Alameda County
NAME: Lisa Cole
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Circle of Independent Learning (COIL)
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Alameda
Working as an advisory teacher at C.O.I.L., I feel as I have been promoted from simply selling "one size fits all" in a bargain basement (delivering one curriculum to all in the classroom) to the "haute couture" of education where I design and assist with the delivery of instruction that is "custom made" for each child I see. It is the first time in my career as an educator in which I truly feel that I am able to reach each student and also feel like I am a part of a team?working with the parent and student together to accomplish our goals (unfortunately as a classroom teacher, I felt the climate to be more parent vs. school).
In addition, C.O.I.L. not only promotes learning for its students but also nurtures the professional development of its staff members. It is truly a school that believes in life-long learning!

NAME: Wayne Lindeman
GROUP: Teacher (High School Teacher)
SCHOOL: Circle of Independent Learning (COIL)
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Alameda
What I enjoy most about working with COIL is the remarkable progress that I see from my students. Many of my students enrolled at COIL have previously fallen far behind in graduation units and are very discouraged. Within one semester, all of them were rapidly gaining units and receiving good grades. Most importantly, they were smiling again and feeling pride in their accomplishments.

NAME: Carol Ramos
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Circle of Independent Learning (COIL)
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Alameda
I enjoy working at COIL because I can make a big difference in a student's life. I meet with each of my students individually by appointment every couple of weeks. Any difficulties the student is having can be addressed in the appointment. I can offer suggestions on study tips, attitude, and design the curriculum benchmarks in such a way that the student is successful. I enjoy working with a variety of ages and ability levels. I can focus on each student in a special way for their success in academics and in life.

I also teach a Spanish Conversation class. I really enjoy the classes because the students are eager to learn. They choose to be in the class and so they are motivated to work This makes teaching a real joy.

Since I have been teaching at COIL I have learned about many learning difficulties and the resources to help each of the students. I feel more competent in my profession.

NAME: Patricia Harman-Murray
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Circle of Independent Learning (COIL)
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Alameda
Why I Love Working at COIL!

I've taught for 13 years with the last three as a teacher at COIL. While my other positions and school sites were wonderful, COIL has been even better. Here I work with a small staff that shares the same vision and we're here because we want to be here. COIL teachers are professional with a variety of teaching backgrounds and they're simply a pleasure to work with. As an advisory teacher I not only work with students, but parents as well. I see it as a double teaching opportunity. I also appreciate the level of flexibility afforded to me in my weekly work schedule. Working at COIL has broadened my understanding of both homeschooling and charter schools. It is a privilege to be a part of the COIL team.

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Butte County
NAME: James Bishop
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy Charter
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
I have always wanted to teach. During my years attending UCSD I recall that whether away at school or home visiting my family many of my fondest memories were of explaining aspects of science and mathematic to my parents, friends and fellow students. I had a tremendous drive to do this and was often preoccupied with discovering an approach to an idea that would make it accessible to people with poor backgrounds in these subjects. So after deciding that a career in research science was incompatible with my higher priority goal of raising a family, it was natural for me to consider teaching as a vocation.

I went so far as to gain acceptance into the Secondary Credential program at CSU Chico in 1994 but before beginning classes and student teaching I decided to accept a software development position. I had doubts about whether I would really be effective as a teacher in the public school context. I was confident in my ability to teach but I feared that in that environment my efforts would somehow amount to very little and I would become frustrated. Over the years I have come to understand more clearly the reasons for my concern. I used to think it was the preoccupation of the public school system with liability issues, special interests and political concerns along with the numerous teacher responsibilities and worries not directly related to teaching. But I see now that there is a deeper issue that leads to or exacerbates all the others – the absence of parents. Of course one should expect problems with any significant undertaking that involves children without the intimate involvement of their parents. So I set aside the idea of teaching as a career, finished my MS in Computer Science and took a software engineering position writing medical physics software.

During my time as a software engineer my wife and I began home schooling our oldest 3 children and enrolled them in Camptonville Academy Charter. These experiences made me aware of different models of public education and I saw that by partnering with parents I could realize my dream of teaching free of the main obstacles that had turned me away 8 years ago. So last fall I accepted a teaching position at Camptonville and I have not been disappointed. Because the teaching responsibility is shared with parents I am able to have small class sizes and extended time with students who need it. Nearly everything I do has a direct influence on student learning and is at the heart of what I want to accomplish as a teacher – it is enormously satisfying.

NAME: Chris Preston
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: CORE@The Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Magalia
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
There are so many ways to learn. Children learn at different rates, times and places. Personalized learning is a wonderful way for some children to gain their education. Our country was founded on individual freedoms and the freedom to learn where a child learns best if a wonderful gift. I teach in a traditional classroom, and that is great for many children, but I also know that the formal classroom is not the best place for some children to learn. Let us never take away the right of a child to learn in a personalized setting.

NAME: Patti Russell
GROUP: teacher
SCHOOL: CORE@The Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte County
I have had my teaching credential for 30 years and finally feel at home working in personalized learning through Camptonville Academy. I worked for Chico Unified for 20 years and have been teaching with this awesome school for 2 years now and look forward to every day, watching students learn and grow. In several weeks, we will be concluding this school year and already we are in the planning stages for next year. So many wonderful things to look forward to in personalized learning, I can hardly wait to see what happens next.

NAME: Marlene Kenyon
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: CORE@The Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
I have been a credentialed teacher for over thirty years. The Personalized Learning approach has been a wonderful experience. As a teacher, I feel like I can truly help each and every one of my students. Plus, the growth I’ve seen take place in their lives, and the knowledge they’ve acquired as a result, has been tremendous! They are truly in a learning environment where they can excel.

NAME: Debra Moon
GROUP: Teacher and Evaluator
SCHOOL: The Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte County
Personalized Learning is Good Medicine for Students
by Debra Moon
I became intimately acquainted with Personalized Learning when I became an evaluator for one of the programs in February, 2001. I paid close attention to the methods and the welfare of the students, once I was assigned 16 students to monitor last year. All of my students were new to Personalized Learning. I was hired in February to take the “overflow”. Right away, I noticed the organized reporting system for student progress, and the wealth of materials we had to choose from for each student’s curriculum. Then I began to notice more subtle things. The students produced a lot of work. Rarely were assignments unfinished or missing. Thought and hard work went into to their studies and their writing. They appeared grateful for the opportunity of Personalized Learning. When I spoke to them, or their parents, they were thrilled how much they seemed to be learning, how the struggles for school work were over, how they were progressing, earning their graduation credits. To let you know some of the details, I am going to change the names of the students I worked with, so that I can relate their stories without embarrassing them.

James, a quiet student in the 10th grade went from the C’s and D’s that I saw on his transcript, to A’s in all subjects. He was sensitive, and the peer pressure and anxiety he experienced in the regular classroom distracted him from his work. In the Personalized Learning program, he not only produced straight A’s, but also several publishable articles and stories during the semester. The stories were published in the student tabloid and enjoyed by many people. James discovered that he was a writer, something he never suspected, even though his mother is a writer of children’s stories, he never thought of that as a vocation until last year.

Steven was also a 10th grader reading at a 10th grade level out loud but unable to comprehend any of what he had read. He had been in Special Ed, but just was unable to even do basic math and had never memorized his times tables. Between February and June, Steven memorized all but the 8’s and began reading and keeping daily journal of the story line in a small notebook. He would pull out the notebook and we would discuss those stories when I came to evaluate. I would never have had the time I spent with Steven if we were in a conventional classroom, but in this system I had an hour or two every week just for him. He began to look forward to the discussions and to his ability to remember a little more from his notes, that he was getting better and better at discussing the stories. It was like he had become a literature buff over a period of a couple of months. I was really proud of him, but the greatest thing was how proud he was of himself.

Melinda, an 11th grader this year was assistant editor of the school newspaper before transferring to our program for Personalized Learning. She is a very sharp girl, who is actually too mature to really enjoy high school. She is doing Personalized Learning for some courses, and earning concurrent credit in others by attending community college courses. She is doing great, and she feels that she is wasting far less time with her present plan of education.

Gil graduated last year with almost two years of college completed upon his graduation from high school. I wrote an article about him. When I went to do the interview three days after graduation, he was studying physics. I thought he was enrolled in a summer course through the college, but he said that he wasn’t. He was studying physics because he was going into engineering and he thought he might need to know it.

One of my students this year had to start out the year with a greatly reduced curriculum because of illness and lack of self-confidence. He is now studying guitar, algebra, history, geography, writing, life science, a special reading course, and physical education, and is almost up to a full curriculum load. I would say he has more than tripled the amount of work he is able to cover in a month since the start of this school year last September.

Teachers in conventional school cannot really imagine the true love of learning, the magical transformations, or the pleasant stability and contentment that we observe in our students in the program at The Camptonville Academy. This is what happens when we remove them from constant peer pressure in the learning situation, offer the opportunity to meet with other students sometimes for classes if they wish, offer a program that increases their interaction with their parents, give them their teacher’s undivided attention when they do make home visits to see them, and purchase materials that are especially for them with Educational Units from the school. This way, they may study music, have art materials, have brand new University preparatory textbooks in every subject if they choose. Families do get to make some choices in their child’s education. The students’ needs are met. There are a variety of configurations to choose from in designing the curriculum, setting, and sociability of the learning environment.

Lastly, I must say, that if public school teachers knew what the Camptonville Academy Personalized Learning Program was like and how much it helps students, they would call off the efforts of the Teachers’ Union in lobbying against it. Most teachers really do care about how students fare in the system. They want the best for the kids. What I want to know is why has the CTA chosen to overlook that aspect in their decision to lobby against our program?

Another question to consider is, how many of these Personalized Learning students will ever return to public school even if programs like Camptonville are not funded? It’s hard to keep them down on the farm after they’ve seen what we have to offer. A parent I spoke to today said, “If I have to leave the country, I’ll do it rather than send my child back into that [public school] system. I know how to educate my child and she is doing better than ever. I won’t give that up!”

Please spread the word. And those who have the power to effect any influence to keep these students on the path they have freely chosen, a path that results in quality education, check your consciences before you make any changes.

NAME: Michele Steele
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: CORE at the Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chico
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Butte
I have been an Independent Study Personalized Learning teacher with CORE at the Camptonville Academy in Chico, California, for almost four years. I have had the privilege of working with dozens of children from kindergarten through high school.

I have seen how the personalized approach can truly help turn lives around. Some of my students have come to me struggling to keep pace with the “regular” school system. Many of them have slight learning disabilities or personal challenges that make the formality and the “one-size-fits-all” approach very challenging. Many of these youths, with hard work and effort from them, their parents, and their teacher have returned successfully to the regular school. Others find they prefer to stay and thrive in this personalized educational environment. The success comes from the desire and the desire comes from finding purpose and success.

I currently help teach several extremely bright children who simply are not learning at the prescribed pace in all subjects. Visual memory problems, dyslexia or other reading problems – whatever the cause – these children are smart, capable young people. With a personalized approach, they can move forward in subjects that are easy for them while getting extra help in weak areas. Sometimes they don’t even realize they’re “behind.” They are free from the social stigma of the Resource Room. We (teacher and parent and student) are free to use hands-on materials or multimedia or computers or Socratic discussion or literature-based or thematic units or expeditionary learning or traditional textbooks or…whatever it takes to help these kids succeed.

There is not one “right” approach to educating a child any more than there is one “right” way to learn. That’s what Personalized Learning is all about.

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Madera County
NAME: Mindy Klang
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Mountain Home School Charter
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oakhurst
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Madera County
I began my teaching career in a traditional classroom-based setting in 1994. In the past 5 years, I've had the privilege of working in a personalized learning school. I am a teacher working with and supporting home-schooling families and have seen the valuable, positive benefits to children from personalized learning. I support this type of learning because I've seen students thrive, both academically and personally! Students in personalized learning enjoy customized curriculum tailored to their needs and interests, are given the opportunity to explore topics in depth, and have the freedom and attention to develop weaker skill areas while accelerating in stronger areas of learning. I enjoy being a part of this learning environment!

NAME: Donna Fiannaca
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Mountain Home School Charter
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oakhurst
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Madera County
For the past 14 years I have worked as a facilitator/teacher in the personal learning field. I began this career in Northern California and currently am working in Central California. Regardless of location or demographics, I have seen students flourish in a personalized learning environment. Time after time, I have observed students come to us from a traditional classroom setting where they were not functioning. It has been exciting to see these students increase their performance academically and develop an unprecedented enthusiasm for learning! The one-on-one customized education creates opportunities for a student to pursue academic interests in depth, to receive proper diagnosis in areas of weakness, and to be taught specifically to his or her learning modality. I truly believe that it is a privilege to work in this area of education.

NAME: Susan Mackenzie
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Mountain Home School Charter
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oakhurst
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Madera County
Personalized learning through Mountain Home School can be a good choice for families whose situation allows it. The wonderful thing about personalized learning is that it takes into account that each child is unique. Since there are many ways to learn, a parent can research curriculum and find ones that are right for their child’s learning style. A parent can take time to get to know their child’s strengths and weaknesses, likes and dislikes. As a teacher I have noticed that learning is greatly enhanced by working with a child in the context of his whole family. For example, in science and social studies often everyone is involved in the learning process, which may include field trips and hands on projects. Sometimes other families are included. The parent who can make learning enjoyable with patient and kind guidance has helped his child become a life long learner.

NAME: Kathi Bales
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Mountain Home School Charter
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Coarsegold
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Madera County
I have been employed for the last two years as a charter teacher monitoring the learning of students in a personalized learning school. Each day is a unique learning experience for me as I meet with students who are strengthening their academic skills by pursuing individual interests. These students are enthusiastic learners, who have developed valuable skills while finding answers to their questions and interests. I believe that each child wants to learn.

Personalized learning taps this innate desire and affords the student with this opportunity free from distraction. Having previously worked in a traditional classroom setting, I became keenly aware of the dilemma the classroom teacher has in meeting the needs of a variety of students. Even though valiant attempts are made, the fact remains many needs go unmet. On the other hand, personalized learning students receive one-on-one instruction and immediate recognition of personal strengths or weaknesses as it broadens a self-starting, "I-can" attitude. This is the very attitude that college professors desire incoming students to possess. I am excited to be a part of a program that promotes learning at its best.

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Nevada County
NAME: Eleni Cardona
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Forest Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Nevada City
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Nevada
I have been a teacher in both the public and private sector for the last 23 years. The last five years, I have served as a teacher in a Personalized Learning School. I have to say that the Personalized Learning approach is the most innovative, creative and thrilling experience of my career.

As a certificated teacher, I work in partnership with parents, students, other teachers and a myriad of community organizations/resources to provide a completely unique and tailor-made educational program for each of my students. The focus is on providing the best possible learning environment or modality for the individual student in each of their subjects. Each student has an educational team behind them that can respond to help them to succeed as specific learning challenges present themselves. One student may need to be in accelerated programs for some subjects, while moving more slowly in others. Another student may thrive on working with computer based curriculum in some subjects, while needing a group setting to explore their creative side by taking, for example, drama, art, sports or music classes. Still another may follow a rigorous traditional curriculum and plug into local Community College courses to round out their course of study with a foreign language, laboratory sciences, or in-depth computer classes.

The variety of educational choices and settings help students to prepare for a lifetime of learning. I tend to see that my students are already learning how to independently manage their time in order to get work done, they interact well with people of all ages, and they think "outside the box" because they have not been indoctrinated in one standard way of thinking, learning or behaving. Their individuality is honored and nurtured and as a result, they have high self esteem.

In short, I have had the great pleasure of witnessing dramatic results. Often students will come to our program feeling discouraged and disenfranchised from "school" and from the learning process itself. After working with their own personalized program, which they help to design, they frequently find themselves loving school, feeling successful, and actively participating, rather than resisting their educational process. Seeing their smiles, helping them to succeed where they once felt they had failed, and watching as they bloom as the individuals they were meant to be is just the greatest reward any teacher can have. I am honored to be a part of a school that can offer this depth and breadth of choice for students and parents.

NAME: Stuart Naramore
GROUP: teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Grass Valley
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Nevada County
I am a public school teacher with nearly fourteen years of classroom experience. A few years ago I left the classroom because I kept seeing the deterioration of the educational experience due to a number of factors. As an educator I was very discouraged.

Last year I accepted a position as a home-schooling teacher with Camptonville Academy. Wow! What a difference. For the first time in all my years of teaching I really see students being happy in their schoolwork. I see parents who no longer feel frustrated with their students' academic achievement. And I see real progress in students who had been struggling with their work. Home school truly works when parents, students and teachers work in concert to assure progress. I would recommend this course of study to anyone who has the inclination and dedication. Thank you.

NAME: Sherry Shulse
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Nevada City
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Nevada County
I have been a Personalized Learning Teacher for 1 1/2 years now, after teaching in traditional classrooms on and off for 7 years. I have seen students succeed who would have fallen through the cracks in a traditional setting. For example I have a student who is 14 years old and tested in the 99th percentile on his PSAT. He was not being challenged sufficiently in a traditional school. He is now able to have a personalized curriculum that allows his talent to grow. On the other end of the spectrum, I have student who really struggles, yet does not qualify for special education services. She is one of those students who is on the cusp. With our personalized approach she has been able to excel. I believe that students and parents should have a wide variety of choices to meet their individual needs. I have never seen a model that provides more choice than Personalized Learning.

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Orange County
NAME: Laura Ballance
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Laguna Niguel
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Orange County
As a teacher overseeing home-schooled families I have seen this school meet a variety of individual needs that traditional public schools were unable to meet. Students in this school are improving and accelerating faster than years before. Parents are more encouraged with the progress their child is making when their child is now interested in doing school work, due to the variety of methods introduced to them through this program.

NAME: Jessica Pohl
GROUP: Education Specialist/Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Irvine
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Orange County
When I first came to work with Eagles Peak, I was hesitant about the charter school system. My educational background was strictly in the public school system, specifically high school. I had great reservations about the ability of a charter school, especially a "parent choice/homeschooling" school to meet the needs of students (especially high school) and provide an education that would prepare them to compete with other students across the nation. Through working one on one with many parents and students, I have been amazed at the level of education they are provided and even sought out themselves. I have found that most of the high school students I have worked with have taken college level courses and even at a local community college. I know I cannot say the same for the high school students I taught in the public school system.

