Entries by Sierra Horton

Finding a Place to Thrive: The Kennedy’s Visions Experience

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Finding a Place to Thrive: The Kennedy’s Visions Experience

Learning at your own pace and receiving personalized support isn’t the norm in traditional public school settings, but for the Kennedy family, that was exactly what their daughters needed.

After exploring several schools in their area, the Kennedys struggled to find a place that offered the kind of support and understanding their daughters required. It wasn’t just about academics, it was about finding a place where their children could truly be seen, heard, and supported as individuals.

That place turned out to be Visions.

Every child learns differently, and Visions embraces that truth. With flexible learning options, individualized pacing, and a strong support system, the school empowers students to take charge of their education, while still receiving guidance every step of the way.

“I love Visions so much,” says Simone. “It actually does make me feel heard.”

That feeling of being heard and understood has made all the difference. While students at Visions have the freedom to manage their own schedules and workload, they’re never on their own. Teachers and staff are always available to provide guidance, encouragement, and academic support.

“If you want to find a place that is going to invest in your child,” Ms. Kennedy says, “this is the place to go.”

At Visions, it’s not just about education, it’s about empowering students to thrive on their own terms.

Creating Community for Everyone – The Kravchenkos & Visions

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Creating Community for Everyone - The Kravchenkos & Visions

“For people like me from different countries, I really can advise them to be with Visions,” shares Ms. Kravchenko, a mom whose child found not just academic support at Visions, but also a true sense of belonging.

At Visions, every student is seen as an individual. Whether they are new to the country, learning English, or simply looking for a more personalized educational experience, Visions provides a space where all learners can thrive.

Students receive personal attention from teachers and staff who are committed to helping them succeed, not just academically, but socially and emotionally as well. It’s this commitment that encouraged Jessica to start Slavic Club, a student organization designed to support and connect those whose first language may not be English. “For the first time ever, I’m actually excited to go to school,” Jessica shares. 

Though Visions operates remotely, students are far from isolated. The school offers over 70 student clubs, a growing athletics program, and regular events for all grade levels across the nine counties it serves. Whether a student wants to dive into the arts, sports, leadership, or cultural communities, there’s something for everyone.

Visions builds a strong, inclusive community that plays to students’ strengths and supports them in areas where they need to grow. It’s a place where learners from all backgrounds can find their voice, their confidence, and their path forward.

Building Lifelong Skills – The Lustados & Visions

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Building Lifelong Skills - The Lustados & Visions

“My experience with the Online Middle School program has been wonderful.”

Since enrolling, Arianna has discovered a whole new level of learning including opportunities to explore new topics and build lifelong skills. With the freedom to manage her own schedule and studies, she’s already learning key habits like time management, organization, and self-motivation – skills that will benefit her long after middle school.

For the Lustado family, choosing a remote program came with initial concerns. They were nervous about how she’d manage the workload and stay on track without an in-person teacher. But those worries quickly faded once they saw the strong support system Visions provides.

“Visions teachers are so accessible to the students, and they are also so encouraging,” Elain shares.

Visions also makes it easy for parents to be partners in their child’s educational journey. From tracking grades and attendance to viewing curriculum and directly connecting with teachers, everything is just a few clicks away. “It’s really intuitive and user-friendly for anybody to use,” says Elain.

At Visions, students are not only supported, they’re empowered. By giving students the opportunity to own their learning goals while ensuring strong academic guidance is always available, the Online Middle School program helps young learners thrive both inside and outside the (virtual) classroom.

Visions In Education Holds Ribbon Cutting at New Building

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Two Board members cut gold ribbon with large blue scissors.

Visions In Education Holds Ribbon Cutting at New Building

Visions In Education officially opened its new office with a ribbon cutting ceremony that brought together students, staff, board members, and community partners to celebrate this exciting milestone and the start of the 25/26 school year. The new space is designed to better support collaboration, innovation, and the success of the students and families we serve.

The ceremony opened with remarks from Superintendent Dr. Steve Olmos, who shared his gratitude for the teamwork that made this day possible. “While we’re celebrating a new address, we’re really celebrating what’s possible when we work together. I couldn’t be prouder of what we’ve accomplished and even more excited for what’s ahead,” Dr. Olmos shared. 

Board Chairperson Mark Holman and Chief Operations Officer Tom Tafoya also spoke, reflecting on the significance of beginning the new school year in a space that will allow staff to better serve families. 

