About

Alyssa Pritchett

b_345_518_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Pritchett-Alyssa-StudentID-01603.jpgLiterature and Composition Teacher

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Alyssa comes to IVA with a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Hope International University. She also holds a Single Subject Credential in English from Hope International University. Prior to IVA, Alyssa has taught at La Habra High School and worked as a substitute teacher for the Pomona Unified School District. Alyssa also has experience coaching boys and girls tennis at the high school level. In her free time she is either tending to her plants, trying new coffee shops, or trying new recipes in her kitchen. 
 
"I was immediately drawn to IVA's mission and vision. To equip every student with the skills to learn and live well is the exact reason I got into teaching. I want to empower my students to be the best versions of themselves. I also greatly appreciate that I can use literature as a tool to help students grow in their intellectual characters. From looking at different literary texts I can encourage students to be curious, thorough, and courageous in their thinking. I am so thankful to be apart of this amazing community where the virtues model is interwoven in every aspect of education." 

Alex Rosas

b_347_522_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Rosas-Alex-StudentID-01370.jpgSocial Science Teacher

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Alex comes to IVA from a non-profit background where she worked to provide housing for homeless veterans and families with Century Housing. Through this experience, she was inspired to follow her passion for teaching in an effort to provide a safe, supportive space for youth. Alex was born and raised overseas and speaks Romanian and Spanish. She enjoys traveling, dancing, taking care of her Shiba Inu puppy, Leo and spending time with her family, friends and husband, Gustavo.

Alex holds a Single Subject Credential in Social Science from CSULB, as well as BA’s in International Studies and Spanish from CSULB. Before IVA, Mrs. Rosas student-taught at Hughes Middle School in Long Beach and has been teaching dance for 13 years.

“I am so impressed with IVA’s commitment to deep thinking and developing lifelong learners and am so excited to be a part of this community. In a world where students are inundated with a variety of perspectives and media, social science and intellectual virtues play a vital role in teaching students how to sort through information and develop their own thinking. I am committed to being a lifelong learner and I want to encourage curiosity and autonomy in my classroom to help students take initiative in their own learning. I hope to empower students to see themselves as agents of change in their communities, enable them to use intellectual virtues to think deeply about the kind of world they want to see and tenaciously enact change.” 

Gaby Schmidt

b_350_438_16777215_00_images_bioimages_gabyschmidt.jpgMathematics Teacher

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Gaby taught math at Roosevelt Middle School in Glendale for 12 years before taking a long break from teaching to raise 3 kids with her husband, Andre.  She taught all levels of middle school math and coordinated her school's AVID program. She obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Mathematics/Applied Science from UCLA, and also has her teaching credential and Master of Education from UCLA. 

"I love IVA's focus on deep thinking.  Our math curriculum is so rich in problem solving, deep conceptual understanding, and mathematical communication, while still providing plenty of practice of essential math skills. I have been so impressed with the deep commitment to working together as a group of educators to do what is best for the students. I'm so excited to be a part of this team!"

Claudia Smith

Screen_Shot_2021-09-17_at_110309_AM.pngScience Teacher

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Claudia is Salvadorian American and grew up in Southeast Los Angeles. She is married and has a little baby named Emily who was born on a very snowy Colorado day. She loves hanging out with family, going to Farmer’s Markets and trying new foods. She holds a B.S. in Biochemistry from Loyola Marymount University and M.A. in Education from Alliant International University. She taught high school and middle school chemistry early in her teaching career, then joined IVA where she taught middle school science and a year of Spanish. She was with IVA for three years before moving to Colorado where she continued to teach middle school science at Shaw Heights Middle School. She has now returned to IVA and we are so grateful!

"IVA has a personal and meaningful way of naming how we think and learn. Teaching students using intellectual virtues teaches students how to be meta cognitive, which empowers students. This is something that sticks with students and truly helps them become lifelong learners. I’m glad I get to be a part of a team that works to empower students in such a meaningful way."

Rachel Stanley

b_351_527_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Stanley-Rachel-StudentID-01485.jpgPhysical Education Teacher

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Rachel Stanley is a two-time graduate of California State University, Long Beach, where she received her bachelor's degree in Fine Art and her teaching credential in Physical Education.  She has been a substitute teacher with Long Beach Unified and Los Alamitos Unified School Districts since 2017, with a particular focus on middle school, and has also been a swim instructor for 13 years.  She comes to IVA after spending the past two years as a long-term substitute in middle school PE with Long Beach Unified.  Ms. Stanley credits her lifelong love of the water and the outdoors with sparking her passion for physical education.  In addition to swimming, she spends much of her time running, walking, and cycling around Seal Beach and Long Beach.  She also loves music and dance, and fits them into her PE classes whenever possible!
 
