Entries by Ronaldo Gomez

Student Spotlight: Five Rounds In The 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.”

“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.”

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

Director Of Special Education Jessica Lauder Featured On MindPlay Education Podcast

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.

Visions’ Main Office & STS Closed January 20th For Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Visions’ Main Office & STS Closed January 20th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Visions’ main office and Student Technology Services (STS) will be closed Monday, January 20th, 2025 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We will resume operations during regular business hours on Tuesday, January 21st.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday in the United States, observed every year on the third Monday of January to honor the life and legacy of civil rights leader Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It’s a day that commemorates Dr. King’s advocacy and activism, and celebrates a leader who brought hope and healing to America. For more information about Martin Luther King Jr. Day, please see the following resources:

The Heart Of Visions: A Spotlight On The Human Resources Department

The Heart of Visions: A Spotlight on the Human Resources Department

At Visions, there is a group of seven women who make up our Human Resources Department – a Director, two analysts, and four assistants. Sometimes they’re Barbies, other times, they’re cowgirls. They’re Soup Day chefs and Santa’s little elves, and most significantly, they are the people behind the people and the support system of our organization.

“My role involves overseeing the key functions of the department, including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, compliance, health benefits, and performance management,” explains Donna Glenn, Director of Human Resources. “My team is exceptional in their field, bringing a wealth of knowledge and expertise. Together, we collaborate to foster a positive workplace culture by organizing activities and events that engage and support our team members.”

As a department centered around recruitment, hiring, benefits, and more, Human Resources is truly unique in its operations. While our other departments – Enrollment and Student ServicesOrdering and Assessments – primarily support our students, HR’s main focus is supporting our staff.

“My top responsibilities are credentialed staff and teacher recruitment along with onboarding teachers, counselors, social workers and classified staff. It’s really fun to meet all of the new hires and watch them grow in the organization!” says Hillori Dalton, Human Resources Assistant.

Our other Human Resources Assistant Jamie Snyder supports Hillori in this work, providing job advertisement, applicant screening, interview preparation and other important event coordination.

“I coordinate Visions’ annual Career Fairs and University Career Fair, FRISK and ACSA training for managers, and new hire StrengthFinder assessments,” says Jamie.

HR is also responsible for tracking important staff information and remaining in compliance with state regulations, a body of work that Administrative Assistant Terry Sovulewski is heavily involved in.

“My core responsibilities include tracking TB and credential expirations, assigning and tracking mandatory training, employment verifications, and updating policies and procedures in the employee handbook,” says Terry.

While a large focus of this team’s work is on recruiting and hiring, there is also an emphasis on supporting staff after they’ve joined the organization.

“I am the benefits point of contact for current employees in regards to health benefits plans during open enrollment, their new hire period, or if they experience a life event,” explains Giuliana Carillo, Human Resources Analyst. “I also help administer the Leave of Absence program and assist employees who resign or retire from the organization.”

“My core responsibilities are credential analysis, staffing, salary placement, leave balances, leave of absences, policies and procedures, and employee communications,” adds Cruz Ambrosini, Human Resources Analyst.

Administrative Assistant Dao Gordon’s position is unique in that she supports both the HR Department and the Superintendent’s Office. Her body of work, along with HR tasks like hiring, onboarding, and managing our Visions All-Stars program with her team, includes overseeing our Alumni Hall of Fame, an initiative launched this year to recognize and celebrate our distinguished alumni.

“The Alumni Hall of Fame program recognizes and honors our outstanding alumni who have distinguished themselves professionally and/or personally. The program was launched last August on the occasion of Visions’ 25th Anniversary,” Dao explains. “We believe that Visions alumni have made great impacts to our communities over 25 years, and they deserve to be honored.”

Leading & Learning

Although many of the department’s practices are tried and true, and consistently indicate why we often have no vacancies at the beginning of the school year and little turnover at the end, the team is always looking for ways to improve. Whether it be bolstering our hiring efforts, expanding our benefits, or offering supplemental education opportunities for staff, HR maintains a strong focus on getting 1% better every day.