Due to the parents involvement and commitment, the elementary students I have worked with at Eagles Peak have extended their educational experiences beyond the traditional textbooks and "projects" to encompass the entire community and educational resources available. I have been amazed at the level of work most of them succeed at, majority at above grade level. I have witnessed students with special needs/learning disabilities given the essential one on one support and skills they need. In my experience, teaching a class with 40 students and 55 min each period, it was impossible to accomplish that most of the time. As with any system, there are issues that arise and changes that could be made to improve it. However, I speak as a teacher who LOVES teaching in a traditional classroom and I have seen that Eagles Peak Charter School serves a purpose that most if any traditional schools do not. I truly feel that one of the most blessed things about our Country is that we have freedom and the ability to utilize choices, one of those being finding the best education for our children, each individually.

NAME: Starlene Arel
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagle's Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Santa Ana
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Orange County
Throughout my childhood I dreamed of becoming a teacher. I was part of a small percentage of children that excelled in academics, no matter who the teacher or what the subject or approach. I thought that was how it worked for everyone. Almost ten years ago I made my dream a reality by attending a university and obtaining my teaching credential. As part of my training and my personal career, I have experienced a wide spectrum of educational environments - from private schools, to what might be called an "average public school," all the way to what many would consider among the most difficult of environments - public schools in the inner cities of Los Angeles and Santa Ana. Despite the wide spectrum, there is one thing that remained true in each and every one of the environments - no matter how outstanding OR deplorable the teacher, school, neighborhood, etc. - - there were students that excelled and students that failed.

In contrast, for nearly three years now, I have worked with a charter school that provides and supports a wide variety of personalized learning options. I have yet to find a student that I would say has failed or is failing. There are certainly students that struggle but, given the appropriate learning opportunities and approaches, I have seen every single child succeed and most even excel. Many of these approaches demand a great amount of effort on the part of the educator and the child. However, providing students and parents the support, ability, and means to do so, is the catalyst for their success.

Research has established that there are many varying ways to learn, not to mention ways to demonstrate learning. It is just plain impossible for EVERY child to succeed at what may be their individual level of success UNLESS each child is allowed the opportunity to learn and demonstrate learning in the manner individual to him/herself. I mentioned that I was part of a small percentage of children that was academically successful regardless of the teacher, subject, or approach. No matter how hard our schools try, we will never be able to make every child fit that description. It is time to recognize that it is not a waste of time or money or effort to recognize, encourage, and facilitate the many different ways that children learn. We must admit that the idea of "No Child Left Behind," while inspirational and a noble goal, is impossible in a traditional educational environment. This is not because of any short-falling of educators, lack of resources, or blame on anyone's part, but rather because of the inherent qualities of learning - many children NEED individualized approaches to be successful. The statement that, in nearly three years, I have not yet seen a child fail academically given the opportunity to follow his/her individual learning path, is something that needs to be acknowledged and rewarded, not scorned and seen as something that must be stopped.

NAME: J. Windham
GROUP: Education Specialist (teacher)
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Rancho Santa Margarita
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Orange County
As an education specialist for Eagles Peak, I have seen first hand the importance of offering a multitude of learning opportunities, choices, and pathways. The homeschooled students I supervise are incredibly successful and are receiving highly individualized instruction in all subject areas. Public schools generally offer limited options for differentiation. Many students get bored from moving too slowly or get lost from moving through material too quickly. My homeschooled students are receiving instruction gauged directly at their level, ability, and pacing. They work efficiently and independently. They have the time to pursue all subject areas, including areas such as art, music, and science, which are often underfunded or cut out completely in public schools. The parents and students at Eagles Peak feel empowered because they are able to have, and make, educational choices rather than fitting into the cookie cutter system of our underfunded public education system. Charter schools need continued state support.

NAME: Karen Fleischli
GROUP: Parent/ Teacher
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Orange County
Personalized learning through Julian Charter School not only has been instrumental in the education of my two children but also in the development of myself professionally. As a parent I am able to participate in choosing curriculum that addresses state standards as well as meets my child's academic needs and interests. My children thrive in a one on one student/teacher setting where they are able to progress as quickly or slowly as they need without labels being placed upon them.

Personalized learning allows me as a teacher to really know my students and to individualize to their needs accordingly. In the public classroom with 30 plus students I could rarely do this and felt much frustration. It is a joy to work with so many dedicated and talented professionals whose goal is to provide an environment where children can thrive. My sons enjoy the opportunity to learn according to their interests, something they probably would not be able to do in any other school. Kudos to personalized learning.

NAME: Camille Zimmerman
GROUP: Teacher (Educational Facilitator0
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Orange County
“ For the students that I oversee as an Educational Facilitator for Julian Charter School, personalized learning offers numerous advantages over the traditional classroom format. Parents, in consultation with professional educators, are able to choose a curriculum that is consistent with their values and is best suited for the learning style and interests of their child. Students are able to progress through the curriculum at their own pace. When they encounter subjects of particular interest they are able to extend their learning experience by delving more deeply into that subject. Additionally, parents may choose curriculum in science, social science and/or electives that allow siblings in different grades to work together, albeit at different levels. In short, personalized learning affords flexibility that is not feasible in a classroom, but with adequate structure and accountability.”

NAME: Lorie Taylor
GROUP: Teacher and Parent
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Lake Forest
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Orange County
This year has been so great! I am a facilitator for Julian Charter School (which I love!!) but also a first year homeschooling mom to my kindergarten son. As I got to know some of the parents that I actually facilitate, we began to form a wonderful co-op between us that has led us to share holiday parties and field trips together. The children have formed great friendships and the moms have gained much support with one another. Between the four families, we have four kindergarteners. This last week, we had a small graduation picnic for them: grad hats, diplomas, words of honor, the works! It was very special.

Now, we are looking forward to next year and are adding 2-3 more families into our group. This summer, we are meeting to plan our next year. Everyone is so motivated to share their ideas for curriculum, field trips and special activities that we can do together. I am looking forward once again to the sense of community and support that we have with one another. It is incredible to watch each child grow academically, socially, & emotionally. I feel very blessed to be so much a part of the lives of my students and my own children!

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Placer County
NAME: Lois Langehaug
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy charter school
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: PLACER

I support Personalized Learning because not all students learn at the same rate, level or have the same strengths and weaknesses. What a great way to teach students!

NAME: Sharon Mandon
GROUP: Parent and Teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy charter school
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Auburn
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Placer
My daughter was a creative, bright, very confident girl. She had been homeschooled in our program (one to one) until mid first grade. She then entered school, due to my health. From then until the beginning of third grade, she really struggled with her work. She is dyslexic and could not read up to the standards being expected in very low grades. Soon she became stressed about school. She started to feel like she was stupid. By third grade she not only was struggling academically, but socially as well. Other kids where labeling her. They were calling her names. She started being very explosive and moody at home. She started telling big lies to make herself look important. It was very hard to watch this happen to her.
We decided to bring her home for just fourth grade. She joined Camptonville Academy. It has been a transformation. I want to share with you some of the ways she has benefited from our program.
First, she does have some learning problems, but she is very gifted in other areas. Being at home she is able to explore and excel in art, music, creative writing, poetry, and lots of other things. This is such a great boost for her self esteem and gives her greater confidence to tackle the subjects that are hard for her. She has taken classes in these areas at the center in Auburn and has really enjoyed the fun, positive interaction with peers there.
Second, because Katie has some reading issues, I am able to deal with them in a proactive, specialized way at home. Our program has provided her with a special reading and spelling program called Barton which I feel is very helpful. Katie has time at home to curl up with a good book and actually love to read. She has someone with her who helps her in areas she is weak in without any fear of teasing. I read with my child. I know her and can really gauge improvement and areas that need more work. And, I can tell you, she has made great improvement this year.
Katie went recently on a living history field trip to Sutter's Fort. About 40 kids from Camptonville where there. It was such a great experience all around. I was struck, as a parent and teacher, by the students. We did a lot of hands on stuff. Not one kid gave us a hard time. No one gave up or refused to try. The big joy for me was at the end of the night when we had a band and a square dance. The kids got up and danced without any coaxing, acting silly or being embarrassed. That shocked me. I felt it showed such a security and confidence in themselves. Peer pressure was so much less of an issue for these kids. In our time that is priceless.
Numerous people have commented on the change in Katie since being in Camptonville. She is blooming, socially, emotionally and academically. The support she gets from the classes, curriculum and field trips is such a gift to her and our family. My husband recently said, "I don't want to put Katie back in school next year. She is doing so great that it would be foolish."
Thanks Camptonville!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NAME: Chris Dunlap
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Meadow Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Placer County
To Whom It May Concern,
I have been a school teacher for twenty years and have taught in both public and private schools. During these years, I have taught in grades first through eighth. In my teaching experience, I have seen many kinds of students. Many students do well in a site-based setting but not all. The ones who do not, have experiences that range from unpleasant to horrible. When this happens, the teachers, administration, and parents do their best to help but the usual result is a continuous struggle and success is measured by how well the student survives, not by how much he or she learns.

The students I am referring to do not fit into one or two categories for easy grouping and placement. Some are geniuses and others are considerably behind the other students intellectually. Some are so social that the school setting is a hindrance and others so painfully shy that just looking at them is painful. Some are physically fit and others are teased unmercifully because of their weight or looks. Some are so creative that they literally can't do another ditto and others so set in their ways that any change in the daily routine makes them cry. Some watch T.V. and know all the shows while others haven't watched any T.V. and can't even enter into the conversation. (It is amazing how much a student is ostracized for not watching T.V.). Some like to always be around people while others are loners. Some like commotion and noise and to others noise can make them physically ill.

I could go on but the point is that a classroom setting is not for everyone. This should not be surprising; who really wants or expects everyone to be the same. I now teach in a charter school that is has a home-based, personalized learning program. The students I have mentioned above are many (but not all) of the ones I work with. The are doing very well, are successful in their studies, have good social skills, and are happy. Thank goodness there are now choices. Please support public charter schools.

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Riverside County
NAME: Sandra Kling
GROUP: Teacher (Educational Facilitator)
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County

I have been implementing the “Personalized Learning” concept in my work since I became an educator over five years ago. This is the only way to work with students! In my view, it does not make sense to force the same curriculum and assessment on every student when they all have different learning styles, academic/developmental levels, and most importantly, unique interests. It is wonderful to see students thrive when they can learn in the manner that best suits him/her and at a level that they can understand. I am a huge supporter of this concept and hope that the State will recognize the benefits of this concept in education our nation's future! My motto has always been “Educating Kids One at a Time.”

NAME: Catherine Lambert
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County

Having just relocated to California from the East Coast, I was dismayed at the overall mediocrity of most of the schools I visited. I was looking for a teaching experience that would not only be enjoyable, but that would allow me to reach students at a level of interest that would let them take ownership of what they were learning.

Dehesa Charter School, with it attention to each students needs and desires, has let me become not just an educator who regurgitates facts for students to assimilate, but rather someone who gives students nuggets of ideas and lets them find the jewels of knowledge they will keep forever.

In general, my students never complain of repetition or dullness in their daily lives because they have been given the choices to learn in the way that they personally find most interesting. I am constantly amazed at the caliber and quantity of work my students are anxious to show me at our weekly and monthly meetings.

Overall, my time at Dehesa Charter School has been very well spent. My only regret is that something like this did not exist when I was bored out of my mind during my early school years.

NAME: John P. D'Onofrio
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Canyon Lake
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County

Personalized Learning has benefited several of my students. One eleventh grader was sent to a continuation school in order to get caught up because he didn't complete his credits as a freshman. He complied and was re-admitted into regular High School. Then the school made a mistake and put him into a class for which he already had the credits. When they discovered this they said he could no longer attend high school because he wasn't carrying enough credits. He went back to continuation school, completed some very unchallenging courses, but soon lost interest completely. Realizing that his future economic success will start with a H.S. Diploma, and under parental pressure, he found Dehesa Charter School. Within a few weeks I determined that his young man was capable, but required positive stimulation, encouragement, and self-discipline. His desire to pursue music lessons and the vendor we are supplying has been a major contributor to his success. We have been able to select curriculum that is both interesting and challenging for him. I am a taskmaster, and must help at sometimes more than other times based on his personal situation, which is also often troubled. This young man now has confidence in himself. This semester he is finishing his core curriculum requirements for graduation, along with music, Auto Shop, and Computers. By December 2003 he will qualify to graduate from High School with a can do attitude toward future education and life. I'm afraid without the personalized Learning approach of Dehesa Charter School this young man would have been among the many dropouts destined to be turned down for employment opportunities for many years. Maybe he would not believe he could succeed, which would make success impossible.

NAME: Terri Novacek
GROUP: Teacher, Parent
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Canyon Lake
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
Before my son was five, he scored above the level that suggested he was academically ready for Kindergarten. However, I was advised to hold him back another year "because he was a boy." Having taught in the classroom for ten years, I did have a first-hand understanding of that logic. However, now that it was my own child, I felt it a shame to hold him back. Although he is a well-behaved boy, I knew if I sent him, he would be considered a behavior problem because he would have difficulty sitting still. If I held him back, he would be considered a behavior problem because he would be bored. I decided to provide personalized learning for a year and re-evaluate the situation the following summer. It's been three years now. He is a happy, active second grader, who is still eager to learn. I know if I would have put him in the traditional school setting, he would be unhappy and struggling.

As a teacher, I see numerous students come through that thought they hated learning, because they hated school. Now that they are in a position to take responsibility for their own learning, they are thriving. For some, they do well because they are able to participate in real-life learning. What does it matter if you learn how to count change from a textbook, or working at your parents' store. You can learn angles and measuring from worksheets, or you can help someone build something. The charter school has made it possible for parents to receive support in their effort to make their children happy, healthy, and productive citizens.

NAME: Trish Ruppel
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Wildomar
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
Personalized Learning has given many students an opportunity to shine in their schoolwork, along with being able to study in areas of interest more in-depth. I have taught in public/private classrooms and special education. It tugged at my heart when I could not fulfill the education needs of a child, either because of time constraints or lack of curriculum choices. With Personalized Learning, a student receives the curriculum and teaching methods that best suits their learning style and they become successful.

Benny is one example. Benny’s parents had decided to homeschool him because he was falling behind (according to his first grade teacher). The summer before second grade his parents were told by another charter school they needed to buy workbooks that covered second grade learning. His parents knew that this type of curriculum did not work for their son and they switched to Dehesa Charter School for a true individualized learning plan. I recommended hands-on curriculum consisting of no workbooks. Benny was behind in his reading (again, according to his first grade teacher) and had lost his interest in books. I recommended that the parent read to him, visit the library weekly and in time, Benny’s love for books would return. Along with other recommendations, by the middle of second grade, Benny had jumped a full year in his reading and his love for learning had returned.

This is but one story. I have many students who would have suffered in the one-size-fits-all approach of classroom teaching. Personalized Learning helps those who are struggling with school to achieve great results and allows bright students to explore options not possible in a classroom setting. Personalized Learning is a great alternative for all types of students.

NAME: Kathy Webster
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Murrieta
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
I've seen personally the progress made by a particular student. I have re-evaluated her curriculum and found that she needed remedial social studies, science, and language arts book. As a sixth grader, Patricia also needed math work at a 4th grade level. She has changed in her outlook and is feeling successful in the the quality of her homework. She also is receiving one on one tutoring which has helped improve her math, reading, and writing skills

NAME: Connie Valencia
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Hemet
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
As a public school teacher and a part time facilitator at Dehesa Charter School, I can see some phenomenal benefits of home-schooling and the Personalized Learning approach. In a classroom of twenty or more students, it is often difficult for classroom teachers to meet the individual needs, personality styles, interests and learning styles of every child. I have seen incredible examples of how these personalized needs are being met and challenged in the home-school environment. Students, parents and teachers choose curriculum, activities, lessons, literature, manipulatives and supplemental materials that support the child's needs, while covering the California standards. The students are able to engage in more first hand learning experiences through field trips and hands-on activities. There is a positive network of communication and dedication between the family, student, teachers and administration. Students have countless opportunities to socialize and interact with other students and families in the charter school and share ideas, concerns, feelings and materials in support of their educational goals. A lifelong love for learning is felt in the heart of every child who experiences education in a meaningful, personal way.

NAME: Kelly Robinson
GROUP: Teacher (Educational Facilitator and Parent)
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Murrieta
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
Personalized learning is a wonderful program that allows students and families to personalize the learning experience for students. Students may work at their own individual pace and work toward skill mastery. Personalized learning can incorporate daily life skills into the curriculum and be a truly 7 day-per-week, 24 hour-per-day experience. Tailor made programming and rich 1:1 instruction allows for maximum learning and transfer of learning to other settings and situations.

Many of my students and families have greatly benefited from personalized learning.

NAME: Jessica McIntyre
GROUP: Teacher-Educational Specialist
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
I work with about 20 children in the inland empire with different needs, learning styles and families. Through the Charter school/Homeschooling approach I am able to provide freedom to cater to each of these child's needs in a very intimate way. Each has their own style of curriculum, learning day, and response forms that make their learning more meaningful to them. After working in a K/1 classroom in California public schools for 4 years, I realize this personalized education was never possible in the classroom. I am able to provide for these students in a much more meaningful way now than I ever did for the students I saw every day for 6 hours.

NAME: Katherine Cox
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
For years, as a classroom teacher, I have watched special education students struggle in the classroom routine. Often the would begin the year academically and socially behind. Then, as the year progressed they would be pulled out of the classroom for "Help." This pull out help frequently caused them to fall farther behind and become socially more outcast.
Individualized, alternate education programs such as home schooling (Personalized Learning) with professional teaching support break this pull-out, slide behind cycle. This year, I have observed students with special needs flourish in the individual attention they receive when schooled by their parents. Additionally, they thrive socially because they are able to interact with their peers as equals instead of being "the kid who has to leave."
I have observed the awesome power of alternate learning programs for students with special or specific needs. The rest of education should look to these programs and their success as templates for what meaningful education should look like for every child.

NAME: Roxann Andersen
GROUP: teacher/education specialist
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
I have worked as an education specialist for the last three years. I would estimate that about one-third of the students I work with have some form of learning disability. These are the students who would fall through the cracks in a traditional school setting. However, when they are allowed to work one-on-one with a "tutor," when they are allowed to work at their pace and with the method that suits them best--they succeed.