"I was drawn to IVA because I enjoy the chance to build relationships, both with my students and with other teachers, and realized a smaller school with a more tight-knit community would provide better opportunities to connect.  I share IVA's vision of helping students get to know themselves through identifying their own interests, strengths, and needs for growth, and equipping them to live well in their teen and adult years by teaching them how to develop their own fitness and health goals.  To help my students develop positive connections with physical activity, I teach a variety of skills and activities, and use games or music to make it fun and engaging.  When students find movement activities they genuinely enjoy, it empowers and motivates them to make exercise and fitness a part of their daily lives."

Tiffany Salazar

b_348_523_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Salazar-Tiffany-StudentID-00968.jpgLong Term Physical Education Substitute & Behavior Support Supervisor

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Tiffany was born in Los Angeles and raised in the city of El Monte. Earned my B.S in kinesiology from Cal Poly Pomona and was a member of the Women's Soccer Team for two years. She is in the process of pursuing her Physical Education teaching credential at CSULB. Tiffany plans to advocate the value of sports and movement, which contribute to living a healthy lifestyle by promoting physical activity and healthy habits that can improve the quality of life.

"I was drawn to IVAs unique approach to teaching that invites students to explore, practice and apply a set of virtues to their study habits in an environment that is safe and allows room for individuality. The opportunity to know themselves and live well as the vision statement states which brings significance to their day to day life on and off campus."

Dan Speak

Ph.D. University of California, Riverside, M.A. Claremont Graduate University, B.A. Biola University

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Howie Fitzgerald - Board Chairman

M.A. Philosophy, Claremont Graduate University, B.A Philosophy, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

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Eric Churchill

PhD Case Western University, MBA Azusa Pacific University 

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Dan Hertzler

M.A. Cal State Dominguez Hills

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Megan Folland

BS, Business Administration and Marketing Management, Goldey-Beacom College

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Joshua Ross

 CPA, MBA and BSA - Southern Illinois University

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Asion Jackson

M.Ed., The Broad Residency in Urban Education
M.B.A., Cornell University, Johnson Graduate School of Management
B.S., UCLA

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Dylan Frazier

b_321_401_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Frazier-Dylan.jpgBehavior Support Specialist

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Dylan is from socal and went to LBCC for a semester then transferred out to a university which he currently attends. He's at California State University of Long Beach studying nursing, hopefully to be an RN(registered nurse) one day and save lives. He likes influencing people's lives and motivating them to always want more.  After nursing he plans to get into real estate so he can solidify two sources of income.

Going to the gym is one of the few hobbies he has, other than going to the beach to hangout just because self care is the best care. Dylan likes to help people in any way he can. His role consists of constant support for the kids whether it's with school or even if they just want to talk about what’s going on at home.

"IVA sets good examples for the kids, especially if they see the teachers and staff practice the virtues and it makes it a good learning environment for the kids. It also molds kids into being young adults and with my role I get to embrace the virtues and pass it on to the kids. I love working with kids knowing that I have an impact on how they will continue to grow by supporting them when needed and teaching them how the real world works and how the virtues are implemented everyday. I’m here to make their middle school experience memorable while teaching them all the virtues so they can carry it on in their lives as they get older. "

Liz Gillies

b_320_427_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Gillies_Liz_StudentID_00868.jpgNutritional Service Coordinator
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Liz Gillies is a West Coast transplant with an East Coast sense of humor. She moved here in 2011 with her husband and children to pursue a lifelong dream of living in California. After a career in restaurant management, Liz decided to transition to working in a school environment. This change allowed for additional work flexibility to be more present daily for her three children. Liz came to IVA as Nutrition Services Coordinator. after working as a Rec Aide in LBUSD for years. Her passion for creating warmth, caring for, and feeding people is nurtured by inviting all students to nourish their bodies and minds. She believes there is a direct correlation between hunger and learning and works to encourage all students to come into the Meal Room to take a meal or snack at break times.

“As an IVA parent, I’ve seen firsthand the devotion, community and care IVA provides to all students. I was thrilled to have an opportunity to become a member of the team and work alongside the wonderful educators and staff to create an environment of love and support in all forms for students at IVA.”

Kai Karafotis

b_321_482_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Karafotis-Kai-StudentID-00902.jpgInstructional Aide/Tech Support

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Kai is a current Chapman student pursuing a BFA in Production Design for Film with a minor in Studio Art. Through his educational pursuits, Kai has retained a strong love for math, and worked as a math instructor for a year and a half. He empowers students through empathy and patience, and hopes to embrace their individuality to help them grow.

