.