On the other end of the scale are the students for whom academics are a snap. The personalized learning programs available through our charter school enable these students to accomplish normal academic goals with ample time left over for enrichment. One of my students fits into this category. He was a marvelous writer, actor, and dancer. Personalized learning allowed him to graduate early and go on to college. Now, at age 20, he has performed in numerous plays and has written a musical.

The call from parents today is for more options, not fewer options. From my standpoint, personalized learning is certainly a valuable option.

NAME: Laura Nobiensky
GROUP: Parent and Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Temecula
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
I am a parent of one child who attends Eagles Peak Charter School in San Diego, a personalized learning charter school. We absolutely love the parental choice and involvement encouraged by the school! It is a dream-come-true. My 1st grader was reading at the second grade reading level as a kindergartner. Why? I could purchase and use a variety of materials to advance her along in reading. She is at or a little above grade level in math because I am able to tailor her curriculum to meet her learning needs. She has had numerous learning opportunities with the “community as classroom” philosophy of Eagles Peak. She has been able to learn all kinds of things from the pros in the community: ballet, gymnastics, and agricultural science. Personalized learning charter schools are wonderful and should be encouraged, not discouraged.

I am also an Education Specialist for Eagles Peak and I can vouch that this kind of incredible learning has occurred with all the 20 students that I “oversee”. Some students are enrolled in on-line writing tutorials, writing the most sophisticated kinds of papers--book reviews, persuasive essays, research papers, short stories, and memoirs--as early as the 5th grade. Others are enrolled in Great Books tutorials where students at the high school level are reading, discussing, reflecting on, and writing about the political philosophies of the likes of Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Homer, that most people just read synopses on, and those, in college. Some have pursued learning art or music classes from the experts in their fields. I love what goes on here: studious, dedicated students and parents engaged in all kinds of rich learning experiences and loving them!

We have benefited greatly from personalized learning programs. The "design efforts" of parents and students to create solid and global learning programs are impressive. Repeatedly, I have witnessed kids working beyond the conventional textbook and worksheet approaches--doing higher level thinking by working with interactive computer software (like Riverdeep) taking science and mathematics at the levels all teachers dream of taking their students to, but rarely have the time to do . Moms and their students have dissected all kinds of animals in their kitchens, employing the expertise of books and human specialists to inform their students. After learning phonics, little children are reading real, living books to practice their reading proficiency instead of the boring textbook fare or readers that the classrooms need to use for manageability's sake. Moms can listen to their little ones practice reading for hours--and can easily identify recurring errors to be addressed. How many errors are caught at this level!

Just as the free market allows for flexibility and ingenuity in providing goods and services, so do the personalized learning charter schools. If charter schools become compelled to look and behave just like the conventional schools, we would squelch the American spirit of ingenuity and creativity.

Personalized instructional approaches--the classical method, the Charlotte Mason method, the Unschooling of John Holt, the Montessori method, the Unit Studies, and Apprenticeships--are alive and flourishing in personalized learning charter schools. These are good for kids. Educators know that vast learning is accomplished by tailoring education to student needs and interests. It is not logistically possible to do that in the classroom. Personalized learning charter schools provide that unique opportunity.

It is wonderful to be able to return to the methods of learning that Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson used. Perhaps we will return to their greater level of thinking and creating! We can't go wrong continuing the pursuit of personalized learning. It is so worth it, for students, families, and the community at large.

NAME: Tim Sherwood
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak - Riverside Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
After teaching in the California Public School system for 13 years I sadly saw the job-title change from "teacher of subject area I loved - music" to "teacher of HOW TO PASS STANDARDIZED TESTING..." alas, when the opportunity to work with home-schooling families made itself available I jumped at the chance and can honestly say that I have seen the valuable, positive benefits to children from this personalized learning approach. I've seen students thrive, both academically and personally and it is obvious they now love school, feel successful, and actively participate, rather than resist their educational process. I truly believe that it is a privilege to work in this area of education and I am honored to be a part of a school that can offer this depth and breadth of choice for students and parents.

NAME: Stephanie De Jong
GROUP: Teacher (Educational Specialist)
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
Deeply concerned best describes my experience teaching in the traditional public school setting for the past five years. I noticed several students were falling through the cracks even with the best efforts and intentions of the school. However, I was a bit skeptical when I first heard about personalized learning. Would students really be better served in a one on one personalized learning environment without a “traditional teacher?”

Having now worked in a personalized learning environment for two years I can unequivocally say YES. Yes, students are better served in a one-on-one personalized learning environment tailored to their own learning styles, interests and pacing. Yes, student’s personal needs are met and they no longer fall through the educational “cracks.” Yes, students still learn and receive a quality education even without a “traditional” classroom setting and teacher.

In fact, I am thrilled with the personalized attention each student receives. I am amazed at how much enrichment students gain in their education. I am delighted that students have the opportunity to excel and succeed in a wide variety of educational areas. As I discuss with the students topics they have learned I am pleased with the level of understanding and learning they have acquired.

Based on my experience, I believe that offering a program of personalized learning is a vital component to supporting some children’s educational needs and making sure no child is left behind.

NAME: Beth Kurtz
GROUP: Teacher (Education Specialist) and Parent
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
As an educator and a parent I have seen and experienced the value of personalized learning in education. Five years ago my oldest son was struggling to keep up with his peers. Actually he was fine it was I who was struggling with the possibility that a child of mine could be a late bloomer. Even with two years of preschool my son who seemed so well rounded just could not make out the letters and numbers he was being taught in kindergarten. As he entered first grade though he made great strives and was beginning to "get it". He was finally able to tell me the names of the letters and the sounds. I was quite impressed but his first grade teacher was not. She said my son was almost a year behind the rest of her first graders.

Well, after much discussion my husband and I decided to homeschool to help him catch up and save his self esteem. I resigned from my teaching job and became a stay at home mom. We didn't know about personalized learning at the time and ended up with an independent study program at the local elementary. After this year of homeschooling my son returned to public school happy and adjusted. I was contemplating the idea of going back to school full time as my son was in school and my daughter would be in Kindergarten that fall. With a six month old baby I was not very eager nor excited about going back to full time teaching. Then my neighbor who had just began homeschooling her daughter told me about a charter school that offered personalized learning. She described how a facilitator visited her monthly and provided resources that fit her child's learning style and personality. As it turned out I inquired about a teaching position with this charter school. With my own experience as both a credentialed teacher and a previous homeschooling parent I was hired. This new career allowed for flexibility for a working mom. I have worked with numerous students who have been very successful students because of personalized learning. I truly believe that that one year of homeschooling my son gave him the confidence he needed. He actually gets excited about school projects and enjoys school.

NAME: Catherine Hanson
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
Personalized Learning has been invaluable to me as a teacher. I supervise 28 children and help their parents provide a well rounded education geared to the various abilities of each child. I help them be aware of the state standards and how to implement them into their curriculum. This way, each child is learning at his or her own level and building on their strengths and interests and helping them overcome their weaknesses. Having parent support and involvement gives each child the continuity of home and school learning, with a credentialed teacher assessing work and giving suggestions how to overcome problem areas. This has been a wonderful choice for students with learning disabilities for they get one on one help as well as for gifted students who are not held back in their eagerness to learn and grow. They have individualized education plans so that each child may grow to his or her own potential.

NAME: Amy Vahid
GROUP: Teacher and Parent
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Corona
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
I serve as both a teacher with Eagles Peak Charter School and I myself home educate my three children, so I can see the benefits from both sides. As a parent, I see the tremendous benefits of one on one education, from being able to focus on the strengths of my children while at the same time, help them excel at their own pace. My 7th grader is taking two high school level courses, which he would not be able to in a traditional setting. Why hold him back if he is ready to excel. Children do not fit in a "one size fits all" box. Why should their education be any different?

As a teacher I have seen the benefits of personalized education. Many students who were "labeled" at their traditional schools with ADD or other disabilities, and many times are falling behind in school, leave their schools and come to ours. As soon as they receive the one on one education from their parents, not only do they suddenly excel, by not only catching up, but also exceed their previous school's grade requirement, but also their falsely diagnosed problems simply go away.

As a society of consumers we demand choices. Shouldn't this be true of our children's education? Education will not improve unless choices are offered. If there is a monopoly, there is no incentive to improve, but if choices are allowed, not only will our families be free to decide how their children will be educated, but our existing system will improve. Many families like the traditional school setting. Many families prefer home education. Many families prefer a combination of both. Why not offer all of the above? We can only hurt our society by maintaining an educational monopoly, but we have much to gain by allowing the freedom of choice for all those involved. Who is this really about--politics, or our children. We must always keep this in the forefront of our minds.

NAME: Katherine Rogers
GROUP: Parent and Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
My name is Katherine Rogers. I have been a teacher for 10 years. I have taught in the public and private sector. When it came time for my oldest daughter to attend school, I debated over many possibilities. She is a very bright child and I was afraid that she would be bored in public kindergarten. However, she is very social and I didn't want her to miss out on the valuable experience of making friends and learning how to behave in a classroom setting. Private school was too expensive. I had a friend who went through Eagles Peak Charter School. I researched it and found that it met my daughter's needs perfectly. She was able to be challenged with material that was appropriate for her. She was able to succeed at her own pace. She was able to pursue the subjects that specifically interested her. She was also able to attend a co-op with other children who had a personalized learning system. She loves it and looks forward to learning each day.

Once I became an advocate for the school and personalized learning, I wanted to contribute to it. I decided to become a teacher with the school. This has been absolutely wonderful. I am able to stay at home with my children, teach my children, and help other moms to feel like they can do it, too! I feel that my most important roles are to help educate parents on curriculum, keep them informed on any new information that arises, and to encourage them along the way. I feel like I have the best of both worlds and that my children greatly benefit because of it.

NAME: Meredith Galdeano
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
Hi,
I am an educational facilitator at Julian Charter School and I have seen some amazing things happen with my students and that is why I think that personalized learning is fabulous! I have had young students who were not getting the help they needed in regular school settings and were giving up on school make dramatic attitude changes and excel at their studies. The reason for this is because the way that they learned best was not the way that the teachers were teaching. This is one of the benefits of personalized learning. Much has been said and researched regarding "multiple intelligences" and it is really not possible to reach all of these "intelligences" in the classroom. With personalized learning the child can be taught all his subjects in the way that he/she learns best for all subjects, not just one or two. This causes the child to be more successful, raise his/her self esteem, and be an intrinsically motivated student.

Another benefit for personalized learning is that students can be taught using "higher order thinking" questions. Instead of just having basic comprehension questions asked, students are taught to synthesize and evaluate the material they are learning. This is a skill that they will use through out there lives and will help them to succeed beyond their K-12 school years.

I love working for a personalized learning school because I feel that I am helping to shape our future citizens in ways that will help them to be wonderful contributors to our society. Students are able to spend equal amounts of time in all subjects rather than just focusing on Math and Language Arts. I believe that neglecting subjects such as Social Studies is going to have a great impact on our society in the future. If we don't know what mistakes were made in past history, how are we going to make sure we don't make them again. In regards to teaching Science, we rely on future scientists to help to cure disease, pollution, etc. Our students need to be encouraged to pursue careers in this field as well.
Thank-you

NAME: Nancy Branchaud
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Corona
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
As a public school teacher for several years I was frustrated by many things: I could not provide all that each student needed in six hours per day; I could not choose the curriculum that would best suit each child’s learning styles and abilities; and, worst of all, I could not adequately provide support to each family. Through our individualized home study program I can facilitate the learning of each child, and watch the children and parents flourish.

Personalized learning programs in the home allow all students to succeed. Because the parents, in conjunction with professional teachers, choose the curriculum appropriate for each child’s learning style and abilities, students can work at the pace that will create enjoyment and successes. Those who struggle have the one-on-one support of their parents, and those who are advanced, and often bored in the traditional classroom, can work at their own ability levels. The children also have many opportunities to interact with peers through co-op programs that provide the classes which are sometimes difficult to teach at home, such as science and drama.

A well-rounded education seems to be a thing of the past in the traditional public school system. That is not so with our personalized learning charter school. Each child studies language arts, science, math and history, but can also explore areas of interest, such as art, drama, specialized sports and technology. There are countless options available to the families and every child wins!

NAME: Gail Kemp Collins
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Murrieta
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
After teaching a wide variety of children in Southern California, ages 7-18, I have been able to see how effectively a charter school can provide a successful path for certain students. During this past year, I have seen adult students who had no place in public education strive toward their dreams. I have helped frustrated parents navigate and educational path especially for their child and his/her individual needs. Not all students are successful in public school. Not everyone can afford a private education. The charter school system is necessary to ensure success for ALL of California's students.

NAME: Letty Rising
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Temecula
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
Though I have been a teacher for Eagles Peak for a very short time, it was immediately noticeable as to how effective the model of personalized learning can be for the students I see. As a teacher in the public school system, I saw that schools generally cater to the "middle of the road" child. The children on either extreme--needing extra support or gifted--are lost to the wayside. What is interesting is that it seems that most of my students are comprised of those extremes. Many of them have stories of struggling in school, either to catch up, or to move ahead, which is often not honored in the traditional school setting. It is so exciting seeing the children happy and interested in learning. I love to see 4th graders inventing intricate machines, and 12th graders creating power point presentations about a topic of study that was learned. It is my hope that the educational system continues to embrace the personalized learning approach, and that education in general evolves towards a more individualized philosophy, whether the education is in the home, or at school. Many of my students would not be succeeding without a school like Eagles Peak, where students are met at their level, and progress at a speed that works for them.

NAME: Kirk Beck
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagle's Peak
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
I have been a professional teacher for over twenty years, both in public and private schools. I presently am teaching mathematics at Loma Vista Middle School. I have always believed that parent involvement in the teaching process is critical to success. Our experience with Eagle's Peak has enhanced greatly the learning opportunities for our son, Christian. We have seen him increase in academic understanding and the wealth of opportunities have greatly broadened his perception of the world. Personalized learning puts the emphasis where it belongs--on the individual student. All students are special and different. All learn best when the home in greatly involved. Eagle's Peak supports the family very well. Our son has greatly benefited.

NAME: Holly Wolf
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
Hi, my name is Holly Wolf and I had been a public educator for 10 years. When I made the decision to stay home with my three children I was excited to be a full-time mom and also disappointed I would not be working as a teacher. I was approached to become an ES with Eagles Peak. It has been an eye-opening experience for me. I have worked with a student who has been able to achieve academic excellence while pursuing her dream as an ice-skater and equestrian. She is schooled in the morning and then rides for two hours a day and skates 2- 3 hours a day. Without the opportunity she has received from Eagles Peak and her mom home schooling her this would not be possible.

I also work with a number of children who are able to pursue hobbies, activities, sports and hands-on learning that is only possible through home schooling. I have also worked with students who were not successful in the public school for a number of different reasons. Home schooling has allowed then to get back on track academically because mom has been able to teach them in a manner conducive to the student's learning style. When these kids begin to succeed again their self esteem and behavior sky rocket. This has been a great year and a half and I have been telling many moms of the choice that they have in home schooling. Please continue to allow this to be a choice for families in California.

NAME: Amy Heiman
GROUP: ES, teacher
SCHOOL: Eagle's Peak
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Murrieta
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
As an Educational Specialist for Eagle's Peak Charter School I have seen first hand the creative and wonderful ways students can learn. I began teaching because I loved to teach kids how to be creative, imaginative, and that learning was fun! I wanted my students to become life long learners. I wanted them to come to my class every day because school was fun, little did they know that they were learning so much along the way. Then came the big push in standardized testing and my job became all about how to get students to score well. Students were constantly having to try to decide on the correct answer from a list of four and fill in a bubble. I saw a big change in students and their desire to be at school and do their best.

I was given the opportunity to work with parents who wanted to be able to teach their kids the way that worked best for their student's individual needs. They are given the opportunity to use the world as a classroom by going on field trips, experimenting, reading great literature and discussing it, using the computer...the creative opportunities that personalized learning allows is endless! Students get to see the meaning behind their schooling; that school isn't about learning to fill in a bubble, it's about using one's mind and learning to think!

I am grateful for the opportunities personalized learning allows for students, parents, and teachers!

NAME: Dana Stenzel
GROUP: Teacher-Educational Facilitator
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Palm Desert
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
I have been teaching with the Julian Charter School for three years. This has been one of the most positive work environments that I have ever worked in. I have found that the staff and administration are extremely supportive of the work that I do in the "field" with my students.

I have overseen the education of over 100 students during my three years with Julian Charter School. During my three years, I have had students of all ages and abilities. It is very exciting to see these children learning in ways that are customized for them.

During the past two years, I have had the pleasure to work with a Limited English Proficient student who was 17 when she began the program. She dropped out of traditional high school because she was involved with a negative peer group. This student had also recently given birth to developmentally challenged identical twin girls. I watched this 17 year old mother of two, work diligently to complete her education while attending to the needs of her daughters. I encouraged her to continue her education, despite her daughters overwhelming medical and social needs. On June 1, 2003, I will have the honor and privilege to watch this exceptionally hard working student accept her diploma as the first member of her family to ever graduate high school. Our individualized program played a great part in the educational success of this student. She would never have been able to attend traditional school or night school to earn her diploma. She would most likely never have achieved her goal of a high school diploma had Julian Charter School not been in existence. This is incredible.

She is just one example of the educational successes I have experienced through my employment with Julian Charter School. I feel honored to have been able to assist in the education of this student as well the rest of my students. All are wonderful children who are being greatly served through Independent Study/Home School Charter programs.

NAME: Kim Ciabattini
GROUP: teacher
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Temecula
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
As a facilitator for a local charter school, I have seen many positive learning experiences in the home environment. I have several students that have shown tremendous growth using a variety of teaching methods that might not have otherwise been used in a traditional school setting. I have three kindergartners on my roster that are all reading ~ and have been reading since the second month of the school year. That is due to our wide range of curriculum choices, as well as the one-on-one teaching they receive at home. I don’t know too many public classrooms that do much more than teach the alphabet sounds until November when they start reading three letter CVC words. My Julian kindergartners were reading books in October!! Hurray for alternatives to education. The classroom setting is not for everyone ~ we need to give the children and parents a choice.

