Entries by Ronaldo Gomez

Recognizing LGBTQ History Month

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Rainbow graphic that reads "LGBTQ History Month"

Recognizing LGBTQ History Month

October is LGBTQ History Month – a time to honor the trailblazers, advocates, and everyday heroes who have shaped the movement for equality and inclusion. This month serves as both a celebration of progress and a reminder of the ongoing work toward acceptance and justice for all.

LGBTQ History Month also encourages us to learn, listen, and lead with pride – to celebrate diversity not just in October, but every day.

Additional Resources & Information

 

A Place For Every Learner – The Simmons Family’s Visions Experience

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A Place For Every Learner - The Simmons Family's Visions Experience

With five sons, finding a single school or educational program that could meet the needs of each individual child was no easy task for the Simmons family. But when they found Visions, that changed.

“Visions has helped our sons in so many different ways,” shares Mrs. Simmons.

Visions offers a flexible and supportive learning environment, with multiple curriculum options and four unique academies tailored to different age groups and learning styles. Whether a student thrives with structure, needs more independence, or requires special support services, Visions provides the resources to help every child succeed.

For the Simmons family, this has made all the difference. Their younger sons benefit from personalized support, while their older sons are thriving in Visions’ growing athletics program, playing basketball and learning essential life skills like teamwork, discipline, and leadership.

Visions also ensures that students with special needs are fully supported, offering services like speech therapy and occupational therapy, so every learner has the opportunity to thrive.

One of the most important lessons the Simmons boys say they’ve learned is independence. At Visions, students are empowered to manage their own schedules and workload, giving them the space to learn at their own pace while preparing them for the future.

“As we become adults, I think that’s something that we’re going to really need,” one of the older sons shares.

For the Simmons family, the experience has been transformative. “I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to homeschool their children and provide the best, most robust education to their children,” says Mr. Simmons.

Get To Know TK-8 Curriculum Coordinator Kaylee Song

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Kaylee tabling at a Visions in-person event

Get To Know TK-8 Curriculum Coordinator Kaylee Song

Since stepping into the Curriculum Coordinator position in February 2025, Kaylee has drawn on a wide range of experience as a teacher, instructional leader, and curriculum designer. She began her career teaching upper elementary in Sacramento, where she developed and implemented curriculum to meet the needs of each student. She supported colleagues as the site PBIS Facilitator, Induction Support Provider, and mentor for teacher candidates. As a member of the PLI Department, Kaylee has continued this work by leading professional learning for educators, instructional leaders, and staff to ensure all students have access to a guaranteed and viable curriculum. This week, Kaylee is joining a team from the PLI Department to present at the Charter School Development Center 2025 Conference on our Comprehensive Systems of Support.

As TK-8 Curriculum Coordinator, Kaylee partners with the Home School and Online Middle School Academies to strengthen instructional practices and learning through curricular review, coaching & consultation for instructional leaders, and professional development. Above all, Kaylee is excited about helping ensure every student has access to high-quality instructional materials, paired with comprehensive support that helps educators use them with confidence. With expertise in standards alignment, educational equity, and instructional design, she is passionate about building capacity in educators and fostering collaborative learning communities that empower and provide opportunities for students to thrive.

Student Spotlight: Roping The Way To Greatness

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Jackie M poses with rodeo awards

Student Spotlight: Roping The Way To Greatness

In Visions In Education’s Independent Study Academy, students are encouraged to follow their passions, and Jackie M. is a shining example of what it means to dedicate yourself fully to a dream.

Jackie enrolled at Visions two and a half years ago to take control of her learning and allow more time for her true passion: rodeo. She practices six days a week and says, “Rodeo consumes my whole life, which I am grateful for.”

“Rodeo is a lifestyle not just a hobby. I also want people to know that our animals always come first. We treat them like athletes in and out of the arena.” 

Her horse, Rango, a 15-year-old American Paint Horse, is more than just a partner in the arena. Jackie describes him as her “best friend and biggest motivation to keep going every day.” Together, the pair compete in rodeo events, with Jackie focusing on breakaway roping and beginning to train in team roping as well.

Breakaway roping is a fast-paced event where a cowgirl on horseback ropes a calf around the neck, with the goal of breaking the rope in the fastest possible time. Team roping, on the other hand, requires two riders to work together to rope a steer as quickly as possible. Jackie has only been competing for four years, but her hard work has already paid off. She recently won the breakaway roping event at the Oakdale Rodeo, where the Mayor of Oakdale presented her with a championship buckle.