“Our HR team truly embodies the ‘1% better every day’ motto through our continuous to growth, learning, and improvement. Whether it’s refining our processes, enhancing employee experiences, or staying updated on the latest HR trends, we are always looking for ways to make incremental improvements,” says Donna. “We encourage open feedback and actively seek our opportunities to streamline workflows, support our staff more effectively, and enhance our organizational culture. By focusing on small, consistent improvements, we make a big impact over time, creating a more efficient, responsive, and positive environment for everyone.”

Not only does this continuous improvement culture help our staff develop, but it also helps drive HR’s own commitment to growth and learning.

“I really enjoy being part of the HR team. I’ve been learning a lot from all team members, and I really appreciate it,” says Dao. Hillori adds, “I feel very lucky to work in my department! I am always learning something new from my team.”

A Passion for People

The nature of HR’s work is to look outward to support our staff and organization. However, their internal bonds as coworkers, collaborators, and cheerleaders for our Visionaries are just as strong.

“The HR team is amazing. Each personality and strength fits together to make the most collaborative team I have ever worked with,” says Cruz. “We are here to offer support to employees no matter what they are going through and strive to be a valuable resource to employees.”

“I really enjoy being part of the HR team,” Jamie adds. “I feel we have a quick turn around to help employees receive the information and services needed to succeed.”

“I’m so fortunate to be working alongside some of the hardest working HR people I’ve ever worked with,” says Giuliana. “I love being able to work with and support the greatest influencers in our students’ lives!”

What Giuliana said rings true – one of the strongest pillars of this department’s work is supporting and uplifting our people. With good staff and teachers come successful students and a strong culture, each a crucial component of Visions’ quarter-century of success.

At Visions, we understand that life is full of significant moments – from birth of a child to the challenges of a wedding, a divorce, or even the loss of a loved one. Throughout all of these times, our HR team is a constant source of support for our staff. HR is often the first place employees turn when they face personal or professional difficulties, and the work that they do is nothing short of incredible,” Donna shares. “Our HR team provides a steady presence and a listening ear during some of the most challenging moments in life, all while maintaining a positive and compassionate attitude. Their ability to offer guidance with empathy, care, and professionalism is a testament to their strength and dedication. I am extremely proud of the HR team for their unwavering commitment to supporting our employees, no matter the circumstance.”

Sharing Our Story: COO Tom Tafoya Interviewed On BuyQ Podcast

Sharing Our Story: COO Tom Tafoya Interviewed On BuyQ Podcast

BuyQ’s Charter School Insider: Lessons from the Nation’s Top Charter School Operators podcast is dedicated to highlighting the “behind-the-scenes” business of running a successful charter school.

On December 19th, 2024, Visions’ Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya sat down with Charter School Insider host Daniel Casselli to discuss how Visions seamlessly manages the purchase and distribution of learning materials, resources, technology, and services as a non-classroom based charter school. This is no simple task as Visions serves over 7,500 students, in nine counties, across 9,200 square miles.

From recounting ordering challenges that Visions faced in its infancy to illustrating how we’ve streamlined our processes over the past 25 years with systems like LPAD and integrations with Amazon, Mr. Tafoya gives insight into how Visions continues to get 1% better to meet the needs of our staff, students, and families by using best practices.

“For us to grow and serve our students, we have to be able to resource them with materials, books, supplies, and services,” says Tafoya in the episode. “Having multiple programs in multiple modalities is complicated, but it’s also fun to solve these types of situations and develop solutions to meet the needs of all these students.”

Listen to the full episode here!

About BuyQ

BuyQ is a group purchasing organization devoted specifically to charter and private schools. Originally founded in 2012 as an initiative of the Colorado League of Charter Schools, BuyQ is now an independent, mission-driven company focused on serving schools throughout the country. Learn more here.

Samuel Smalls Joins Visions In Education Board of Directors

Samuel Smalls Joins Visions In Education Board of Directors

On December 19th, the Visions In Education Board of Directors approved Samuel Smalls to join the Board. Mr. Smalls will fulfill the remainder of retired Board Member Tom Knox’s term through June 30, 2025. 