NAME: Nichola McMullen
GROUP: Teacher (Facilitator)
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Murrieta
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside
I do not have a specific success story but just an overall experience that alternative schools are great. I taught in public schools for 10 years and never thought that I would be involved with a charter school, especially for home schoolers! My eyes were opened wide to all of the great experiences and learning environments these kids were involved in. Many of my students were not succeeding in a traditional school and our home school/independent study program was very helpful and successful for these students. It is not just for the kid who may be behind, but also for that extremely bright kid who does not fit in and is too far ahead to interact with other kids.

I have one student who came to me as an 11th grader (should have been in 12th) and he was not allowed to return to public school. He struggled at first, but now that he has found his groove, so to speak, he is doing much better. He will graduate next year and go on to a trade school. He would not be in school at this moment if this type of program was not offered.

I do not plan on going back to teaching in the traditional public school setting. Now that I have seen how flexible and creative teaching can be in a different environment, I do not want to go back!!!!

NAME: Douglas L. Thompson
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Perris
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
As an educational facilitator with the Julian Charter School I find that I am able to offer students an individualized approach to their educational needs. I'm able to individually assess their strengths and weaknesses and provide materials and lesson plans that address these. I'm able to meet with parents and engage with them in a truly collaborative effort to help their student meet the state content standards and develop a personal interest in the learning process. I have found that the home schooling approach followed by Julian has offered many of the students entrusted to my care to succeed and find motivation where little existed previously. Also I have found that the brighter students are able to accelerate and explore.

NAME: Donna Coppersmith
GROUP: Teacher/Ed. Facilitator
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Rancho Mirage
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
Over the past 30+ years, I have had a variety of opportunities working with children, from teaching in the classroom to administrating a school. Because of back surgery, I chose not to re-enter the daily grind of classroom teaching or administration. I was given the awesome opportunity to work for Julian Charter School as an Educational Facilitator. I am able to order curriculum that tailor meets the needs of homeschooled families as well as state standards requirements. I give assignments and collaborate with families so that instruction techniques also tailor the needs of their children. Every single one of my families are dedicated and committed to developing their child's maximum potential and growing them positively in every way. Several of my families co-teach in areas of interest and giftedness, such as physical education, science and art. Because the families do not have the "extra" constraints that a traditional school demands, such as heavy homework loads and projects, they have more quality time together as a family to "play" together, they also have the time to develop other talents and giftedness in their children. I was skeptical when I first heard about the "charter" school program, but I have to say that I have truly changed my opinions about this system. It is a wonderful alternative to the traditional way of educating children that absolutely works and is an awesome benefit to our society!

NAME: Laurie Goltara
GROUP: Teacher/Education Specialist and Parent
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Murrieta
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
What a difference a year makes. As I complete my first year as an Education Specialist for Eagles Peak, I am amazed at much I have learned about individualized instruction and the fabulous world of alternative education. A year ago I had never heard of Eagles Peak and I knew very little about charter schools. I had been in the public schools for years and only heard negative reports about charter schools and home education. However, as a special education teacher, I was often frustrated that I could spend 6 hours a day with a group of children yet still not be able to meet all their needs. I needed to spend time with them one on one for them to truly make the growth they were capable of. I needed to change the curriculum I was using to fit each student’s strengths and weaknesses. But, unfortunately, it just wasn’t possible in a public school. Yet what other choice did the parents have?? Wasn’t public school the best we had to offer students?

A year ago, a friend of mine introduced me to the unique approach Eagles Peak has towards children, families and education. Parents and teachers combine their energy and effort to help children succeed. The children don't need to fit into a "program." We create an academic environment that is unique to their needs, abilities and interests. Is your child working above grade level in math? Great! We'll find a math curriculum that can meet them at their level and challenge them into the next. Does your child struggle to write? Not a problem. We can develop a writing program that will help your child grow and mature as a young writer. I love being an Education Specialist because I can truly help families and watch children succeed. Every child in our school has all the time and attention they need to develop their talents and abilities. How can any child be left behind with a personalized learning plan? No child can be left behind when instruction is tailor made to fit a child’s needs. No child can be left behind when parents and teachers collaborate and work together. What more could we ask for?

My husband and I have made the decision to educate our son at home next year with Eagles Peak. I look forward to developing a personalized learning plan for my own son as a Kindergartener. I want him to be excited about learning and I know that individualizing his instruction will be the key ingredient to creating a love for learning. He already has shown so many unique talents and abilities. With Eagles Peak, we will be able to develop those talents to their fullest. I can’t wait! :-)

NAME: Rick Hoffmann
GROUP: Teacher/Ed. Facilitator
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Hemet
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
As a classroom teacher for 15 years, I have worked with all kinds of children. Most do very well in a traditional classroom setting. This past year however, I also began working as an educational facilitator for Dehesa Charter School. In just this one year I have worked with approximately forty children, many of whom, for one reason or another, would not have attended public school. These children would, in my opinion, have fallen through the cracks and very possibly would never have graduated from High School. There are the students who have a parent with a chronic, serious illness; teenage girls who are either pregnant, or have a small child to care for; students who have fallen behind and were told by their counselor "you will never graduate from High School", (and yes, that does happen). There are also students who are gifted in one or more areas, and who become bored in a classroom. They are better served by the individualized curriculum that a Personalized Learning charter school is able to offer them. While I do not believe that charter schools will ever replace traditional schools, I certainly believe that there is a need for both. It was determined long ago that there are many different methods of learning. That being the case, there are definitely many different ways of teaching. Personalized Learning charter schools provide an invaluable service to our children by recognizing that and offering an opportunity to meet the needs of each individual student.

NAME: Nerni Miller
GROUP: parent and teaching facilitator
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Temecula
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Riverside County
We began homeschooling our seven year old son in Kindergarten. Though we are both involved in public education, we felt strongly about homeschooling our own children. At first we were a bit concerned that they get enough interaction with other children, but as we have found out, home learners can sometimes get so busy with activities that we have to limit what we do. The opportunities out there are limitless. We have learned how to balance an approach to learning that is academically challenging and child friendly. Our son is a gifted student in science. He is very inquisitive and always, without exception, asks the next question in a string of science concepts. He quickly figures out the main point and is ready for in-depth study of a concept. We've allowed him to explore whatever area of science he finds interesting. It would be a waste of his time to be in a class with other first graders learning that plants need light, water and soil to grow. We've already gone through how plants make food, hybrid plants, plant structure for various habitats and biomes etc. On the other end of the spectrum, he has really struggled with reading. By teaching him at home, he has continued to grow as a scientist, but have also been able to provide much needed one on one instruction in reading. He has blossomed in both areas as a result. We look forward to adding our second son next year. He will be in Kindergarten and will join us in all of our science and history journeys, while learning the basics in math and language.

As a teaching facilitator with Julian Charter School, I have seen so many students, who would have been left behind in a traditional classroom setting, emerge as solid capable students, once given an opportunity to learn in an environment that is conducive to their style of learning. One of my students has severe diagnosed ADD. So bad is his attention that he can only concentrate on one subject for about 15 minutes before losing focus. As an eighth grader that would have been immediate failure in a traditional classroom. He did indeed fail all of his classes in sixth grade before coming to Julian. As an independent study student he has learned how to better focus his attention and to accomplish what must be done within a short period of time. In addition it has given him time to pursue Tae Kwon Do. This sport has been proven to help ADD kids focus. He has received the level of Jr. Black belt with in 2 years. He would never have been able to accomplish this with hours of undone homework. Personalized Learning has certainly worked for him.

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San Bernardino County
NAME: Gayle Bowen
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Hesperia
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

Personalized learning offers students who drop out of mainstream school programs another alternative. One of my former mainstream students quit school because he was making so much money working with his father, that he did not think it was important to get a diploma. Short story, I explained the Excelsior Program to him, and it works with his schedule, he is going to graduate now, and wants to enroll at VVC in the fall.

As a facilitator, it gives me the opportunity to teach for mastery. Smaller workshop sizes help me to help each student on a more individual basis.

No Child Gets Left Behind fits in a personalized learning environment because we can meet their specific needs with an individualized program.

One of my students who was getting beat up and intimidated at a local Jr. High School is allowed to participate in many on campus activities and feels safer here. He has made such a good impression on high school facilitators that they also allow him to participate in their workshops.

NAME: Ben Smith
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Hesperia
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

Lisa Lopez, the mother of two Excelsior students, states "This school has allowed my kids to make up lost credits at their own pace. They have been removed from negative peer influences which harmed them academically. They are now enrolling in college and will finish high school early with prerequisites completed for their college certificate program."

Mrs. Llanes has a son with a limiting medical condition. He is susceptible to infections and the family keeps him away from school for health reasons. Her son, Carlos, has thrived at Excelsior. He has all of his books, a computer, and lots of parental involvement at home. He comes for his monthly appointments with stacks of work done and eagerly browses the shelves for more books.

NAME: Linda Towles
GROUP: Special Education Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Apple Valley
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

Just wanted to let you know that the Custodial/Maintenance program has had a "life-changing" impact on my student, Francisco. Because of Dan and Debi's mentoring, Francisco's attendance has improved along with his self-confidence. I have also noticed that Francisco is sitting at the front of my class and is no longer afraid to ask questions. I am very pleased and encouraged with the positive changes I am seeing in Francisco. My thanks to Dan Guttierez and Debi Paramo.

NAME: Marilyn Dufresne
GROUP: Teacher (Reading Lab Technician)
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Adelanto
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

Rebekah S., who is an 8th grader, started at Excelsior in August. At that time her reading assessment showed her reading at the 1st grade level. Her mother was very determined to bring Rebekah's reading level up to grade level. Rebekah began the Taylor reading program in the reading lab at the end of August and always put in a minimum of 4 hours a week. In October she was re-assessed and her reading level improved to 4.5! Again, she continued to come into the reading lab and was assessed again in December with her reading level moving to 6.5. Just this week, Rebekah was re-assessed again and her reading level has moved to 9.5!! We are very proud of her and more importantly, Rebekah is proud of herself.

NAME: Ronnie D. Henderson
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

I have two students from the same family that have made incredible strides in reading this year. Deanna T. went form a 3.5 reading level to a 9.5! Her brother Victor went from a 5.5 to a 10.5! These kids are excelling in our program, and needless to say, their parents could not be happier.

NAME: Robert Plumb
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Apple Valley
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

I have one student who came from Silverado who in his freshman year, only got 35 credits. He came here in last September. In his first semester here at Excelsior, he finished 68 credits! At first I was skeptical, but at each appointment, I verified his work in his notebook, and gave him a verbal assessment of the material he said he had accomplished. He almost always was able to respond sufficiently for me to believe he had actually done the work he claimed to have. When he took his finals for Geography, Health, Biography and CIS1 here with me, he passed them as well with at least a B each time. So in the short space of five months, he not only got caught up with where he should have been, he surpassed them! Having the flexibility I mentioned allowed him to do this.

One of the reasons I think a personalized learning program is so great is the flexibility it offers the student. For example, a student with a personalized learning program can start one subject, say at 9:00 in the morning, and work on it as long as they like. For me, when I was in high school one of the things that frustrated me so much was that classes were too short! Let' say you had first period math. First there would be the announcements by the school over the intercom, then the teacher would take roll, then he would have his announcements. After about 10-15 minutes he would finally be able to get to the lesson for the day. He would lecture or explain the concept for another 20-25 minutes, and finally I would get to work on my assignment. By this time, I only had 10-15 minutes left to work on it before the next class. I struggled with math and by the time I figured out how to do the assignment, the bell would ring and I would have to go to the next class, losing the train of thought I had or any 'ah-hah, that's how you do it,' realizations that I may have had. Sure, I could go home that night and do the assignment as homework, but it would take me 20-30 minutes on my own to get my train of thought back. A student with a personalized learning program can start the math, or any other subject, at their own schedule, work at their own pace, and when they do get an 'ah-hah, that's how you do it,' realization, they can do the work right then and there without being interrupted to go to the next class. I wish I would have had this opportunity when I was in high school. Perhaps then I would not have struggled with math.

NAME: Marie Silva
GROUP: Special Education Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Adelanto
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

The personalized learning program has been extremely successful for the special education students. The one to one teaching and learning at home has increased academics one or two grade levels in Reading, Math, and written language. There is no better learning environment for most of these students, than to be taught at home.

NAME: Nyala Wristen
GROUP: Mentor Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County

As a certified teacher in California I have found that Excelsior has been the best work environment in my 15 years of teaching. The parent’s full participation in the education process makes my job virtually stress free. I feel the students understand what they are expected to do and know that I am available to help them should they have any difficulties. They complete more work than in the traditional school setting because they don’t have to work at the pace of slower students. Many of my students are motivated to complete their work early so they can get a jump on college. Even students who experienced problems with their education in traditional schools can achieve success here at Excelsior with our modified curriculum for special education students, reading lab, math lab, and on-campus workshops to aid them in achieving their educational goals.

NAME: Kimberly Hooper
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I support personalized learning. As a teacher I work with children who are at different educational levels. This approach lets students work at their level and have more opportunities for successes.

I have been involved with the educational system for 6 years. As a teacher I support personalized learning. I work with students at different educational levels. This approach gives students the opportunity to learn at their level and not fall through the cracks of the public school system.

NAME: Michelle L. Lane
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Rancho Cucamonga
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I don't believe anyone would disagree that education should take a position of top priority for parents of school-age children. With this in mind, every effort needs to be made to insure that every child is able to reach his highest potential for success. However, not all children learn in the same way. Many are able to succeed through traditional methods of classroom teaching, but unfortunately, many are not. Personalized learning enables ALL students to have the opportunity to acquire a good education.

I have witnessed many positives to personalized learning. One is closer family ties. Traditionally, schools separate siblings by grades and therefore their time together is limited often to only early mornings, evenings, and weekends. Throw in extracurricular activities and time spent with family becomes even less. Studies have shown that strong family structure is important for a child's self esteem. Through personalized learning, the whole family is involved in the learning process. Moms and Dads share the teaching as well as older siblings teach younger siblings. The closeness that is developed through this time together is invaluable.

Second, students can learn at their own pace. In some subjects, students are able to excel and move rapidly to more advance and challenging material. For other subjects, students may need to spend extra time in order to understand the concepts. I have a student who struggles with Algebra. Her father has been working with her at a slower pace which may take them through the summer. By taking this extra time she is understanding math instead of becoming frustrated and developing an attitude that she isn't able to "do math."

Third, personalized learning allows students to pursue special talents and interests. This is continually seen in areas of piano, ice skating, ballet, gymnastics, drama, speech and debate, etc. This is also extended into areas of academic interests such as writing and government. I have several students who are already at young ages writing books and others who are involved in political activities at different government levels.

We live in a very competitive, ever changing world. Students need the best education possible whether it be in a traditional classroom, small group instruction, or personalized learning. Only through offering families alternatives will ALL children receive their highest potential for success to meet the demands of their future.

NAME: Catherine Owens
GROUP: Teacher / Education Specialist
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Redlands
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino County
As an educator new to the personalized learning model, I've been amazed at its results. In the past year, I've been able to provide individualized learning experiences to each student. This is revolutionary after coming out of a classroom in which a standard program was taught to all whether or not it was appropriate. In the personalized learning model, each student is challenged and supported. They are not made to feel as if they are slipping behind, nor are they bored by the repetitive nature of instruction they have already mastered. Both the struggling student and the high achieving student's needs are met in this type of learning environment.

This program also offers the opportunity and flexibility to enrich traditional learning with hands on activities and experiences. Finally, it offers safety and peace of mind to parents as an alternative to an increasingly disturbing school environment. I've had several junior high school students describe their reason for attending our school as a fear of physical harm at their local school. As we think about our goal of No Child Left Behind, it makes sense to offer personalized learning to our students. This is a program that reaches each child and addresses their own needs on an individual basis. It offers them not just a chance to learn and grow, but a chance to truly unfurl their wings and soar to the heights of their greatest potential.

NAME: Diane Robson
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Crestline
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
As an educational specialist for Eagles Peak Charter School I work with parents who are home schooling their children. These parents demonstrate a great deal of commitment and dedication to their children by diligently working to provide a quality educational experience to them. I serve as a resource for the parents and I also document the areas in which the children are progressing educationally. Traditional public school cannot meet the needs of every child or every family. Personalized learning opportunities help to ensure that every child has the opportunity to learn in an environment to which he or she is best suited.

NAME: Jenna Scherrer
GROUP: Teacher - ES
SCHOOL: Eagle's Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Yucaipa
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I have been working for Eagle's Peak for two full years now and I have seen how dedicated they are to helping kids who choose this form of education. For a variety of reasons, from medical and emotional to work related, kids need different types of educational options. This charter school and the personalized learning it encourages are helping those kids. With dedication from our charter employees and the parents and students we service, we will continue to be successful in helping educate the students of today.

NAME: Terry Bates
GROUP: Teacher/Facilitator
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I have been with Excelsior for eight years. I have witnessed the school grow from 50 students in 1995 to over 1,000 students in 2002-2003. We must be doing something right!

The unique part of the school is the individualized attention that every student receives. Each student is assessed for prior knowledge and ability, including their future plans and personal experiences. Their curriculum is designed around that information. Each student and parent is put together with a facilitator to be an educational team that works for the best interests of the student.

Because of the personalized learning taking place, I have seen students make 180 degree turnarounds in their attitudes towards learning and life! I have seen students become excellent learners when they are not competing against an entire class, but only themselves. I have seen students grow and blossom with a new sense of self-esteem, because the educational team believes in them!

Excelsior is similar to a college campus in that students have choices to attend workshops on campus or totally work in independent study mode. The workshops are designed to assist and support learning that takes place independently. The campus is also the home of ASB and clubs, a reading lab and math lab that are staffed by caring professionals.

That, I believe, is the biggest difference. We care. Because we are not dealing with large classrooms of students, but students and parents as individuals, it makes all the difference in the world!

NAME: David Pike
GROUP: teacher (facilitator)
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I work with many students who are not well served in the traditional education setting. Students who are not successful in the traditional "assembly line" model of school often succeed in our Personalized Learning program.

Our Personalized Learning Program coupled with our parent/student/facilitator learning teams tend to foster greater student success.

NAME: David Pike
GROUP: teacher (facilitator)
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I truly enjoy my days at work. I enjoy the freedom to utilize an assortment of tools and techniques to help our clients achieve success in the academic pursuits. I enjoy the challenge of developing individualized learning plans for each client. I appreciate the valuable experience I am gathering daily. I like to see kids succeed. I feel that our school provides a service that is missing in the traditional school setting. Instead of "mass production" style education, I feel I can provide each student and parent the individualized attention they deserve. This is America, isn't it? Land of the Free? Rugged individualism? The New Frontier? Think about it...it just seems to make sense, doesn't it?