A highlight of the day was cutting the ceremonial ribbon, joined by members of our Board of Directors, including Clark Shueh, Sam Smalls and Vice Chairperson Terrence Shelton, and many of our student “Visionaries”, whose support and involvement were crucial throughout the process. We were also honored to have Mika Klinsmann from Senator Roger Niello’s office and Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce ambassador Thomas Steinbach in attendance. The celebration was a true community effort, with staff who helped make the move possible and several special guests joining in to mark the occasion. 

The new building is not just an office—it’s a commitment to the future of education at Visions. As Dr. Olmos noted, this milestone is both a celebration of the past 25 years and the beginning of a new chapter as we enter our 26th school year.

Visions executive leaders and Board members with students behind Visions logo on the floor at ribbon-cutting ceremony
Visions executive leaders and Board members with students cutting a ribbon at ribbon-cutting ceremony
Visions executive leaders and Board members with students behind a ribbon at ribbon-cutting ceremony
Visions executive leaders and Board members behind Visions lofo at ribbon-cutting ceremony
Visions Superintendent talking to students

Congratulations To Our Steve Phelps Scholarship Winners!

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American flag blowing in the wind.

Congratulations To Our Steve Phelps Scholarship Winners!

Congratulations to our 2025 Steve Phelps American Dream Scholarship recipients: Romela Khan, Maliaha Calhoun, Cassandra Vue, and Alliah Saidwal!

Each year, Visions proudly honors the legacy of beloved former teacher Steve Phelps through a scholarship established in his name. This $600 award supports Visions students who plan to attend a community college after high school, helping them take the next step toward their educational goals.

This year’s scholarship recipients shared moving essays about the people who have inspired them most—from family members who instilled values of hard work and discipline, to friends whose memory and passion for life continue to motivate them every day.

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“No matter the time and the situation, my dad would always make us happy and support us in any way he could. He would always support me in school. He was like my best friend. My mom is always there to support my siblings and me when she is unhappy and depressed. My parents were inspirational because they would always smile to see us smile. No matter the challenges they faced, they kept going just to see us happy and successful.” – Romela Khan

Portrait of Maliaha Calhoun.

“As I aged and kept watching Gordon’s cooking and the advice he always gave to the young chefs, I became more motivated to pursue my dreams of following in his footsteps… At the young age of 18, I am now enrolled at Contra Costa Community College, pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts. I will also take classes centered around business management and hospitality. I will one day own my own hospitality business and I will serve food for others in a way that transforms the way they experience food, ingredients and help to provide nostalgia while healing any trauma surrounding food. I will help others the way that Gordon Ramsay helped me.” – Maliaha Calhoun

Portrait of Cassandra Vue.

“As a Hmong woman, (my mother) grew up with limited opportunities and responsibility. Despite this, she didn’t let that stop her from achieving her dreams of working hard to support her family to get the life she dreamed of. This inspired me to work hard for what I want to achieve in the future and the opportunity/chance to when she couldn’t. She is my biggest inspiration to continue my education further after high school and to work hard to make my dreams come true. She poured hours and her energy into supporting our family.” – Cassandra Vue

Steve Phelps Scholarship Winner

“Through this journey, I’ve learned that strength isn’t about the absence of hardship, but about having the ability to persevere in the face of it. Every challenge I’ve faced has shaped me into the person I am today, one who accepts change, never gives up, and values the connections made through shared adversity. I learned that I should surround myself with positive people instead of negative ones and look for friendships that are based on loyalty and trust. I look to the future while keeping with me the lessons learned from the past. My goal is to show others that even in the darkest moments, hope is still possible.” – Alliah Saidwal

Congratulations to our Steve Phelps American Dream Scholarship recipients! We wish you all the best in college and thank you for helping us keep the memory of Steve Phelps alive. 

Remembering Steve Phelps

Steve Phelps was a dedicated Visions teacher from 2003 until his passing in 2008. Having faced his own challenges in school, Steve found his path with the help of a mentor teacher. He became a passionate advocate for the community college system, seeing it as an accessible and valuable pathway to higher education.

Prior to his passing, Steve created a scholarship to support students who took community college courses during high school and planned to continue at a community college after graduation. Today, in his honor, Visions partners with Sober Riders to raise funds and award scholarships each year in Steve’s name—carrying forward his mission of empowering students on their journey to success and lifelong learning.