Our Caring and Committed Staff
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 Personalized Learning 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 schools 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 and my Professional Clear Credential in 2008.
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.
Crystal Sousa
My name is Crystal Sousa and I am a teacher at Merced Scholars Charter School. I received my Bachelors degree in History from CSU Stanislaus in 2001. I then entered the Masters program in History. In 2006 I received my credential in Social Science and English.
My teaching experience includes four years of substitute teaching for the Hickman Community Charter School District. I then did my student teaching at Hickman Middle School. In 2006 I went to work for the Waterford Unified School District. I spent one year as an Independent Studies Teacher and one year as the English/History teacher at Sentinel High School. I am very excited to be joining the staff at Merced Scholars Charter School. The opportunity to work with parents and students on an individual basis is a unique and rewarding experience.
My educational philosophy is that all children are capable learners and it is the responsibility of me as the educator to understand and adapt to their individual learning styles in order to ensure their success.