NAME: Ben Smith
GROUP: Facilitator/Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Hesperia
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I have several successes to recount.

Student Successes #1
One of my 7th grade students through diligent effort improved his reading score from grade 1.5 to grade 8.5 in the span of one academic school year. He did this through reading at home and attending our school reading lab daily.

Student Successes #2
Another one of my students has made tremendous improvement in the area of social development. Due to trauma suffered as a young child this student rarely speaks to teachers or other authority figures. During classes he will now raise his hand and ask to be called upon to speak while all eyes and ears are upon him. His parents are overjoyed. This has been accomplished through slowly shaping his behavior by rewarding him through approximations of the end goal. It has taken him approximately 6 months before he raised his hand for the first time.

Student Successes #3-7
The trained eyes of some of our wonderful and experienced staff have helped to identify many students who were falling through the cracks due to hidden disabilities. In my caseload of 30 students 5 have been identified as having special needs that were not while attending traditional schools. Having a child identified as having a disability is a difficult situation to deal with for parents. However, once the initial shock has worn off there is a sense of relief. These 5 families have moved on with modifications and all have improved their academic successes.

Student Success #8
A high school student who is now with me is achieving remarkable success due to his family and our unique program. He had been receiving failing grades and was approximately one year behind at his last school. The absence of negative peer interaction and the ability to complete special projects has turned his academic situation around completely. He now receives mostly "A"s. And he has earned them! He initially produced poor work and his father and I raised the bar for him. He soared over it and now holds himself to a very high standard of academic work.

NAME: Olivia Luna
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
Student Success Stories in Personalized Learning
David Cleveland came to Excelsior with an attendance record that had his parent before the SARB Board and in court because he was not going to go to school where his needs were not being met…His reading and math level were 4 years behind and school work was nothing that thrilled him.. Reluctantly, he took his assignments home and now 2 years later ,he is loving it and asked to attend the workshops…His reading and math levels are within one year of grade level, and climbing…He was featured in the latest issue of Excelsior Kids…Attitude 100% turn around.

Lynn Stephenson, an adult student, came to EEC with a decision to turn her life around and begin by earning a HS Diploma…She’s been helped, encouraged and will be graduating 2003..She was able to attend college classes and get the VVC child day care…It hasn’t been easy but EEC PHILOSOPHY HAS PULLED HER THROUGH. She’s convinced she couldn’t have done it anywhere else. She ‘ll go on to VVC with strong goals for her success.

Latoya Bass’s father came to the counselor and shared that this girl was so angry all the time that she made everyone miserable intently…She was very successful in her studies and counseling sessions helped her appreciate her assets and work on anger management…She will graduate 2003 and even got a job to defray her grad expenses that’ll include prom etc. Father shares. there’s peace at home and we see her smiling a lot more.

(Counselors at EEC are not bogged down with huge case loads and are available to meet student’s needs promptly…)

Jesus and Luis are cousins. Their parents are Spanish speaking. The cousins like to hang out…Both were expelled from the Regular High school because they got mixed up with drugs…Parents were turned down by other HS and private schools and came to EEC ..Of course they were welcomed here. Bilingual counseling was made available to the parents…Luis was Special Ed and he was put into that program…Both boys continue in counseling, have left the drug scene and are returning to a successful academic experience @ EEC.

NAME: Tom Munoz
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
Three of my Spanish students met with me today to tell me what they think about the quality of Excelsior Education Center. This is what they told me:

There is more personalized teaching.
They enjoy attending small sized workshops
They like the fact that they can graduate earlier if they work hard
They have more field trips and opportunities to travel

NAME: Mary Clement
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Excelsior Education Center
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Victorville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Bernardino
I have had several students’ reading level improve by as much as four grade levels in one year. We are able to meet students’ individual needs by creating a plan designed just for them.

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San Diego County

NAME: Sandee Bach
GROUP: Teacher (Lead Consultant)
SCHOOL: The Learning Choice Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Jamul
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Personalized learning is a viable and important alternative to traditional education. As a public school teacher, home schooling parent, now a teacher/consultant working in a charter school, I can attest to the importance of having personalized learning as an option to parents. In an educational system where one size fits all, it is refreshing to allow those children whose needs fit outside the box the opportunity to work in an environment that fits their personal needs and pacing.

I worked in the classroom for four years as an educator. I remember always teaching to the middle of the class, feeling like I never adequately met the needs of the those with special needs.

When I had my own children, I decided to stay home and school my own children. My boys struggled with reading in the beginning, but my oldest now scores in the 99% in reading and the 95% in math. He did not learn to read until he was about 9 or 10. I'm afraid he would not have the same self-esteem that he has now and that he would have been labeled as a low reader. My other son contracted cancer when he was six years old. Home schooling afforded him the ability to school consistently when he would have otherwise lost most of that year. My children still speak fondly of their homeschoolong years and feel they learned more than they often feel they learn at public school. They also were able to move at their own pace. They have adjusted well to public school and attend an excellent school.

After schooling for six years at home, I had to return to the work force. I was blessed with a wonderful job that blended my public school teaching experience with my home school experience. For the last four years I have been partnering with parents in teaching children that have chosen a personalized teaching approach through a charter school. I have seen students with IEPs excel where there was a lack of self esteem. I have seen students step out of the the traditional setting to bolster student progress and then return to be successful students again in the system. I have also seen students that have never desired to be a part of the traditional system develop a learning experience that meets the individual learning styles and interests of their students. These students are often passionate about their learning experience and sometimes approach learning through different modes than the traditional system affords, yet find success in developing life long learners that love to learn. Personal learning allows flexibility and choice for parents that often times they cannot find through any other means.

Although the charter movement may not have originally foreseen the use of personalized learning as a viable avenue for learning, it has developed into an alternative that charter schools and public education cannot overlook. It meets a vital need for many parents and students that might otherwise be lost in the cracks. I hope that the educational community continues to open their hearts and minds to alternatives, because ultimately it is not about a system, but it is about the education of our children and providing ways for them to succeed and contribute positively to our society. I would urge legislators to consider the important role that the personalized learning charter community provides to these families. We need to lay aside differences and personal biases about education if we truly embrace that "No child be left behind".

NAME: Jim Currey
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
Marcel H. came to this school as a 10th grader, deficient in credits and lacking self-confidence. He was living with his grandparents, while his mother was incarcerated. After attending PVCS for a year and a half, Marcel was back on track, no longer credit deficient, and completing all of his work on time. Marcel wanted to play football, and is now at a traditional high school playing on the Junior Varsity football team. He expects to graduate on time and is planning on attending a community college.

NAME: Jerry Kern
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
To illustrate how well our school works I would like to relate two examples. Both are about students that graduated with us last year. They are very different students, the end of the spectrum if you will.
The first student came to us at the beginning of his junior year very focused and determined to complete his high school education and move onto college as quickly as possible. The main motivation for him choosing our school is that it allowed him the time to attend college classes while attending high school. During his last two years in high school he was fully enrolled at the local community college and when he graduated he had approximately 60 college units and was planning to transfer to the University of California San Diego as a junior the next semester.
The other student came to us in his “senior” year with barely enough credits to qualify him as an eleventh grader. He had just moved from out of state with his mother and needed to work to help her. He struggled through his course work to maintain even a “C”. It took him two years to complete all his needed classes and he graduated from high at 19 years of age.
Both of these students would not have had the opportunity to complete high school in a fashion that best suited them if it were not for our school. This was truly a personalized learning.

NAME: Kathy Crouse
GROUP: Teacher (K-8)
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
I am pleased to be representing charter schools and home education programs which provide an alternative way for students to learn. Students and parents can participate together with the teacher to determine the best method that will work for their individual situation. Students who have health problems no longer have to be absent from the classroom and can continue their learning at home. Students who are trying to break into modeling or acting can take their work with them and complete it in a place other than a regular classroom. If a family wants to take its vacation at a time other than summer, the student is able to work ahead and complete work prior to going on vacation. Gifted students can move faster without having to wait for other students, and students who need more assistance may slow down the pace and take more time to really grasp each concept. With personalized learning, teachers can provide lessons that "fit" each student's situation, thus giving that student the ability to complete work on his/her own personal schedule that has been created by the teacher, student, and parent. For example, I have a student who is in third grade, but is working at the fourth grade level in both math and language arts. She is a highly motivated student who is enjoying being able to move quickly through the lessons, and is pleased that she is not having to wait for anyone else. She participates in weekly workshops where she has many friends and enjoys the "classroom-type" atmosphere. Her mother is a dedicated person who is thrilled to be able to give her daughter this chance to grow and excel. I expect they both will be with us for many years to come.

NAME: Mary Roberts
GROUP: Supervisory Teacher (K - 8)
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
I want to share an excerpt from a letter I received from one of my student's parents dated November 2002:
" My son has attended Pacific View Charter School since Sept 2001. The academic achievement, personal growth, and knowledge my son has gained from PVCS are far beyond any achievement he has experienced in previous school settings. My son has always found the traditional classroom setting a challenge, the dynamics of 20 - 33 students in a classroom is overwhelming to him. As he progressed in traditional school settings his academic growth suffered. Although he skipped 3rd grade and had successfully completed a college archaeology course at the age of eight, he had great difficulty attending to day-to-day classroom activities with so many personalities in such a confined space. As a parent, the satisfaction I enjoyed at the end of the year, when my student had completed all his textbooks, was phenomenal. I have been involved in both the public and private school settings for over nine years and never before have either of my boys completed the textbooks. At PVCS, my student literally read each of his textbooks from cover to cover. We were able to complete and enjoy everything the books had to offer. We were able to cover all this material because the curriculum guides provided by PVCS are comprehensive, balanced, and well paced. I had been encouraged to homeschool my student for many years by several academic professionals and resisted the suggestion for a long time for fear of not being to provide a complete and comprehensive curriculum. When I discovered PVCS I found a program that I felt comfortable with and my student has excelled! Not only have his test scores dramatically improved but most importantly, he is once again enjoying learning."

This is just one example of how personalized learning has markedly changed a budding archaeologist's life forever!

NAME: Lena Rumps
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I am a first year teacher working at Pacific View Charter School. This has been my first experience with home school (Personalized Learning) education. I have found that working with students and their parents as part of a team makes for a wonderful and valuable learning environment. I work with high school students and enjoy making a contribution to their lives. I feel that I am able to meet the needs of my students and help support their academic growth through our weekly meetings, emails, and phone conversations.

Home school education allows for personalized learning for students. Students are able to meet their goals through state standard curriculum by focusing on two subjects at a time. This format provides students with time to focus and concentrate on understanding and learning the material of the courses.

High school students often come to Pacific View Charter School feeling overwhelmed because they have felt "lost" or "disconnected" from the mainstream education system. Many of these students come from the traditional high school where there are roughly 3,000 students. Attending school at PVCS allows them to have an active voice in their role as a student without feeling insecure and unsure of themselves.

NAME: John M. Sturm
GROUP: Teacher (Technology Assistant)
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
As the technology assistant assigned to the Computer Lab, I work one on one with many of the students at Pacific View Charter School. Many of the students are familiar with Microsoft® Word™ but have not used PowerPoint™ or Excel™. Students are amazed at how powerful Excel™ can be when they inputs formulas to automatically calculate data from cell reference numbers. They have the chance to see how beneficial and useful Excel™ can be in real life applications.

PowerPoint™ is also another program that they enjoy using. They are able to visually display their work with the added visual and audio aids such as animation of objects, movie clips and sounds. Some students prefer to use PowerPoint™ over Word™ for their presentations and assignments.

NAME: Loren McCullers
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
I came to Pacific View Charter School almost a year ago. The school needed to develop a Biology Lab component that would give the students hands on science opportunities. I was hired to be the biology lab teacher. I had experience teaching science classes in both traditional public and private classroom settings. The number of students per class ranged from 18 to 36. My first class at Pacific View was a group of eleven students. The first day I met this small, but lively group of students, I was almost overwhelmed. It was such an awesome experience to get to know each one of their names by the end of the first lab session. By the end of the class, I also got to personally know each one of them. Some had never seen a simple piece of science equipment before, some hadn't been in a classroom learning environment in quite awhile, some were out on their own without a parent to guide them, and all but one of them needed to pass this class to graduate. It was a new experience for all of us. The joy I felt at being able to help each one of these students succeed to meet the graduation requirement but also to achieve their personal best was beyond any teaching experience I have ever had before. I enjoy working in a personalized learning environment because I feel I can make a difference in the lives of every student I teach, not just a few!

NAME: Don Thiele
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Pacific View Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Marcos
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
After graduating from middle school with poor grades, Paul was sent to an academy to improve his skills before being allowed to enroll in the comprehensive high school. He spent a year getting Ds and Fs, and was nearly expelled for behavior problems. His father took him out of the school and enrolled him at our school, Pacific View Charter School. In large part because of our personalized learning program with its emphasis on parental involvement, Paul has greatly improved his academic performance. His father speaks limited English, but always makes sure that he comes with Paul to the weekly meetings and makes sure that Paul has his work done. Paul's grades and attitude have both improved due to this constant supervision. Paul recently passed the English part of the CAHSEE, and is coming regularly to a special study skills class for the math part of the test that he hopes to pass in the fall.

NAME: Melanie Young
GROUP: Teacher (Education Facilitator)
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Individualized learning seems so logical to me as an educator that the successes I see only reinforce its logic. Again and again over my last two years as a facilitator, I have witnessed children labeled in large classroom settings as "bad", "behind", and "unlikely to succeed" thrive, becoming self-confident learners who seek out new challenges instead of acting out in an inappropriate setting. When a kinesthetic tenth grader can research American History topics on the Internet and the library, write reports in an interactive software program, make recipes from the period, play games, etc., that student learns!

In a traditional classroom setting, this student would be forced to read a non-interactive text or follow some other standard curriculum that does not meet most or even any of his/her learning needs. When the child is taken into consideration, he/she becomes a willing participant in his/her education, which makes everyone involved more successfully. I love this process and believe every child has a right to benefit from this individualized approach.

NAME: Brianna Hill
GROUP: Teacher (Education Facilitator)
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chula Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Over the past two years, I have had the opportunity to see first hand the success that the Personalized Learning model fosters. As an Educational Facilitator, what I enjoy most is working closely with parents and students to design a plan tailored specifically to each child's learning style while ensuring CA standards are met. I am so impressed by the Personalized Learning model that next year I will be both a Facilitator and a Parent.

NAME: Sharolyn McDowell-Lewis
GROUP: Teacher (Education Facilitator)
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: El Cajon
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
As an educator I have had the benefit of being at a traditional site-based public school and at Dehesa Charter School where students work from their homes. From my experience, I have found that a safe and nurturing learning environment is the best way to have students feel secure and allow them to succeed at achieving their academic goals. What better environment for that than at home with their parents and siblings? Personalized Learning allows for parents to choose curriculum that is geared to their child's particular learning style, thus enhancing the student's education and allowing them to succeed. Also, one on one learning is more beneficial than being in a classroom of one teacher to 30 or more students. Personalized Learning equals success!!

NAME: Paul Johnson
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Personalized Learning makes sense. In my experience as an educator, I have taught in classrooms containing 35-40 students. It is impossible to individually teach to the needs of each of these students. By determining how a student best learns and applying that to how you teach them, all students can succeed. Personalized Learning ensures that students are getting the best education in the way they learn best.

NAME: Jim Nelson
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I can attribute the success of each of my students to the Personalized Learning model. They are able to choose areas of interest and pursue them vigorously while achieving and maintaining the California State Standards. Choice means interest; interest means achievement; achievement means success; success means educational and after all, isn't that what we all want?

NAME: Rochelle Miller
GROUP: Teacher and Parent
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Mission Bay
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
As both a teacher and parent who has been involved in Personalized Learning for the past 6 years, I have observed that it is a must! Every student learns differently, at different paces, and better in different environments. Within a classroom (only) how can Personalized Learning take place? It doesn't! With an average classroom ratio of 30 to 1 how can a teacher possibly meet each student at his/her own level and hold every student's attention and meet each student's needs? I have seen with a Personalized Learning approach where a student may study specific areas or interest while still adhering to the California State Standards and will then retain the learning that was taught. The student is then the one who benefits from his/her education.

NAME: Kelly Plewe
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
As a teacher in the public school setting, I experienced children who desperately wanted to learn but needed to be able to learn at their own pace. The students needed the opportunity to learn in a more personalized manner. I found in the public school setting there was a huge push on getting through the concepts and if the student or students did not get it right away, they would get it later on. This idea always seemed wrong to me as an educator. I always believed that every child needed to learn, not just the select few who were bright and caught the concepts right away. I feel that the personalized learning in the charter schools is a wonderful way for students to learn at their own pace and follow their interests. It gives parents the opportunity to take advantage of their child's strengths and also giving the knowledge to their children on a more personal level. The studies show that students who are able to personally connect with the concepts they are learning gain a deeper understanding of the new knowledge gained. I believe that through the personal learning these goals of deeper understanding, working at your own pace, and incorporating other ideas into each area can be accomplished.

NAME: Vita Morelli
GROUP: Teacher (Educational Specialist)
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School/SAIL
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
My students have all had unique life experiences. For varied circumstances, they were unable to complete their high school education. I have worked with single mothers, recovering drug addicts, felons, foster youth, formerly homeless individuals of both sexes. The common thread of all these individuals is an unrelenting desire to better their lives through education. Personalized Learning has provided these individuals with an opportunity to obtain
their high school diploma while raising children, working full and part time, participating in recovery programs and most of all, gaining self-esteem to become self-sufficient members of our society.
Personalized Learning changes lives for the better. Every one of my students that walks away with hope for a better future is a success story. This educational alternative for the student at risk is invaluable, as it provides a necessary stepping stone to a brighter future for all.

