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Sherry Housley

My name is Sherry Housley and I am the Vice-Principal for the Merced Scholars Charter School. I attended Merced College, Chapman University, and California State University, Fresno. I am in the Chancellor's Fellows Program at CSU, Fresno. I received my Bachelors Degree in Social Science, as well as my Preliminary and Clear Multiple Subject Credentials from Chapman University. I have also completed my CLAD certification. I am concluding my Masters Degree in Education along with my Administrative Credential at Fresno State with a graduation date of December of this year. The Chancellor's Fellows Program is the only one in the state, and has been a great experience to network within the educational community of the San Joaquin Valley.

I have been a classroom teacher since 1996. I have taught various grades in elementary school and I have also taught adult education. In the last few years, I have been training teachers in literacy, English language development, and school readiness. I have also facilitated several parent workshops as well as school readiness workshops. These experiences have helped to strengthen my skills as an educator.

I believe that the future of children should be driven by their aspirations and not by their circumstances. I will give my greatest effort to help them achieve their goals!

Marilyn Anderson

I am Marilyn Anderson, and I have just begun an exciting new phase in my life at Merced Scholars Charter School. I graduated from California State University at Chico in 1969 with a B.A. in Social Science, and completed my life single subject teaching credential the following year. In 1980, I returned to school for a Masters degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in United States History from the George Mason University in Virginia.

My teaching experiences are broad. I began my career with MUHSD teaching 9th grade Geography, Family Life, and Driver's Education, and, every so often, we would add Youth and the Law or Ethic Studies to our courses. A sabbatical brought me back to a new teaching assignment at Merced High School for one year with the Pregnant Minors Program, and then back to East Campus Social Studies Department. I spent the last 11-12 yeas at Golden Valley High School teaching United States History and World History, and coaching Academic Decathlon. When the need for another place for students to complete units to meet graduation requirements arose, I accepted a position with Merced Adult School, teaching concurrent classes to high school students on their site. In June of 2005, I retired after 35 years of teaching at MUHSD!

Retirement is wonderful. It has given me the opportunity to explore new opportunities. One of those has been the Charter School, facilitation the learning of students on home teaching. I believe that every student is capable of great things, and with a positive outlook toward life-long learning in any form, they will reach that greatness! My goal is to challenge students to move beyond what they "think they are capable of" and try something new.

Sandra Scheidt

I have been connected to education all my life. My Grandma Brooks was a teacher, and she taught in Los Banos for many years. My parents moved to Dos Palos in 1957, and my father taught science in Los Banos. From there, we moved to Sanger, California, and my father taught science at Washington Jr. High (he was my science teacher!)

At Sanger High School, I met Tom Scheidt, not realizing that in four years, I would marry my "high school sweetheart". With my hard work and Tom's determination, Tom graduated from Humbolt State University in 1969. He too became a teacher (biology), and his first position was at Dos Palos High.

I taught preschool and worked as a teacher's aide in Dos Palos. I was drawn to becoming a teacher and, in 1987, I graduated from California State University, Fresno with a degree in English. My first teaching position was with Dos Palos High School in 1987.

I actively taught until my retirement in July 2005. The first year of retirement was alright, but I realized just how much I missed students. I applied for a teaching position with Merced Scholars Charter School, not knowing what had become of my application or the hiring process. I nervously returned to Merced after a three week trip to Europe, and I was notified that I had indeed made the "paper cut", and I that I was scheduled for an interview. I am now a proud member of the teaching staff at Merced Scholars Charter School, and I am enjoying all my student's educational journeys.

Anna Miller

My name is Anna Miller, and I am currently a part-time teacher at Merced Scholars Charter School. I attended Merced College, CSU Long Beach, and CSU Fresno. I graduated from CSU Fresno with a Bachelor's Degree in Social Work in May 1991. My first paid teaching position was actually on a military base in Okinawa, Japan. I worked with preschool students who were three to five years old. After returning to the United States, I volunteered at my children's school and loved being in the classroom. In the fall of 1997, I started the credential program at Chapman University. Because I still had children at home, it took me several years to finish the program, but I was able to complete all the requirements for my preliminary teaching credential by the end of 2005.

Over the years, I have held many positions in the field of education. In the 1994-95 school years, I was a campus supervisor. I also worked as a reading clinician and 4/5 classroom teacher from 1998-2001 at Gracey School in Merced. During the 2005-06 school year, I did my student teaching and had a long term substitute teaching position in Atwater. I gladly accepted a position at Merced Scholars Charter School and started working with students and their families in August 2006.

Home schooling allows each student to have an individualized learning plan which is tailored to their needs as well as their interests. In my first months at the school, I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting with the students, getting to know them, and watching them grow.

My personal philosophy of education is to start student at their individual levels, and help them grow from there. I believe that all students can learn when given the assistance and attention they need. My goal is to provide students with a safe environment to learn while challenging them to excel in both school and life.

Kristyn Lopez

My name is Kristyn Lopez and I am currently a Home Studies Teacher for Merced Scholars Charter School.  I graduated from California State University, Fresno back in 1989 with a B.A. in Biological Science.  I received my Professional Clear Single Subject Credential in Life Science from Chapman University in December, 2002.

My teaching experience includes being employed as a science teacher at Mariposa County High School and as a long term substitute teaching 4th, 5th and 6th grade science at Woodland Elementary School in Mariposa County along with several years of substitute teaching in K-12 grade classrooms.  In the fall of 1997 I became employed as a Home Studies Teacher at Valley Community School in Merced County teaching K-12 students.  In the six years at this school I learned invaluable skills in curriculum development, training on WASC accreditation, field-trip planning, and public relations as well as teaching strategies that best met the individual needs of students.  Finally, in the fall of 2004 I began working for Merced Scholars Charter School (9-12th grade) along with a fine group of teachers and administrators. 

I feel that my past experience is invaluable in creating and maintaining an individual educational experience for each and every one of my Home Studies families.  My educational philosophy is constantly being updated with the ever changing dynamics of family and student needs as well as California State Requirements.  My main goal is to provide a safe, well-rounded environment that is both challenging and empowering to the student all the while imparting a quest for knowledge and productivity into the future.

Maria Villanueva

My name is Maria Villanueva and I am a teacher at the Merced Scholars Charter School.  My first experience in the education field began in 1995.  I started as a Paraprofessional in grades K-12 in Merced, California.  In the year 2000 I accepted a position as a Library Technician in one of the elementary school’s in Merced. 

My teaching experience includes substitute teaching throughout the county and teaching summer school.  I have accepted long term substitute teaching positions in which I have learned valuable skills and techniques.  I have had the opportunity to create lesson plans to meet every child’s needs.

I graduated from California State University, Stanislaus, in May 2003 with my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Liberal Studies and a concentration on Ethnic Studies.  In the fall of 2003 I began working on my Multiple Subject/BCLAD (Spanish) Credential.  I received my Preliminary Credential in 2005.

I began working at Merced Scholars Charter School in August 2005.  Since then I have found Home Schooling to be very rewarding.  Home Schooling provides a more individualized educational experience for each and every student. 

My educational philosophy is that every mind is capable of achieving great things.  It is my responsibility to teach each child according to their individual learning styles and needs.  My main goal is to make every individual a life long learner.