Samuel brings more than thirty-three years of experience in business management, government relations, public policy making, and board experience in the Sacramento area. A graduate of Harvard University with Honors, Samuel currently works as the Treasury and Debt Manager for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, overseeing finances for an organization that provides water to more than 19 million Californians. 

Samuel’s Board of Directors experience includes local organizations such as membership positions on the SMUD Museum of Science and Curiosity, the Capital Region United Way Foundation, and the City of Sacramento Inclusive Economic and Community Development Investment Committee. He is also a former Board President of the Sacramento Downtowners Toastmasters and the former President/Chair of the Alternative Family Services Foster Family Agency. 

Samuel is excited to join the Board to contribute to Visions In Education’s mission of preparing each student to succeed in a rapidly changing world. 

“I want to advance the mission of Visions In Education to expand its reach and impact on the next generation of youth in need of alternative platforms to learn,” says Samuel.  

Visions In Education thanks Samuel for joining our Board of Directors and looks forward to working with him in service of our students, families, and staff.

Charter Renewal Secured For Another Five Years!

Charter Renewal Secured For Another Five Years!

We are thrilled to announce that our school’s charter was officially renewed by unanimous decision at the San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD) Board Meeting on December 17, 2024. This renewal affirms our commitment to providing high-quality education options and ensures our ability to continue serving our students, community, and staff.

Visions has grown and changed significantly since its last charter renewal in 2017. To prepare for this renewal, we started working on it in July 2022. The outcome of this work was a nearly 1,000-page document detailing our school operations, fiscal management, student outcomes, and much more. We are also proud to be the first charter school to submit for renewal and receive approval since the pandemic.

The new charter term will begin on July 1, 2025, and run through June 30, 2030. This milestone is the result of a collaborative school-wide effort, and we are incredibly grateful for everyone’s support in bringing this project to a successful conclusion.

We also want to express our gratitude to Director of Accountability & Data Services Soren Gutierrez, who managed the project with dedication and expertise and guided our team every step of the way.

We are grateful to our educational partners at SJUSD for over 25 years of support and our community for their ongoing support in preparing students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Happy Holidays! Winter Break is December 23, 2024 – January 3, 2025

Happy Holidays! Winter Break is December 23, 2024 – January 3, 2025

Visions’ main office and Student Technology Services (STS) will be closed Monday, December 23rd, 2024 – Friday, January 3rd, 2025 for winter recess. Classes will resume on Monday, January 6th, 2025.

On behalf of everyone at Visions In Education, we wish you a merry and magical holiday season!

Building Updates: December 2024

Building Updates: December 2024

It took a whole week to get a new floor put into our tech services area at our new Gold River Facility, but you don’t have to wait that long to see how it was done! See this video showing how we refurbished the floor of our tech warehouse.

Work It Out

Staff will also have access to a fitness center at our new facility accessible by an app. This center has weight machines, cardio machines, and a locker/shower area to freshen up after your workout. Staff will need to sign a release form and more details will be available when we’re ready to move.

A Career And A Calling: A Spotlight On Soren Gutierrez

A Career And A Calling: A Spotlight On Soren Gutierrez

Soren is many things – a New York native, an army vet, a husband, and a dog dad. But he’s been many things before and between, including an Executive Assistant and Project Manager on Wall Street. He’s seen Germany and Iraq, the inside of private jets and more ginger root than he’d care to in his lifetime (you’ll have to ask). His tough exterior is equally matched by his soft center and desire to serve, qualities that have steered his life for over 20 years.

“I started my educational and professional career in the military by attending West Point and serving five years in the Army as an Infantry Officer. I was stationed at Fort Benning (now Fort Moore, Georgia) and in Germany and did a 13 month tour to Iraq in 2006,” says Soren. “After active duty, I worked in New York City for two years as both an Executive Assistant and Project Manager for a very wealthy individual and had an opportunity to actually start a parochial school on his behalf.”

Despite what seemed like an impressive career, Soren struggled with the transition from the military to civilian life. The financial sector wasn’t a fit for him, and although he felt the smallest glimmer of light when he launched the parochial school, he still had a difficult time finding his footing back in society.