NAME: Christopher Halasz
GROUP: Teacher (Education Specialist)
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School/ S.A.I.L. Program
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
I am working with the S.A.I.L. program, which specializes in helping adults get their High School Diploma. For the better part of two and a half years I have been serving this much over-looked population. In this time I have found that many of these students just want to have another chance to succeed. Success for them is usually different from what most people would consider to be important. Many of these students are dealing with drug and/or alcohol addiction; some were living on the streets before they came to our program. These people are looking to complete something that they "bailed out" of many years ago. Some of them want to have a better life and get a better job to support themselves and their families. Some want to receive a diploma for themselves, so they can look at themselves in the mirror and say "I did it!!!" Others have children that look up to them and they feel hypocritical saying to them that education is important when they themselves have not completed high school. Others want to receive their diploma because they want their parents to be proud of them.

Whatever the reason, it all centers around being in a place of struggle and the search for pride. I can't say that every student comes to me with an open heart and mind for learning, but those who come to me with that fire in their eyes, who want to take advantage of what I am offering them and thank me for caring about them, it makes it all worthwhile. This population needs a great deal of help. There was always some reason that they didn't complete their diploma when they were a teenager. Some of these reasons they out grew when they became an adult, like authority problems. Others like learning difficulties, are carried all the way to today. If you're a student who never received the help in high school to succeed, it is far more difficult to ask for help again when you're an adult. My job is to make asking for help alright; to let them know that I am here to help and not judge them because they aren't as "smart" as other people. It is interesting to see how fragile adults can be when they need to tell someone else what they don't want others to know. I build trust with my students that I am going to work with them to help them receive their diploma. Some students make it, others don't. I can only be there as a mentor, teacher, and sometimes a cheerleader. it is they who will decide if the goal is worth the effort.

NAME: Linda Neely
GROUP: Teacher (Education Specialist)
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
To Whom It May Concern:
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell you about the difference the Eagles Peak SAIL program has made in the lives of my adult students. I have had 12 students graduate in the past two years, thanks to the flexibility allowed them. All of my students are mothers who are juggling work, recovery programs, child care concerns, and school. Had these students been required to attend traditional classes, they may not have made it to completion. These students were able to meet with me at a time that was convenient for them. They were able to study at their own pace, and work as hard as they chose to. My students were able to complete the work at home, or when they had child care available. All of those past graduates, and current students of mine are so appreciative to have the opportunity to complete the high school program and still receive their diploma. Many of them thought it was too late and that they would never be taking this first step towards independence and self sufficiency.

In addition, I am a home school ES as well. I have seen many of my students take the opportunity to develop talents that would otherwise go unseen or undeveloped in a traditional school setting. Parents are given the opportunity to influence the direction of their child's education. Thank you for taking the time to "listen" to me.

NAME: Deborah Ash
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter/ S.A.I.L Program
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
As a special education teacher, I have worked with children, adolescents and adults with varied learning differences; I became very familiar with the personalized learning process. Traditional schools, organized around programs and services, cannot meet those differences. Learning problems often arise as a result. Traditional special education rolls have quadrupled in the past five to ten years and the dropout rates of traditional high school programs remain high.

Today, as an Education Specialist for Eagles Peak Charter School’s Success Academy for Individualized Learning (S.A.I.L) program, I work with many adult students. These students are the ones who “fell through the cracks” of traditional school programs and never received high school diplomas, much less an education. In their youth, many of my students became frustrated and confused with their traditional classroom based schools and teachers. Many could not understand why they had problems with learning, while the rest of their classmates did not. The S.A.I.L. program and my ability to provide them with a personalized learning experience has given them hope and inspiration.

Here is an excerpt from a letter one of my students (Richard) wrote, a 35-year-old man who lost his left arm, using a word processing program on a computer, in support of our program.

“…I now have a vision for accomplishing my goals. Whereas at one time I had no reason to believe in furthering my education, I now know that my ultimate goal of seeking, getting and keeping a good job can be accomplished by staying focused on continuing my education. So, once again let me say ‘Thank You’, and don’t stop teaching.”

It is my hope that personalized learning programs will continue, and have the support they so deserve. No two students are alike in interests, talents, skills, or life experiences. Rather than expecting all students to pursue the same body of knowledge at the same time and rate, each of our students has a personalized curriculum that is developed by the people who know the student’s interests and learning needs best. There are different ways of perceiving and taking in information; different ways of ordering or using and processing the things we perceive; different ways of remembering, understanding and even of being intelligent.

A personalized learning program is the perfect environment to make those adjustments and tailor each student’s education to his unique characteristics.
For all students to achieve the schooling outcome of active, meaningful participation in their community, they must each receive an education that has been uniquely tailored or personalized to their abilities, interests, and communities.

NAME: Maria Kirkbride
GROUP: Teacher/Parent
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
My name is Maria Kirkbride. I have worked for Eagles Peak Charter School for 2 1/2 years. I believe that this program is extremely beneficial. I have witnessed students who have had little success in a large classroom setting begin to thrive and grow in their home school education. There is a student who I worked with who loved to play hockey. He is on a national traveling team. Because he is not confined to one location to attend school he was able to play with his team and excel in the sport. He would take his homework with him as he and his family traveled from city to city and state to state. This student was also able to have personalized tutoring with a learning center to help him in the academic areas where he was deficient.

I have also had the pleasure of educating my daughter through this program last school year. It was a wonderful experience for the two of us. She excelled in math, writing and reading. Her vocabulary skills improved greatly as well as her ability to speak to adults in a clear and focused manner. If I had the flexibility in my life I would continue to home school her through Eagles Peak Charter School.

NAME: Jennifer Morrow
GROUP: Teacher and Parent
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Carlsbad
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I have taught in the public schools for 8 years, teaching as many as 200 students each day. Now, I use my experience and knowledge to work with 20 students and their families. Each of these students has a unique, personalized learning plan that enables them to self-pace and self-manage their learning. The parents and students who chose to enjoy a personalized education can experience what none of my 200 students could. They have one-on-one time with their teacher, a course load that is academically appropriate and challenging, and real-world experiences that grow them toward adulthood. These families have a credentialed teacher available (me) for record-keeping, guidance, and encouragement and a charter school that offers them freedom to create the most excellent educational plan for their children.

Each time I meet with a child I am impressed by the learning that has taken place. Here's a small sample of activities my students enjoy: Socratic On-Line Discussion Groups, Community Service, Volunteer Community Theater Dance Captain, Creating a Medieval Castle, Horseback Riding, Building a Compost Bin, Planting a Bulb Garden, Piano, Violin, Flute, Helping the Elderly, Pre-Calculus, Community College Chemistry Course, Graphic Arts, Digital Photography, Knitting, UCSD "Show-Me-Geology" Class, Web-Page Design, Archery, Soccer, Basketball, Building an Egyptian Pyramid, Historical Time Lines, Writing Their Own Stories and Novels, Lots and Lots of Reading.

I myself began homeschooling my 8 year old this January. Personalized Learning has enabled him to go forward with his academic strengths and spend extra time on those areas that are more difficult. He is excited about learning again! He was bored and unhappy in the public school he attended. Being allowed to personalize his education has made a huge difference in his attitude toward learning and his behavior. He has planted a garden, experimented with magnets, read myths of Ancient Crete and Greece, drawn maps, discussed the history of aviation, finished his second grade math book, played Rummy Roots to learn Latin, memorized poetry, and attended a Brazilian dance performance and "Peter and the Wolf" (just to name a few). Personalized Learning has been a fun and fabulous learning experience for both myself and my son.

As an educator and a parent I have seen personalized learning work and I respect it as a valid educational choice in California. Charter school like Eagles Peak and many others are offering students and parents an option to make learning personal, challenging, and meaningful.

NAME: Mary Helen Shaw
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak (EPCS/SAIL)
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I am a teacher with SAIL and I wish to add my personal testimonial regarding the rewarding feedback that I continually receive from SAIL students. Each student feels a personal partnership when we sit together and plan an individual course of study that reflects realistic goals. The one-on-one time spent with students provides support and immediate feedback for the student. Our students experience a foundation of concepts learned and building upon this with new learning. Scaffolding instruction in this way provides students with immediate feedback and encouragement so necessary. My students see where they've been and where they are heading. Strategies such as this are the encouragement for them to continue. So many of our students have never experienced planning and success from start to finish of personal goals and challenges. It is upon this foundation that I witness their success and celebrate their future goal setting. I am proud to be a part of the personalized learning program at SAIL/EPCS.
Mary Helen Shaw

NAME: B.J. Heath
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagle's Peak Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Julian
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
A success story.
Last year, I had a 6th grade student who had been struggling in the regular school setting. His mother was very concerned about how he would fit in during his years in middle school because he was behind at least two grades in all subjects. He also had an active IEP through his elementary years. Mom took him out of school and set him up with Eagle's Peak in a personalized learning program. Both mother and son worked to make it a wonderful experience.

He completed more than two years of work during this time and was released from Special Ed services by the end of the school year. I was very proud of the progress that he made and his confidence level has soared! He now has the tools that will allow him to succeed in his academic future all due to the positive experience using a personalized learning program.

NAME: Lynn Underwood
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I've been working with home school students for two years and am amazed to see the difference in some of these students in such a short span of time. I speak of those students who came to home schooling from the public school. The changes I've seen include: increased self esteem, less anxiety, an appreciation for learning, a belief in themselves that "Yes, I can learn", and marked increase in academic skills. Home schooling (Personalized Learning) enables children to go at their own pace and realize their own distinct capabilities and interests.

NAME: George Owitti
GROUP: Teacher (Educational Specialist)
SCHOOL: Eagles Peak (SAIL)
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Our mission at the Success Academy for Individualized Learning (SAIL) is just that; to provide individualized education, guidance and assistance in adult transition programs to become more responsible, self-sufficient members of society.

As an Educational Specialist working with Probationers In Recovery, I feel that I have been blessed with the opportunity to not only provide an education for adults who have not graduated from high school, but also to tailor each student’s education based on their individual learning style and needs. The students with whom I work are recovering drug-related felons re-entering the workforce. They are generally overwhelmed at the number of things they have to do during their recovery process besides staying clean and sober. They have to learn not only new drug and alcohol-free methods of coping but also acquire a high school diploma, or GED as a part of their rehabilitation.

In general, recovering addicts are faced with many challenges that include, but are not limited to, many responsibilities such as lack of or inadequate time. Pressure comes from the need to focus attention on their recovery program, search for work, education, family and social demands, insufficient funds, remedial jobs due to lack of education, transportation problems (due to inadequate funds) and insufficient confidence.

Often our students are so far removed from the educational world that they have been court ordered to re-enter as part of their recovery program. The daunting job of going back to school is made easier by our presence at various rehabilitation centers. My students have informed me that if attaining a high school diploma or GED was not part of their rehabilitation and the SAIL program was not readily available to them, the task of achieving a high school education would be insurmountable. Most of the recovering students have informed me that they would not consider acquiring a high school diploma if it were not for the accessibility of the SAIL program. I am grateful to be a part of this cutting edge educational delivery system. I respect the functionally illiterate adult population by providing them with individualized education through the SAIL program.

NAME: Lisa James
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Julian charter school
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Lakeside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I am so excited about personalized learning. Like many traditional teachers, I believed it was impossible for parents to educate their children at home. Boy was I wrong. In the past year and a half I have learned that these parents are very dedicated to teaching their children. Not only are they dedicated, but they have a greater understanding of the needs and learning styles of their children. As a Educational Facilitator, I have learned more about each of my students than I would have in a traditional setting. I "know" my students. With our program, parents, teacher, and student work together in educating the student. Isn't that the goal all schools strive for, but find it nearly impossible to obtain. We have 100% parent participation.

Home schooling isn't for everyone, but there is a need for homeschooling. For example, one of my 3rd grade students was failing in second grade. He is a very bright child. He didn't like school because other kids teased him. The teacher was hard on him because he couldn't sit still in class. The school's reply was to have him checked by a doctor to see if he was ADHD. His parents refused and started homeschool. He is now a grade ahead in both LA and Math. He is also able to control himself much better in social situations. For his family homeschooling works.

NAME: Angelica Fazio
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Julian charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: El Cajon
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
I teach K-12 independent study students. I am delighted with the progress I am seeing in so many of my students. All of my kindergarten students are reading at or, generally, far above grade level by the end of the year. I have a third grade student who was in a traditional setting for kindergarten and first grade. He had some speech problems and had fallen far behind in his reading when he first entered our school, and was identified as a Title 1 student. With much dedication on the part of his mom, he has brought his reading up to grade level--and some of his younger siblings (who have had little or no exposure to a traditional school) are now reading far above grade level, also. His mother and I know that if this student had not had the benefit of committed, individualized, and very structured instruction, he would have been one of those students who would have "fallen though the cracks" and continued to be remedial.

As a teacher who is totally committed to a diagnostic-prescriptive philosophy of teaching (that is, just as in medicine, a teacher must first assess the needs of the student before giving a "generic" assignment--which is extremely difficult to do in each subject in a classroom of 20-30 students with varying abilities), it is a wonderful liberty to me to be able to assign work that is completely individualized to the specific needs and abilities of each student, and have the understanding that that student will--between both me and his/her parent--get the precise individualized instruction he/she needs to facilitate progress! In addition to individualization in the core subjects, I enjoy the fact that we are able to offer a variety of electives that are custom-made for the needs and abilities of our various students.

One more benefit I enjoy is witnessing the increased bonding that develops between children and their families when so much quality time is spent together--not just with parents, but with siblings, also.

Morale in our school is high. It is terrific to truly be working as a team with so many others who are committed to helping each child grow and learn to the best of his/her ability!

NAME: Lorinda Sevenans
GROUP: Teacher/parent
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Ramona
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
I have taught in both traditional public and private schools before coming to Julian Charter School in August 2001. I have also homeschooled my own children (7) for the past 21 years, with 6 more years to go! I have taught in Montessori schools (both public and private) and my master's thesis was on multi-age education. I find that as a teacher, and a parent, I believe that Julian Charter is the best of all worlds. Each student's education plan is individualized for optimum education. Large families can adapt the same science and social studies subjects to fit all their children and still have mom be able to keep her sanity by not having to oversee and teach 5 different sciences/social studies. Something I have noted over the years is that by the time most homeschooled children reach high school age they are very independent learners and need only guidance from mom and their educational facilitator. They have learned how to learn! (One of my personal goals for my children.)

As our school continues to expand we are able to offer more group classes and activities and thus create a community for our families. One of my students who attended sixth grade camp this year has made a new friend and they continue to meet both online and in person. The organized field trips have been enjoyed by whole families, thus bringing the children and parents into fellowship with people from different geographical areas and cultures.

The families enjoy having the freedom to personalize their students' education while at the same time knowing that there is professional assistance when needed. They appreciate the accountability they have to our school and know that is helping to keep their child on track with his/her education. They also value that accredited high school diploma when college application time begins!

As a teacher, I have found that the personal relationship I develop with the parents and all the siblings helps both me and the family to create a learning environment for the student. I know what is going on "at home" with a child and how that might affect his/her educational experience. I come to know the weaknesses and strengths of my families and that allows me to better serve the student. I know which families need more attention, encouragement, and time from me to keep them on track. Personally, I enjoy working with the parents and helping them become better educators of their own children. No one will ever care more about a child than the parents and I believe that our school helps the parents, not only to teach their children, but also to keep a strong, united family, something needed in our current society.

I plan to continue teaching with Julian Charter as long as they will have me. I believe I have found the best setting for my professional career and my child's education.

NAME: Elena Hanley
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Having taught at a personalized learning school, Julian Charter School, for the last three years, I have noticed how parents feel consistently respected and listened to because their insights into their child’s learning are validated. Students also feel heard by teachers when adjustments are made in the assignments—adjustments that reflect the students’ needs, interest, and strengths. Studies show how essential it is that people feel listened to within a family and within the workplace. People need to have their voice heard in order for work or family environments to be successful. This is just as true for students and their parents in the school environment. In a personalized learning school, families feel consistently listened to because their input is honored.

Because our school delivers personalized learning, I find that as a teacher I spend a great deal of time actively listening to students and to their parents. They tell me in great detail which school assignments they are having success with and which ones are struggles. Having this time to interact with students and parents provides me with insights and ideas so that I can suggest various approaches we can try or changes we can make to help the learning experience be as optimal as possible for every student. I have felt that the time spent throughout each month listening to parents and students really builds our relationship as members of a team. Students, teacher, and parents working together as a team within a personalized learning school makes for a strong and pleasant educational experience for all of us.

As a personalized learning school, our school provides classroom experience along with the choice of independent study. As a classroom teacher, I find that one of the factors that makes the biggest difference regarding student learning in class is choice. Students enroll in my class as part of their personalized learning. The high school students could have chosen to earn their high school credits through utilizing one of many texts and working through independent study. Having such a choice is similar to the college experience in that both high schools and colleges have set graduation requirements that must be met. Typically, in college you have a choice between course offerings that will meet graduation requirements. As a college student, you also have choice as to what time a day or on which days you want to enroll in a given course. High school students typically do not have those choices. They are often just handed their schedule.

With the choices between classroom learning and independent study options, students enrolled in our school are getting an early experience of some of the responsibility and decision making involved in the college model. I have often found that when people are given more choices and responsibility they rise to the occasion and take on more responsibility.

NAME: Mary Ann Hill
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Coronado
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Albert Einstein once said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” As an educational facilitator in the personalized learning program for Julian Charter School, I have been amazed and inspired by many of my parent/teachers and their varied and dedicated and most importantly, successful efforts to awaken joy in their children’s learning experiences! And it has been a personal thrill and professional privilege to assist in this exciting journey!

As educators, we understand how crucial it is to thoroughly know our students’ strengths and weaknesses, learning styles and personalities. We believe in the significance of addressing these variables and the importance of “meeting” each child wherever the child is at......to individually tailor curriculum and methods. In addition, research shows us that linking learning to real life situations and that tapping into those critical “teachable moments” are invaluable in meaningful learning and long-term retention. The personalized learning environment lends itself beautifully to achieving these components of ideal learning.

Being successful within the personalized education paradigm is not easy. It is definitely not for everyone. It cannot be done on a part time basis with anything less than complete commitment and priority. It requires flexibility, creativity, resourcefulness, strong organizational skills and a willingness to network and receive support.....among other things. However, having the choice to participate in such a program for as long as it is successful is an important right to the parents and the students of this country.