Her teacher, Mrs. Rold, proudly calls her a “rodeo champion,” and Jackie is quick to credit her school for supporting her goals. “I like my teacher a lot, she is very nice and is always there to help me,” she shared. “Coming to Visions was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself and I am forever grateful for the teachers, counselors, and principals that make this possible.”

Jackie M. rides her horse in competition

Following Her Dreams

Looking ahead, Jackie hopes to combine her love for rodeo with a career in sports medicine. She plans to become a Rodeo Sports Medicine Doctor, caring for the athletes, both human and animal, who inspire her every day.

Jackie’s journey reflects the spirit of Visions students everywhere: determination, gratitude, and the courage to pursue what matters most.

Jackie M. on her horse while participating in competition
Jackie M. poses while attending a rodeo competition
Jackie M. poses with horse and ribbons while attending a rodeo competition

Celebrating Filipino American History Month

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Filipino American History Month graphic

Celebrating Filipino American History Month

Each October, we recognize Filipino American History Month. FAHM commemorates the first recorded presence of Filipinos in the United States, dating all the way back to October of 1587. After being proposed by the Filipino American National Historical Society board of trustees in 1992, Filipino American History Month is now recognized annually and globally, and honors the significant role that Filipinos have played in our country’s history.

Resources & Information

Across the globe, communities come together during this time to celebrate the rich history and cultural legacy of Filipino Americans. Learn more below!

October Is Bullying Prevention Month

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Bullying Prevention Month graphic

October Is Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to end bullying, promote kindness and acceptance, and unite for inclusion. Join us in ending bullying and changing our culture.

Resources & Getting Involved

“Allowing students to be involved in bullying prevention efforts has a great impact. Students feel empowered by being directly involved in analyzing bullying issues, creating ideas to help solve the problem, and enact creative solutions. Student-led bullying prevention initiatives give students self-efficacy and a sense of agency with leadership.” – PACER.

See below for some important resources and ways that you can show your support:

Hear from alum Angel, who shared her story about finding Visions after struggling with bullying in this article and video.

Celebrating Student Connections: Virtual Club Day 2025

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Laptop graphic with Visions logo

Celebrating Student Connections: Virtual Club Day 2025

We are thrilled to announce that 68 student clubs participated in this year’s Virtual Student Club Day! On Friday, September 26, at 2 p.m., Visions’ students logged in to connect with enthusiastic club advisors who were eager to welcome both new and returning members through dedicated Zoom sessions. The energy and excitement from our advisors made for a truly memorable event.

Still Time to Get Involved

If you were unable to attend Club Day at the beginning of the school year, opportunities are still available! We invite you to explore our Student Clubs page on The Wire and reach out directly to advisors of clubs that align with your interests. It’s never too late to become part of the many vibrant student communities.

Making Friends From Home

Our club offerings are organized by grade level, making it simple for students to discover clubs tailored to their age groups. For students interested in athletics, we encourage you to visit our Student Athletics Wire Page, where you’ll find comprehensive information about our sports programs, including schedules for games and events.

Ron Thomas, Associate Director of Equity & Student Engagement, said, “The Regional Club Liaisons and the marketing and communications department were significant contributors to this event. All the club advisors stepped up and were both eager and excited to meet potential new club members and share all the wonderful things about their clubs!”

Regardless of where students are in their educational journey, participating in student clubs can boost enthusiasm for learning while creating meaningful opportunities for connection and socialization. Many students who attend in-person events report feeling more comfortable and confident thanks to these virtual spaces that empower them to explore their interests and express themselves authentically.

Gratitude To Community

We extend our sincere appreciation to our dedicated club advisors who invested their time in coordinating Zoom sessions and creating welcoming spaces for student exploration. We also commend all students who joined us in launching the 25/26 school year with this outstanding virtual event. Your participation makes our community stronger and more connected.

Commitment To Improvement: Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya Interviewed On Studer Education’s Podcast

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Getting 1% Better Every Day podcast graphic featuring COO Tom Tafoya

Commitment To Improvement: Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya Interviewed On Studer Education’s Podcast

Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya was recently featured on Studer Education’s Accelerate Your Performance Podcast, where he got to share more about Visions and our commitment to improving how we serve our students and families each day. The episode, titled, “Getting 1% Better Every Day,” explores how Vision’s collective dedication to enhance systems and processes ultimately allows us to provide a better educational experience for our students.





LISTEN HERE!

Striving for Excellence

At Visions, our commitment to students begins with our staff and how we work together. We believe that hiring the right people—those who are deeply committed to our mission of continuous improvement and supporting students —is the foundation for success.