“I was in the National Guard in the traditional ‘one weekend a month/two weeks a year’ model and that really helped me transition, especially meeting and talking with the other combat veterans about our experiences,” Soren explains. “After two years, I took a full-time job with the National Guard on a National Guard Disaster Response for the East Coast.”

Unfortunately, with the Disaster Response position came a lot of travel, and Soren was looking to settle down. So, he began seeking other opportunities and found an open position for a Director of Operations with a classroom-based charter school network called Achievement First at one of their Connecticut middle schools. That light that Soren had felt while opening the parochial school flickered a bit brighter, and after two years of working at Achievement First, he decided to continue pursuing his own education. A Master’s in Business Administration and a move to California later, Soren is now in his eighth year at Visions and has become a veteran leader in the organization.

“Over the years I have appreciated Soren’s ability to add value to our school by improving our systems, processes and approaches by sharing his lens of systematic thinking and common sense approaches to our work,” says Chief Operations Officer, Tom Tafoya. “He helps take our creative thinking to the next level through this lens.”

As the Director of Accountability & Data Services, Soren’s job is extremely multi-faceted. He oversees three different departments in the organization – Enrollment, Assessments, and Internal Data & Systems Services – each with their own bodies of work. From enrolling thousands of new students every year to supporting all local and state assessments efforts to overseeing a team that provides a variety of systems and analytical support to our teachers, principals and staff, Soren’s role is never short of impacted.

“The IDSS Department does a lot behind-the-scenes to make sure systems work for our teachers and families, everything from checking that all of our K-8 students are rostered in i-Ready to reconciling invoices from our Special Education services providers to creating class registration workbooks for our teachers and counselors to easily collaborate and select classes for next semester,” explains Soren. “Given Visions’ large size and scale, there are a lot of opportunities to make things easier and faster, and our team strives to deliver those efficiencies.”

Working closely with SPED, Counseling, Student Services, and Instruction, Soren not only leans on his strong group of managers and analysts, but also his military background and extensive leadership skills to help his teams and other departments in the organization find success.

“We’ve adopted the After Action Review (AAR) process that I used in the military to consistently review the results of projects and initiatives to find out what went well as well as opportunities for improvement,” says Soren. “It’s great to see good ideas come to fruition and get improved over time.”

An Extension of Service

From serving his country to serving our students, Soren is proud of the path he’s taken to get to where he is. He speaks of his journey with candor and of course, some humor, and remains intentional about how he shows up in every space. For him, working at Visions is an extension of his service, that ever-growing light that’s allowed him to shine from the inside out.

“I believe charter schools are vital to improving education in California and America and that Visions as a nonclassroom-based school has an opportunity to serve countless students that may not ‘fit’ in traditional brick and mortar schools,” says Soren. “I see working for Visions as an opportunity to continue to serve my community.”

Soren is now settled in Auburn with his wife, Cassandra, whom he met while stationed in Germany (and the reason for his move across the country, which Soren says was “the best decision ever”), and their two German Shorthaired Pointers. They share memories of the Elvis Presley festival that took place while they were both in Freidberg, their wedding in Key West, and their early years together on the East Coast. Since then, Soren is proud to say that he has found a career and a calling, his role at Visions representative of his lifelong service.

“For a variety of reasons, my wife wasn’t successful in high school until she was able to do independent study and then she bloomed, and now she has a successful career and not only is the first college graduate in her family, but she also earned a Master’s degree,” Soren shares. “Visions provides that opportunity for so many students and I am so proud and happy to work with our amazing staff and teachers to be a part of it.”

More About Soren

“My father was Colombian (hence Gutierrez) and my mother is of Swedish descent (hence Soren) so I’ve got a unique set of names.”

“Despite completing Airborne and Ranger school, I hate heights, falling and motion – no roller coasters for me!”

“Graduation is the most rewarding and favorite day of the year – it’s a huge event that takes months and months of planning but it is awesome to be there and to see hundreds of our students and families graduate and prepare for their next steps in life. It’s a long day but exhilarating!”

From left to right: Soren’s mom, Ann, Soren, and his dad, Omar.