NAME: Stephanie Trogden
GROUP: Teacher (Educational Facilitator)
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego County
For my student with ADD, OCD, and a learning disability, personalized learning has been a godsend. With his self-esteem compromised, failing grades, and a worried and frustrated mother, this student came to our school in hopes that home-schooling would provide the kind of learning environment that this young man could thrive in. After three years in our program, this ninth grader has gone from barely writing a two-sentence "paragraph," to writing multi-page research reports on his topics of choice, such as the life of Shakespeare and the plight of the Israelites.

He has been able to work at his own pace in all subject areas, especially in math, which has proven difficult for him with his learning disability. This has alleviated stress for him, as well as for his mother. Through the resources our school provides, this student has had weekly tutoring in math, math materials appropriately chosen for his needs and learning styles, and even took a math course at our learning center. Thus, he has had not only the support of his mother, but also of his educational facilitator, his tutor and a math teacher.

While this student has made progress in so many areas, his organizational skills continue to be a challenge for him. Therefore, he has chosen to take advantage of another opportunity our school provides. He will begin meeting with his educational facilitator once a week, instead of once every 20 school days, because he knows that he needs this type of support to stay on task as his high school courses become more challenging.

As one can see, personalized learning is just that! How fortunate for this student, who came to home-schooling as a last resort, that he has found a place where he can succeed, where his self-esteem can flourish again, and where he can gain the tools he needs to be a successful, contributing member of society.

NAME: Dessa Nockels
GROUP: Teacher (EF)
SCHOOL: Julian Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I have been a "personalized learning advocate" since the age of 7. I have taught cousins, neighbors and a brother and sister and then went on to use this method for my own children. Personalized Learning makes sense. It is the oldest form of teaching and was used by the elite for centuries to educate their young. In today's world, it has taken on new life, as many of the families involved are finding it to be a superior way of educating their children.

I have experienced and watched children grow academically and also be able to have the freedom to explore other areas of interest such as music or art to enrich their lives. It works for those that are ahead of the group, as well as for those who need extra attention because of a variety of problems either in physical health or learning disabilities. Personalized Learning is there to accommodate a student's needs, whether it be for a year or for 12 years. Each student is different and has different needs and ways to learn and this method helps accomplish the end result we are all looking for.

There is neither room nor time to tell about all of the students that have been enriched by this form of learning, but one outstanding person comes to mind, and that is Thomas Edison. We all know who he was and what he accomplished, but not everyone knows that he was taught at home by his mother. His lifetime of inventions and success is evidence that personalized learning works.

NAME: Deborah Clark
GROUP: Teacher (Resource Specialist)
SCHOOL: Dehesa Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Chula Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I work with a student twice weekly. She has only been with Dehesa Charter for a few months now, but has shown miraculous progress during this time! For instance, a goal on her IEP was to group numbers, because the IEP team didn't feel she was ready to add and subtract. Now she is adding and subtracting with regrouping! I've never before seen a public school child advance so rapidly.

NAME: Christina Earwicker
GROUP: Educational Specialist
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I am an Educational Specialist employed by the Classical Academy, a charter school in Escondido, California. My job is to oversee twenty five kindergarten through eighth grade students that are home schooled fulltime by their parents. I provide curriculum support, conduct regular parent-teacher conferences and give educational advice to parents. I was previously a Reading Specialist at a local traditional elementary school.

During the course of my employment at The Classical Academy, I have learned many things about the education of children. I have learned that children thrive in an environment that is catered to their specific educational needs. I realize and see first-hand the benefits of individualized or small group instruction to children. I interact with parents who are actively involved in what their children are learning on a regular basis. I witness children whose self-esteem has been greatly improved because they are doing well in school and feel more in control of their education. Perhaps one of the most important things I have learned is the importance of choice in education. I have seen this option of education as a choice that has been needed for many years. When you partner willing and dedicated parents and students with a school that provides top-notch curriculum, services, support, and staff, the results show that the academic outcomes are positive.

NAME: Laura Jones
GROUP: Teacher 2nd grade
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I had worked in the public school system as a Title One teacher for several years, when I joined The Classical Academy. My experience co-teaching with parents has been phenomenal.

This program brings the best of both worlds together. The students receive one-on-one teaching and classroom teaching at the same time. During home days, students have the luxury of a teacher who can sit down and really teach at the level of the student. During workshop days, the students have the benefit of group activities and learning in an environment with their peers. I believe the strong involvement of parents in their child’s education at home has increased my students’ performances in the classroom.

NAME: Jennifer McCormick
GROUP: Teacher, Music
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Prior to teaching at The Classical Academy, an independent study charter school program, I spent several years teaching in the regular public school system. Every year or two I would change jobs, always searching for a place where the children came first and the system worked for the students and their parents, instead of against them. Finally, I landed a job with a well-known and well-respected school district. I thought, "At last, I will be able to work at a place that truly teaches children!" Unfortunately, what I experienced at that school appalled me! The only thing different about that school was it's "reputation", which it didn't really live up to. Overcrowding, overworked teachers, unsupportive administrators, failing students, a severe lack of resources (Teachers were allowed four photocopies a week for their students, unless they wanted to use the ditto machine!), student assistants in the office changing tardies/absences in the school database, rampant cheating, illiteracy, drug use, suicides, lack of staff support by administration (Teachers were often told to change student's grades after the student had already been assigned a grade for the semester.), lack of parental support, poorly disciplined students, lack of educational standards and unhealthy peer pressure were just a few of the many problems I witnessed at this school.

At this point in my career I became very disillusioned and almost quit teaching entirely. I thought to myself, " If this is the best the public school system can do, then we are failing miserably, and it's the children that are paying the price!" It is not the teachers, the parents or the students that are primarily the problem in our public schools today; I believe it is the 'system' that works against our best efforts to educate children. The 'system' is run by bureaucrats (teachers unions, school boards with political agendas and administrators who feel pressure to please various interest groups.) Change is slow in a bureaucracy and all too often, that which is important (educating children) gets lost in the midst of conflicting political agendas.

Here, at The Classical Academy, the frustrations inherent in a large bureaucratic system do not exist. Since Charter schools follow a 'charter' (A written document produced by those who started the school.) instead of a school district or a teacher's union, there is freedom to adjust the system to better meet the needs of our student population. The Classical Academy is cutting edge and it works! Each child is taught by a credentialed teacher as well as by his/her parents. Having parental involvement in student's lives makes all the difference. Students in our independent study program don't fall through the cracks academically, because the student's academic program is tailored to meet his/her individual needs and the parent is always well informed on how his/her student is progressing. The Classical Academy's motto is " partnering with parents". Since parents are the first and the most important teachers in a student's life, it is vital that they play a major role in their child's education. For years studies have shown that the #1 determining factor in a child's academic success is parental support. Independent study programs are successful because they empower the parent. The public school system has been in need of change for a long time. I am proud to be part of a movement (Independent Personalized Learning charter schools) that actually educates children instead of babysitting them. It is my hope that this movement will help to reform the entire 'system' so that all of America's children can be adequately equipped to become the future leaders of America.

NAME: Ruth Ashley
GROUP: Educational Specialist
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
For the past two years, it has been my privilege to work with a young man who is truly pursuing a classical education. While technically an eighth grade student, he is enrolled in the Great Books Series, Rhetoric, Latin II, Euclidean Geometry, Algebra I, Ancient World History, and Physical Science. During conference times, he and I have discussed the writings of ancient authors and philosophers including Plato, Socrates, Tacitus, and Aristotle. This student is able to understand and discuss the ideas, arguments, syntax, and style presented in the writings in an intelligent, thoughtful manner. Having recently read a book of great speeches edited by William Safire, entitled Lend Me Your Ears for his rhetoric class, he subsequently wrote several excellent rhetorical papers, one of which was published by the editor of a local newspaper. I am challenged by this student’s intelligence, thought processes and inquisitiveness. I believe his future is very bright—the personalized education that he and his family have chosen to pursue will, I believe, produce an individual uniquely gifted to contribute to society. Even at this young age, he is interested in a career in politics. This country, indeed the world, could greatly benefit from such a well-educated mind. How sad it would have been for him to be ‘locked in step’ in a traditional, classroom setting!!

NAME: Blanca Stichter
GROUP: Spanish Teacher
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
With more than fifteen years experience working with parents, students and the public school system, I am very aware of the relationship between parent participation in the school and their student’s academic achievement of its students substantiates the validity of this relationship. I am proud to have been a part of the Classical Academy team of students, parents and staff, which provides the students with the academic environment to reach their fullest potential.

NAME: Carol Serry
GROUP: Teacher, Kindergarten
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I am a kindergarten teacher at The Classical Academy. As part of the original staff, I have watched the school grow and develop over the nearly four years it has been in existence. I thoroughly enjoy teaching here and would not wish to work elsewhere. Our students have a choice of two programs: five-day independent study or being home schooled for three days a week and attending teacher directed workshops for the other two days each week. I work with students in the combination program, which, for those who choose it, provides the best of both worlds---home schooling and the more traditional classroom setting. Our parents are highly involved in their children’s education, which creates a much stronger support system for learning. The students get one-on-one attention at home as well as being able to interact with other students and a credentialed teacher in a classroom. Since the children attend workshops only two days per week, they are always excited about being there and very interested in what is going on; this helps create more enthusiastic learners and less discipline problems.

I have found that my students make greater progress in reading and math than in a traditional classroom setting; being able to work one-on-one at home with a parent on these subjects along with the group instruction in the workshops provides the ideal situation for learning these all important skills.

We are able to modify the curriculum for students who need it, whether they are behind or ahead of grade level, or have some type of special need. We work directly with the parents in modification where needed to create a program to best fit the student’s needs. Our parents are supported with regular parent meetings, conferences and a variety of workshops.

Our students have many different kings of extracurricular classes available to them to enrich their education.

Since the school is small compared to typical public schools, there is a feeling of “family” among the staff members, which helps create a pleasant work atmosphere. Our parents are very supportive and appreciative of the staff. We have clearly earned a favorable reputation based on the number of students who wish to get into the school and positive comments mad about us. I frequently hear highly complimentary statements made about The Classical Academy from parents who are inquiring about the school or coming in to observe my classroom. This is a great place to work and to educate children.

NAME: Anita Manata
GROUP: Teacher 4th grade
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Teaching at The Classical Academy is the most meaningful teaching experience I have had in my twelve years of teaching. Since I work closely with my students’ families, I am more than just their child’s teacher. I have become a professional educational consultant for each family. It is professionally gratifying to work with families are who actively involved in seeing their child succeed at learning. I meet with each family at least every five weeks to evaluate work and to discuss problems and concerns. In this way a true partnership for learning exists between the families and the school.

Perhaps it is the TCA students who really make this school such a great place to work. I have never met better-behaved children even when teaching at private schools. Since my students are home-schooled three days a week, they reflect their families’ values and standards while on campus. Peer pressure is not an issue. My students also have a broader perspective than many students in a traditional school since each child brings his family’s perspective to class.

NAME: Wendy Moen
GROUP: Educational Specialist
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
This is my second year working for The Classical Academy and I couldn’t be happier! I sort of stumbled upon the school as I was looking for a part-time job. I came from teaching in the public school setting for five years and knew very little about home schooling. Over the past two years I have learned a lot and I am amazed at what a great program we offer. I find myself telling everyone I know about the school and what it has to offer. It just makes sense. Students do not lose out on being a part of a classroom and yet, three days each week they are given one on one attention as they are taught at home. I do realize that there are many situations where home schooling does not work. However, I have come to see that there are more and more people for whom it does work, that never knew it could. For the parent who has always wanted to be more than a “Room Mom” or a volunteer, this is the place. Parents come here because they want to be actively involved in their child’s education and they want some support along the way.

I work with the families who home school five days each week. Some of these families come to our school because they want support and resources to educate their own children. That is what we do for them. Others come to our school because the public system has not worked for them. Children who fall below grade level or soar above, are oftentimes the ones who slip through the cracks. As a classroom teacher with 20-30 students, it is not possible to reach every student at every level, with different needs. As a prior classroom teacher I know that it just isn’t physically possible to give the one on one attention that so many students need. Here at The Classical Academy, those students are cared for at their individual level.

I think the rapid expansion of The Classical Academy is proof enough that home school, full time or part time, is a definite need in our community. Our school is successful because we have met a need and met it well. I am proud to be part of this amazing school and feel privileged to be an employee.

NAME: Rebecca Hartman
GROUP: Teacher 7th grade
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
My work as a seventh grade educator for the last four years at The Classical Academy is a responsibility and privilege that I truly love. I find that partnering with my students’ parents provides the perfect design of individualized learning, accountability, and high standards that academic education should provide. The satisfaction of seeing the students’ progress and mastery is wonderfully commonplace at our school! It is my hope that these results will one day be realized by all other children in the American education system, as well.

In TCA’s two-day workshop program, I work diligently to provide stimulating, interesting, and effective learning opportunities for my students. I believe that the students’ time is as valuable as the teacher’s, and for this reason, the workshop experience must be dynamic and high quality. I strive to make it so each and every workshop day.

Mutual respect is the foundation upon which I base all of my relationships at The Classical Academy. Seeing each other as valuable and worthwhile, regardless of status, age, or ability, is the cornerstone of a successful educational experience.

NAME: Valerie Coe
GROUP: Teacher 5th grade
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
The Classical Academy combines traditional classroom instruction with credentialed teachers and home school instruction with parent educators. This unique learning environment offers opportunities for interaction with peers in a group setting, as well as curriculum modifications based on a student’s individual needs. As a 4th year TCA teacher, I have observed a number of special education students absolutely blossom with the one-on-one attention given by their parent. At home, these students can work on an appropriate level continuing to make progress in their challenged areas.

In addition, school sponsored fieldtrips throughout the year integrate content learning in history and science with hands-on experiences. One of the favorites this year had students traveling back in time to Ancient Egypt and Greece tasting specialized foods, dancing traditional dances, beading a jeweled necklace and wrapping a “mummy”. Enrichment activities abound at The Classical Academy. Students can choose from singing in the choir, learning a foreign language, acting in one of the outstanding plays, exploring Power Point computer program, stitching their favorite state into a pillow or mastering the game of chess.

I enjoy working with a wide variety of parents who deeply value their children’s education. Each year I learn so much from the parent educators and are especially excited to be able to pass this knowledge on as more parents choose this effective method of education.

NAME: Al Ashley
GROUP: Teacher 7th grade
SCHOOL: Coastal Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
In the past two and one-half years I have had the privilege of experiencing twenty-two different schools in four North County school districts. I can unequivocally say that The Classical Academy ranks at the top when it comes to experiencing education at its best. The staff is very professional, the students work hard, and the parents do a great job being the students’ primary teachers. I know of no other place where I would rather teach and am glad to be a part of these charter schools.

NAME: Tina Claus
GROUP: Teacher 3rd grade
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
While working as a professional educator in a traditional school environment, I grew frustrated at the system’s inability to identify and provide a meaningful learning environment to meet the needs of all students. I believe there is an entire population of students who are not reading and writing at grade level, and yet they don’t qualify for special education services. These students would benefit from direct, explicit instruction in content areas that meet their developmental and educational learning needs. From my frustration with the traditional school environment grew my desire to pursue a career with a school that offers families and teachers an alternative educational experience.

As a mother and teacher, I was originally drawn to TCA because of the uniqueness of the program. Having a son with learning challenges has made me especially sensitive to children’s diverse learning styles, I am cognizant of the importance of providing explicit instruction tailored to meet the learning needs of each student. TCA has given me the opportunity to provide this individualized instruction, allowing me to meet the learning challenges of all my students.

Working with the staff and families at TCA has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Because the environment is warm and inviting, students come to school eager to learn. They receive a classical education that is language centered. Since the staff and administration recognize that parents are the child’s first and most important teachers, the parents at TCA are actively involved in their child’s education. To help parents with the schooling process, parents conference every five weeks with their child’s teacher. In addition to conferences, teachers and parents maintain ongoing communication to ensure that their student is provided with instruction that allows him/her to achieve their educational goals. In my opinion, it is evident in the smiles and actions of the parents, students, and teachers, that this personalized individual instruction truly does meet the divergent needs of all students.

NAME: Kim Geiger
GROUP: Teacher 2nd grade
SCHOOL: Coastal Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Escondido
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Having been a teacher’s aide, room parent, GATE (gifted and talented education) coordinator (at both elementary and middle school levels), Sunday school teacher, volunteer of the year, Little League coach, player agent, and president, as well as being a wife and mother of two boys ages 18 and 13, I am often asked, “Why do I think charter schools and home schooling are gaining so much popularity?” It comes down to one word – passion, passion on the part of the students, parents, administration, staff, and teachers.

What are we as Coastal Academy teachers passionate about? We are passionate about our ability to offer an enriched curriculum to all of our students not just a few of the “gifted and talented.” We are passionate about choice, offering our students a choice between two educational options: a five-day home school program or three-day home school program that is supplemented with two days of in class workshops lead by a credentialed teacher. We are passionate about offering a balanced learning program filled with varied and challenging academic curriculum, as well as enrichment opportunities in art, music, foreign language and more. We are passionate about giving students a balanced home life so that they can pursue outside interests like sports, music lessons, enrichment programs, community service projects, or religious activities in the evening hours without having to stay up all night doing homework. We are passionate about personalized student learning, making every effort to facilitate students’ learning at their individual levels. We believe learning must be meaningful and relevant in our students’ lives if true learning is to take place.

As a second grade teacher, I find that education to be meaningful must ignite and excite the thinker in all of us. It must empower each of us to be and do more. I believe learning is about that perfect balance between joyfulness and rigor. Our goal is to instill in our students a desire to pursue life-long learning. Education must involve moving beyond our comfort zone to a place of learning, relearning, and unlearning. It calls on each of us as educators to maintain a high moral compass. Good teaching takes courage, patience, heart, and teamwork.

Speaking of teamwork, do you know what the number one indicator of student success is? The answer is parent involvement, and what teacher doesn’t dream of having 100% parent involvement? Well at the Coastal Academy, that dream is a reality because it is a part of our school’s design. That’s why I know our new school will be a success. We are passionate about our parents, and we acknowledge them as valued and vital contributors to our program and to their child’s learning success. Their involvement is the key to our success and in our students’ ability to have one-on-one learning three or more days per week.

Now if you’re thinking, yes but what about assessment? I can only tell you that we hold our students accountable for their learning and teach to the highest possible standards. As a part of our teaching process, we assess our students in a variety of authentic and traditional ways: orally, in writing, through projects, presentations, performances, and tests. What we don’t do is focus on testing or on teaching to a test. Testing is never our primary learning tool. If all of this sounds too good to be true, come by and check out our school and you will soon see for yourself why charter home schools are so popular and why I love teaching at one.