"IVAs sense of academic excellence through compassion really spoke to me as an educator. The values of IVA promote genuine learning, and I’m excited to embrace the virtues to create a positive learning environment that I can carry with me to any work environment."

 

Monica Rodgers

b_321_402_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Rodgers-Monica.jpgBehavior Support Specialist

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Ms. Monica grew up locally and attended schools in both Compton and Long Beach. She has worked with kids for over 30 years, with 29 of those years within LBUSD. You can often find her hanging with her 3 sons and 10 grandkids. When she's with her friends, she enjoys playing cards and dominoes. 

Monica found out about IVA through her grandson, who is a proud IVA Alumni (Class of 2022). When her grandson started at IVA, she saw how kind and caring the staff was. Monica saw how IVA cared for the well-being of all students and brought everyone together as a community. She regrets not seeking a position at IVA sooner!

Nathalie Sickles

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Instructional Aide

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Nathalie Sickles is 27 years old and originally from Riverside. She just relocated to Long Beach this year. From 2014-2019, she attended California State University, Monterey Bay. During her undergrad, she had the opportunity to study abroad in Ireland and travel around Europe. Her hobbies are listening to music and hiking with my family.
 
Last year,  she completed her Master's in Historical Studies at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland. Her passion is working with students and providing a supportive environment. She'd excited for this new opportunity to be an instructional aide and part of the IVA community.

Governance

IVA is the 1,504th charter school in the State of California and the first to be founded on the innovative educational model of intellectual character virtues. Charter schools are free, public independent schools authorized by their local school district or county office of education. Charter petitions go through a regular renewal processes. 
 
IVA's Charter is authorized by the Long Beach Unified School District. The original petition was adopted by LBUSD in 2012 and received a renewal in 2016 which extends through June 2024. We love our charter petition as it describes the educational model along financial and compliance elements. We encourage you to read our charter and let us know if you have any questions. 
 
As an independent public charter school IVA creates plans and goals related to budget expenditures reported through the LCAP, or Local Control Accountability Plan. To create the annual LCAP IVA engages with parents, educators, employees, students and the community. Parents are engaged both informally through Parent Academy and other direct contact meetings and formally annual parent surveys and public board meetings. IVA's LCAP takes into account results and feedback annually as the school creates plans to address implementing the mission and vision toward both academic and social-emotional support. Please see the LCAP page for specifics.
 
IVA annually updates school data through the SARC or School Accountability Report Card. 

 

Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP)

Each school district and charter school must engage parents, educators, employees and the community to establish a local accountability plan for the next year called the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The LCAP describes IVA's overall vision for students, provides accountability for annual goals, and outlines how we will achieve those goals through specific actions. LCAPs must align their goals with eight state priorities.

After soliciting feedback and input from a variety of stakeholder groups, IVA's 2023-2024 LCAP was given public hearing at the April 5, 2023 board meeting and officially adopted by the board at the June 6, 2023 board meeting.

Also linked below is IVA's Expanded Learning Opportunities Program Plan (ELO-P). This plan describes how IVA will use available funds to serve eligible sixth grade students with additional learning and support opportunities beyond the normal school day and year.

Previous Year LCAPs

2021-2022 LCAP and Supporting Documents

2020-2021 Learning Continuity and Attendance Plan (LCP) 

2019-2020 LCAP and Supporting Documents

Local Control and Accountability Plans from 2019 and Before

School Accountability Report Card (SARC)

Click here to access IVA's 2022-2023 School Accountability Report Card (SARC)

You can learn more about the SARC through the CDE's resources:

IVA's School Accountability Report Card is available at the link at the top of this page, or on the California Department of Education's website using IVA's official school name: Intellectual Virtues Academy of Long Beach. The SARC reports on previous year information submitted in February of each year. 

You can also review IVA's State CAASP Test Scores here, comparing IVA's results to LBUSD and to the State of CA.

 

Our Charter

IVA's Charter is authorized by the Long Beach Unified School District. The original petition was adopted by LBUSD in 2012. Based on a proven track record of high performance IVA received a 5 year renewal in 2016 and a 7 year renewal in 2023. IVA's current charter term lasts through June 2030.
 
IVA's charter is a thorough document that describes the mission, vision, and educational model offered by this school. Click on the links below to review our original charter document from 2012 or our renewal charter petition from 2016.
 

     2012 Original Charter Petition

Board Minutes
Governance