This commitment is reflected in the talented individuals who choose to work here. Tom shares, “I have tech guys that could be working in Silicon Valley… They choose to be here because of the mission.” Our team members not only bring expertise but also a personal connection to our students’ experiences. Many of Visions staff see themselves in the students we serve. “We were those kids,” Tom explains. 

That shared passion translates into action: refining enrollment processes, hiring social workers and counselors, and expanding enrichment opportunities such as student activities and clubs. It’s also about fostering strong collaboration between the business and instructional sides of our organization.

“It’s the combination of building systems that can support the delivery of great instructional services and supports and programs—it’s that partnership.”

Enhancing Systems for Success

One example of that partnership in action is our LPAD Student Support System™(LPAD SSS). Originally designed to streamline technology orders for students, LPAD has evolved into a comprehensive platform that connects nearly every aspect of our operations. Today, it supports enrollment management, student and parent communications, student events, asset management, and more.

Thanks to vendor integrations and ongoing refinements, processes are faster, more reliable, and simpler for both families and staff, reducing guesswork and eliminating delays. As Tom noted, “Visions was one of the first schools to put this in place.” This innovation exemplifies how we continually adapt to better serve students and families, ensuring systems work hand in hand with people to create the best possible experience. 

About Studer Education

Studer Education partners with school districts to improve student success by developing leaders, strengthening organizational culture, and aligning strategies for continuous improvement.

Visions by the Numbers: Breaking Down the Business

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Visions by the Numbers 2025-26 school year graphic

Visions By The Numbers: Breaking Down The Business

We know we’ve been sharing a lot of exciting updates to kick off the school year, but we wanted to take a moment to break things down even more so you can truly see just how hard our teams have been working to support our staff and families!

1% Better with Buzz

Last year, Visions recognized an opportunity to improve consistency and access to curriculum by providing staff, students, and families with a unified learning management system across all four academies. After thoughtful review and planning, Visions made the exciting move to transition nearly 300 courses into our own dedicated instance within Buzz, a platform that our students have used throughout summer school and into the fall.

Thanks to the hard work of the LMS Team and the incredible collaboration across departments, 295 courses have now been fully transferred, updated, and prepared for the 2025–26 school year. This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to continuous improvement – getting
1% better every day to better serve our students and families.

Buzz graphic

Thank you Sabrina Allgood, Jennifer Irish, Julie Yoder, Nancy Legalsi, Kristen Manchester, Raeshon Minnifield, Lindsey Nance, Randee Ramirez, Eli Sarabia, Carlos Palomo and Kaylee Song for your tireless efforts behind-the-scenes to get this project completed!

See the Numbers

Our teams have also put up some impressive numbers this school year in service to our families – check out some of the facts and figures below!

Visions records data

Attendance & Records Services

  • 5,678 Master Agreements reviewed
  • 1,944 Master Agreement Addendums reviewed
  • 3,306 Cume requests sent
  • 1,927 Cume files received and reviewed
  • 1,600 Transcripts built in PLSIS
  • 520 Immunization Records built in PLSIS

Visions information technology data

Technology Services & STS

  • 3,300 tech devices delivered by Student Technology Services
  • 230 tickets completed by the IT Support Department
  • 3,500 ID cards printed for our students

Visions ordering data

Ordering Services

  • 37,000+ total orders processed – 8,709 curriculum orders!
  • 14,856 orders processed (a new record for the month of August!)
  • 921 Ordering Help forms resolved
  • 647 phone calls answered
  • 13 additional Visions staff who assisted with order processing: Thank you Esmeralda Rodriguez, Yvette Gonzalez, Sabrina Allgood, Jennifer Irish, Erica Wilkins, Silvia Covarrubias, Zeana Webb, Joel Aguilar, Connor Puckett, Brandon Fan, Julie Yoder, Randee Ramirez and Alyssa Lambert!

2024-25: 36,745 orders created and 35,476 orders completed vs. 2025-26: 38,550 orders created and 37,544 orders completed

Visions enrollment data

Enrollment Services

  • 5,913 contacts received
  • 4,796 applications started
  • 3,380 pre-enrolls processed
  • 2,986 students enrolled
  • 7,929 currently enrolled students!

1% Better graphic

Thank you to each of our teams for your continued support and unwavering commitment to our families.

Wishing everyone another 1% better year ahead and remember – it’s good to be Visions!