NAME: Danielle Nikola
GROUP: Teacher, 5th grade
SCHOOL: Coastal Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Temecula
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I am a first year teacher working at The Classical Academy. Relocating from the East Coast to California brought about many changes, to include the education system. Regular public schools are so overcrowded that most students get lost in the system. I had not been exposed to home schooling much before starting to work at Classical Academy. My job is to partner with parents to personalize learning for kindergarten through eighth grade students. I have seen tremendous academic results achieved by children due to this program. Our program is unique because it offers optional two day a week workshops where the students are exposed to a classroom environment. With this program students get the individualized attention they need as well as the social interaction with other children. I feel that the needs of my students are met because we are in contact on a consistent basis. I have seen so much success in this setting from what I believe is a result of so much parent involvement. I have found that a program like the one Classical Academy implements makes for a wonderful and valuable education.

NAME: Heather Rawley
GROUP: Teacher 4th grade
SCHOOL: Coastal Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego

Although this is my first year teaching at The Classical Academy, I have been teaching for over 11 years. I was initially intrigued by the concept of The Classical Academy while attending a class for my master's degree. A teacher from The Classical Academy presented an overview of the school's objectives, mission, and scope and sequence. Three years later I realized how much I wanted to be a part of a program that not only encourages parents to participate in the education of their children, but actually requires it.

Parent participation is the number one component of a successful academic career, and The Classical Academy has perfected an outstanding plan to involve parents in the education of their children. Parents can choose to home-school their children five days per week, or have them attend workshop/classes two days each week and home-school the other three days. In the two-day per week program, students participate in-group activities and receive the attention of a credentialed teacher in a small classroom environment of 20 students.

In the five-day home-school program, parents and students are assisted by credentialed teachers to meet their educational needs and standards. With parents and teachers working together, curriculum is modified to best accommodate student learning styles and needs.

The best part about The Classical Academy is that the mystery is taken out of education. Instead of having teachers spout out the latest intellectual jargon, parents are brought into the loop and encouraged to ask questions to more fully understand all the options available to their children. In my opinion, and based on my experience, The Classical Academy combines the best attributes education has to offer.

NAME: Keri Carden
GROUP: Teacher, Kindergarten
SCHOOL: Coastal Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I work as an Educational Specialist at The Classical Academy, providing guidance and support to families who home school their children. Having spent the past six years in the field of education working with students of various ages (preschool through middle school), I have had many opportunities to teach in various learning environments. Some of these environments were conducive to learning others were not. I found the environments that were not complementary to good learning frustrating and disenchanting (to myself and the students they were supposed to support).

Fortunately, The Classical Academy is a school that provides a positive learning environment to all of its students. Whether a student is attending the optional two-day a week program or is home schooled the full five days at home. As a part of the TCA team, I know that we truly put the students needs first.

Lesson plans are individualized to meet each students needs, conferences revolve around and involve the parent and the student, a unique connection is made between each educational specialist and their families. The families I advise and work with at TCA are a part of my extended family, they are committed to their children’s education and are a integral part of the success of TCA’s home school program.

NAME: Lesley Clifton
GROUP: Teacher 8th grade
SCHOOL: The Classical Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Oceanside
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I have been employed at The Classical Academy for one year. Previous to my employment with TCA I taught in the Vista Unified School District. I always enjoyed my classes and teaching my students. However, I wished for smaller class sizes, more one on one interaction with the families of my students, and more parent involvement. With The Classical Academy I have been provided with all three of these desires.

As an eighth grade teacher, I have had the ability to teach with a maximum of twenty students in my classroom. Because of the smaller class size, I have been able to individualize the curriculum and modify assignments for my students. As a teacher and Educational Specialist, I have established strong ties with my families. I am able to individualize their curriculum and stay in contact with my families. My families frequently contact me by phone or e-mail to share their triumphs and their struggles in their children’s education. I am able to provide these families with the encouragement and support that they need. My students are all taught at home by their parents, therefore, there is maximum parent involvement. I enjoy seeing a family grow as they learn and discover new things.

I am privileged to be employed by a school that values small class size, one on one interaction between parents, students, and teachers, and parent involvement. It not only makes my responsibilities as an educator easier, it makes them much more enjoyable.

NAME: Eddy Kubota
GROUP: Teacher 6th grade
SCHOOL: Coastal Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Vista
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
This is my first year working with personalized education and it has been great. My previous job was at a Middle School with 1,300 students, 30 + students per class. Just controlling this many students was a job in itself. Now that I have seen personalized learning I wonder, “why haven’t we been doing this all along”? In my opinion this is the way education should be. Working with both the students and their parents, as a team, makes this a wonderful place to help them achieve their educational goals.

NAME: Nicole Passno
GROUP: Teacher 1st grade
SCHOOL: Coastal Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Carlsbad
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
I have worked as a teacher in a personalized learning program for the past year. In this setting, I have seen primary students with serious health problems achieve academic success. One such student comes to mind immediately. He was born with heart problems, and at age seven has received a number of heart surgeries. In this personalized learning program, he has been home-schooled when he is not well enough to attend optional classroom workshops. This student is reading at, if not slightly above, grade level. He is excelling in math, working above grade level. Most importantly of all he has developed a love for learning because he knows how fortunate he is to be receiving such a unique education. If it were not for our personalized learning program this student would not have any of the classroom exposure that he loves so much!

NAME: Natalie
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: GSDA
CITY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: San Diego
Personalized learning allows students to flourish in learning. As an educator, I have seen students excel simply due to the opportunity to explore topics and concepts of their interest. I have a kindergarten student who is learning about the contributions of Mother Teresa; a first grader who knows all about ancient civilizations in Egypt; a fifth grade second language learner who is excelling in both Spanish and English when last year he was struggling with both. With the right guidance, personalized learning can help children become lifelong learners who strive for greatness.

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Santa Cruz County
NAME: Peggy Edwards
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Coast Redwood High School - SLVUSD Charter School
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Felton
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Santa Cruz County
I have been a college and K-12 teacher for 29 years. I have taught in the classroom, in a one-room school, and in several "independent study" programs. During this time, I have rarely seen a schooling situation to rival Coast Redwood High School.

Coast Redwood allows students, at a particularly vulnerable time in their lives, to explore and express who they are and where they are going. Using compassion and intelligence Kay Mendoza and her teachers have developed a program that balances structure and freedom to create an environment that honors a student's talents, and helps direct those talents towards integration into adult society. I have seen many Coast Redwood High students enter the program as confused, immature freshmen; and exit as mature, inspired adults.

Although assigning credits and grades may help to keep students on track, I am delighted that the emphasis in Coast Redwood continues to be on the success of the student as an individual. Personalized Learning works! It is not a coincidence that Coast Redwood appeals to the artists and computer enthusiasts in the student community. Coast Redwood is a place in which these students can indeed "march to the beat of a different drummer" without fear of ridicule. In our current atmosphere of standardized, one-size-fits-all, future-success-defined-by-salary education, it is refreshing to see a program that seeks and fosters the best in students.

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Shasta County
NAME: Peggy Schueler
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Shasta Secondary Home School
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Shasta
When I think of personalized learning, I think of families and kids remembering how to love learning together. Though I know not every family is ready, or wants to approach learning and education this way, it’s exciting when a family and the personalized learning model find a fit with each other.

One of my favorite examples is Jennifer and her family. We’ve been working together for three years, and Jenn is ready to graduate now. She has both challenged herself and learned in ways she loves. She amazes me with her facility in math: regularly turning in Advanced Math exams with half a point or one point off. She didn’t need to take Advanced Math this year; she took it for the pleasure of meeting a challenge.

When Jenn first came to our school, testing caused her great anxiety; she wanted to do well, but really was afraid of the experience. We worked together, renaming the exams as “practice exams” until they became just one more opportunity to meet a challenge with panache.

Jenn has found lots of ways to learn that fit her personality perfectly. For instance, she studied biology using a challenging textbook, attending labs at our school, and by job-shadowing wildlife biologists in the field. She tracked spotted owls, checked the health of a coastal forest, and helped to examine and tag a bear!

Last year’s research project was an opportunity for Jennifer to explore a dream. She wants to travel to Russia someday. In her research project, she outlined a trip: where she will go -- complete with itinerary, flights and trains, and hotel accommodations; how she will get there, including visas, and a passport; and how much it will cost, including learning about exchange rates.

This year, Jenn, her mother, and 9-year-old sister decided to study Russian. Originally, Jennifer and her mother signed up for a community college class, but when the class was cancelled, they didn’t just give up! Now, they attend weekly tutoring sessions and Jenn puts hours into conjugating verbs, conversing with her family, and writing. It makes me smile when I read her math or English homework titled in Cyrillic.

Jenn has found wonderful ways to use personalized learning to grow and learn. She has the heart, as well as skill in learning to do well wherever she chooses to go.

Jennifer isn’t the only one. Personalized learning students pursue all kinds of learning. One of our girls is on her way to NASCAR training – her dream is to work as a mechanic in the pit. One of our boys pursues computer science and his small business of raising and training hunting dogs; the income is committed to his college fund. Others explore nursing careers, singing opera, or entomology along with their core courses.

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Sutter County
NAME: Samuel Krouse
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy charter school
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Meridian
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Sutter
As a credentialed teacher with Camptonville Academy (in my 5th year) I have seen the powerful difference personalized learning makes in the lives of students. Parents and students are able to choose from a wide selection of curricula, which is great in and of itself. Then add the choices of extras, such as classes at any of our five educational resource centers (like the computer class I teach), tutors, vendor instructors (such as piano or art lessons), field trips, special assemblies, etc. We have begun to offer special parent training classes as well. Teachers receive ongoing training as well, as we meet the challenges of meeting the California state standards (as all public schools must do). As a public school (whose funds come from ADA, average daily attendance) we have found a way to get more "bang for the buck" for the many students/parents who want more than the typical public school provides. I'm sold on personalized learning, and will never go back to the traditional classroom again.

NAME: Larry Todd
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: CORE @ Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Yuba City
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Sutter

As a teacher of high school students in a personalized school setting, I have seen the value of an individualized learning plan. One particular success story involves a young man who was a part of the program for his junior and senior years of high school. He had been in a traditional school setting all of his academic life and had experienced limited success and direction in helping him determine his future. Once enrolled in the charter school he was given the opportunity to pursue some college courses as part of his high school career. (Although he could have done this in a traditional school, he was not given any encouragement on an individual basis.) I suggested a couple of courses at a local community college that could help him see if either of these areas could be something he might want to pursue as a career. One course was in auto-body repair and the other was in administration of justice. The auto-body class was barely passed but the administration of justice class became a godsend for this student. Suddenly, he had found his niche. He has since graduated and is currently completing his degree in Administration of Justice and will soon be a member of our law enforcement community. It is very doubtful that this would have ever happened had this young man not been afforded the opportunity and personal attention he needed to give him this direction in his life.

I have worked with students in a personalized school setting for five years. I have worked with one particular family for four years. They have four boys aging in range from kindergarten through seventh grade. As a part of the personalized program students are offered the opportunity to be involved in individualized and group instruction in a variety of extracurricular type activities. This particular family decided to utilize the opportunity to enroll their boys in karate. They began with the two oldest boys and as each of the next two boys entered kindergarten they too began to take karate lessons. The result has been incredible. The boys have all progressed to the point that karate has become more than simply an activity in which to participate into something that is a vital part of all their lives. It has resulted in increased discipline in all areas of their life including and especially in their academic pursuits. Not only do the boys "learn" karate they teach it as well to younger students. No doubt it will help them all their lives as they see the opportunities to use this for both personal growth and for helping others learn discipline and focus in their own lives. As a result of this opportunity afforded them by the personalized learning school, this family has something that will forever be an important part of their future.



NAME: Debbie Cunningham
GROUP: Parent and Teacher
SCHOOL: CORE@The Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Yuba City
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Sutter
Three years we decided that our son would be more successful academically at home than he was in a traditional classroom setting. It was a hard decision but the best decision we could have made. Our son struggled in school and had a hard time staying focused. Having him come home where there were less distractions and teaching him according to his learning style has made an incredible difference. Socially he has not wanted for anything. He has more time now than ever because he gets his work done during school and doesn't have to do homework all afternoon. I am thankful that not only can I be a parent of this wonderful model of teaching but also a teacher. I have seen students who were struggling surpass academic challenges they thought they never would achieve. On the other side of the coin I've seen students who excel be able to be challenged and move at a faster pace because they aren't being held back by others. Personalized learning is a wonderful alternative to the traditional classroom where students who would not have a chance to flourish otherwise, are given wings to fly in every developmental way.

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Yuba County
NAME: Nancy Akins
GROUP: Teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Marysville
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Yuba
Student Success Stories in Personalized Learning
Student #1
I enrolled Adam in 9th grade in Camptonville Academy charter. I suggested computer curriculum, and ordered a computer. He used textbooks while waiting for the school computer to arrive. His paperwork was full of erasure marks, and bold, dark penciling—expressing frustration or anger at his disability in processing information and written mechanics. His mother and I were unable to get many assignments out of him. It took 45 minutes to write one sentence.

Once his computer arrived, Adam could work independently on all core-subjects, with one-on-one interaction. He typed his answer neatly and orderly. Colorful graphics held his attention, and helped him process the assignments. I’d bring a copy of his printout to show the family. Adam showed an eagerness to point out to his parents his good scores. He was successful for the first time! Within a month or two, Adam showed an “interest” in English, as well as a thorough understanding of what he was covering!

I saw an overall improvement on the amount of school work Adam produced, as well as grades going from F’s and D’s, to C’s and B’s. In so many words, he told me about all those years in the classroom—he would be frustrated because he didn’t “get it”, was easily distracted, thought he must be stupid, and was ashamed of his messy papers in all subjects.

Any reasonable adult knows that if a child experiences these anxieties long enough, they will “give up”.

Student #2
Andrew expressed interest in using the computer for completing assignments. He said he disliked all subjects, and had been falling behind. He knew that what he had been doing “was not working”.

His family and I agreed to use Tomorrow’s Promise CDs for Math, Language, and Reading, and to type questions and answers to S.S. and Science on the computer (continuing in the same texts he was used to).

Andrew had great success responding to the Math and Language activities and instruction. Typing agreed with Andrew. He now enjoyed doing his Social Studies and Science on Word (Microsoft). His answers became complete and “in-depth”. He gladly completed additional research and essay writing assignments, and volunteered to make cover pages with graphics and colorful borders.

As he became happier with his learning experience, his medications were finally more balanced. (His agitation and medication were a huge issue).

Andrew took his SAT-9 testing (for a week in a classroom) with other 7th graders from our Charter School. His test results were better than any previous years—and above average in all areas.

Student #3
My daughter, Natalie, was noticeably gifted as a baby. She developed much sooner, in all areas, than the “books” suggested. I could tell you about her extensive vocabulary, phonemic awareness, and advanced number skills. However, by the end of second grade, I noticed problems in reading and spelling. How shocking to find out that my bright little girl was unable to process the information correctly! She had been memorizing what she heard, and parts of what she saw.

In the classroom, she was able to work in small groups. Therefore, she did not have to read aloud, or take notes. The others in her group would “cover” for her—as long as Natalie would spend the entire study time drawing illustrations for each member of the group. In this way she participated, and somehow kept her grades up. (I had been speaking to each of her teachers over the years, and they did not recognize it as a problem).

When Natalie got to 6th grade she had to work independently and take her own notes as the teacher wrote them on the board. She had to work so hard to read and write the information correctly, the teacher erased the board long before Natalie finished. Her frustration intensified (daily). She was easily distracted by noises in the classroom, sensitive to the lighting, and cried every morning on the way to school. Some of the teachers said they would provide “study time” during lunch hour for students wanting to catch-up on notes, etc. Natalie waited everyday at that recess to be called on that loudspeaker. No one ever called students in. I talked to the teachers, and they always had “too busy” excuses.

I took my daughter out of that school—to save her from failure. She was so relieved to be in a Charter School, where I could give her my undivided attention. I had to constantly “prompt” her to focus. She didn’t mind, she was happy to be relieved of anxiety. That Spring, her grades improved, due to having all the information available in texts, having more time to finish one subject assignment at a time (instead of just beginning, then moving to the next class). And, no more feeling like a “dummy” in front of peers.

The following two and a half years, she did nearly all computer curriculum. The computer kept her going through one assignment after another. She could get through a lot more lessons, so she was actively learning—instead of sitting in frustration. And, I was less of a nag—which eased my job as a teacher.

Throughout 7th, 8th, and 9th grades she honestly earned a B’s in her subjects. The last semester of 9th grade she worked out of texts as well as on the computer. She now had confidence that she was capable—and had to prove to herself that she could do what her friends in school were doing, and some day return to the classroom for High School.

Natalie left independent study, and went to a “project-based classroom” Charter School for 10th and 11th grades. She continues to earn mostly B’s, a few A’s, and no more than one C per report card (from 8 classes each semester).

Many homeschoolers are here, because of some of these issues I’ve mentioned. They are frustrated with the typical classroom because it’s not working for them. They need alternative options to gain confidence in themselves. Children with certain needs do not have to be “failures” in school. Give those students another choice, and more individual attention than a classroom teacher can give—and those students may finally “blossom”.

I have seen it happen many times. That is why I teach for a Charter School.

NAME: Christine Sween
GROUP: parent and independent study teacher
SCHOOL: Camptonville Academy
CITY OF RESIDENCE: Browns Valley
COUNTY OF RESIDENCE: Yuba County
I have a unique role as a home schooling parent, I am also an independent study teacher with a Personalized Learning School. As a home schooling parent I know how important it is for me to have choices and flexibility to be able to do what is best for my children and as a teacher I have seen that flexibility and choice is important to other home schooling families as well.

I taught in traditional public school for eight years and decided when my oldest child was in kindergarten to bring her home and school her myself. It was the best decision that was ever made for my family. As a result of that decision, all of our children are currently schooling at home where they are thriving. Because of the various educational needs of my children and their different learning styles, we are able to tailor curriculum to what they specifically need to flourish academically.

I am so thankful that we, as Californians, still have the ability to choose what is best for our kids, but we need to ensure that we continue to have this most important freedom.