It's Good to be Visions graphic

Creating Opportunities For Every Learner: A Spotlight On The Equity & Student Engagement Department

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Equity and Student Engagement department group photo at a student event

Creating Opportunities For Every Learner: A Spotlight On The Equity & Student Engagement Department

At Visions, there is a place for every student, no matter their background. At the heart of removing barriers to ensure every student is able to reach their educational goals and succeed is our EASE Department. EASE stands for Equity and Student Engagement, a team dedicated to providing equitable access and supports to all students. 

The EASE Department oversees many critical pieces at Visions, including Career Technical Education, Dual Enrollment, Foster & Homeless Youth Services, and School Social Workers.

“It is not hard work, it is heart work,” shared Ron Thomas, Associate Director of Equity & Student Engagement. In his role, Ron designs programs, initiatives, and activities that respond to the diverse needs of all students. As a team, EASE is “rewriting what equitable, student-centered education looks like.”

Readying Students for College & Career

Career Technical Education (CTE) is the bridge between high school and career industry and college opportunities, providing hands-on learning to students. These courses are practical and skill-based, connecting students to real career settings and allowing them to graduate with marketable skills for the workforce or higher education.

Visions’ CTE Coordinator Keenya Powell oversees this important work, including program development, partnerships with colleges, and student support, ensuring students have access to pathways that align with their interests and goals. Keenya expressed, “A big part of my work is making sure students understand their options, get the right guidance, and feel supported as they balance the demands of high school, college coursework, and future planning.”

Visions is committed to supporting students to succeed in an ever-changing world, which is why we offer several CTE pathways, including Game Design, Cybersecurity, and Medical Careers.

Kim Grant, Game Design teacher, shared that she enjoys leveraging her background with technology to support students in a dynamic and innovative learning environment. Cybersecurity teacher Andrea Gautschi shared that teaching Cybersecurity, “helps students become responsible digital citizens who can stay safe online and teach their friends and family to do so as well.” Medical Careers teacher Nancy Ortner expressed that some of her favorite memories while teaching CTE have been watching students, “find their strengths, express pride in their projects, and start to believe in themselves.”

Should students pursue higher education, the opportunity to start earning college credit early through Dual Enrollment saves them both time and money on future tuition. This also allows students to have a smoother transition into college by giving students exposure to collegiate course expectations, study skills, and learning environments before they even graduate high school.

Equity and Student Engagement department group photo at a student event

Building Bridges

The EASE Department also oversees our work with foster and homeless youth. Sam Webster, the McKinney Vento & Foster Youth Liaison, works to ensure that students experiencing homelessness or those in the foster care system have equal access to educational opportunities.

“I work closely with families, students, departments within Visions, teachers, and community partners to remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, and academic success,” Sam shared. “This support is critical in promoting the wellbeing and long-term success of some of the most vulnerable members of our school community.” 

The EASE Department also oversees the essential work of our School Social Workers. These individuals focus on the social, emotional, and behavioral needs of students so they are better supported to succeed academically and personally. These services include individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, case management, and connecting students and families with community resources.

School Social Worker Sofia Palma shared, “We also serve as a bridge between schools and families, ensuring communication, access to resources, and wraparound support. Ultimately, our work strengthens the capacity of the entire organization to meet the diverse needs of students and foster their overall well-being.”

When asked what his favorite part of being a Social Worker is, Sergio Fuentes expressed, “One of the best things about being a Social Worker is being able to support students who have experienced significant trauma and see their growth, healing, and resilience.”

Sergio representing the Mindset Academy Mentorship Club and the UC Davis STEM Program at Club Rush!
Kim and Nancy (center) at our Open House event!
Dana and Ron at last year’s End-of-Year Gathering!
Nancy Ortner with a group of students from last year’s Basic Life Support Certification Training!

Consistent Innovation & Improvement 

This team is constantly working with each other and collaboratively with other departments, teachers, and administrators to address and remove barriers to learning in order to create a safe, supportive school environment. 

School Social Worker Dana Fejes reflected on the work the EASE team does to strive to get 1% better each day, stating, “Each member is dedicated to ongoing professional growth and to leveraging every available tool and resource to better serve our students and their families. It’s this shared commitment that fuels our collective impact and continued success.”

The EASE team’s newest Social Worker Hannah Buerger echoed this statement, sharing, “It has been amazing to see how administrators, teachers, and student support staff go above and beyond to get to know families and the circumstances that have brought them to Visions. This team is dedicated to removing barriers for students and helping them to get all of the support that they need.”

Thank you to our EASE team for continuing to build a foundation of equity, support, and opportunity – ensuring that every student has the chance to thrive at Visions, in life, and beyond.