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What if there was a middle school where students were asked to care about how their mind works? Where students were asked to wonder out loud. Imagine a place where kids are excited to learn. What if this place allowed students to struggle and helped them view perseverance through struggle as an opportunity for growth?

Julia Cheybun

b_350_400_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Screen_Shot_2020-02-20_at_105201_AM.pngOffice Supervisor & Enrollment Coordinator

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Julia was born and raised in Long Beach, and imagines that she won't ever move too far from Southern California.

Ever since Julia can remember, she knew that she wanted to work in a school. She never knew exactly what she wanted to do but often thought that one day she would become a teacher... an elementary school teacher, to be exact. Over time, she learned that she just didn't hold the passion for teaching, but still loved the thought of an education related career. Just before graduating from high school, she realized that she eventually wanted to become an academic counselor. With this dream in mind, she attended CSULB and received a B.A. in Psychology.

"Prior to working at IVA, I had only worked in elementary school settings and finally felt like I needed to expand my knowledge, and learn more about working with older students. I was lucky enough to find a job posting for IVA, and quickly applied. After one visit to IVA's website, and reading all the faculty and staff bios, I knew that I wanted to work with the great group! Everyday here, I find myself learning more and more about each of the master virtues just as all of the students are." 

Nurasyikin Abdul Jalil

b_320_480_16777215_00_images_bioimages_AbdulJalil_Nurasyikin.jpgOffice Assistant

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Syikin Jalil is a native of Singapore where she was born and raised before moving to Australia at a young age for school. She obtained a degree in Mass communications from Curtin University of Technology in Perth,Western Australia. Prior to her move to the U.S., she worked in marketing, advertising, and public relations. She currently lives in Long Beach, California with her husband and their son. They enjoy weekly movie nights, entertaining family and friends with elaborate meals, and soaking up the wonderful Californian weather.

After moving to California, Syikin held various positions in office administration before taking a break to concentrate on family. Her position as IVA's office assistant is her first stint back into the workforce and she is extremely eager to be working for IVA and to be part of the IVA family.

"Growing up with two relatives who were teachers and seeing their workload, being one never appealed to me. However, after having my own child and being active as a volunteer and PTA member at his school, I knew my next step was to involve myself in a school environment. IVA is a top choice as I love IVA's vision and how it aligns with my own values. Cultivating lifelong learners is important. I'm impressed that IVA encourages this because this will change how the future generation shapes the communities we live in"

Rachel Gordon

b_350_438_16777215_00_images_bioimages_rachelgordon.jpgDean of Students & Co-Teaching Art with Ms. Stanley  

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Before coming to IVA, Rachel Gordon taught for 14 years at Rosa Parks Elementary School in Lynwood, CA, where she was originally placed by Teach for America. Here is where she learned the value of a strong community and what can be gained by better understanding the experiences of others.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Rachel got her BA in English from Rutgers University, her MA in Elementary Education from Loyola Marymount University, and her single-subject science credential from the California State University of Long Beach. Rachel began her career at IVA in 2016 as a Science and Physical Education teacher.  Then in response to the need for more math support, Rachel and Cari Noble created the Algebra Lab and Math Lab support classes. She and her husband Mark have two children: Emery and Miles.

"After teaching in a traditional public school where success and failure were measured only by test scores, I believe many students are missing out on learning what it takes to persist in unpredictable and complex lives. I want to examine the processes and challenges we go through, especially when they are difficult. Studying and teaching with an emphasis on experience and thinking motivates me because I am able to get to the core of what matters and what promotes life-long success. I love learning through collaboration the elements of a meaningful education."

Jacquie Bryant

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Founding Principal
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Jacquie Bryant is a veteran educator and IVA's founding principal. Ms. Bryant regards personal formation and character growth as a primary goal in education for both students and staff. Ms. Bryant is IVA's second employee and arrived shortly after IVA's Charter was written by its founders and authorized by LBUSD in 2013. Ms. Bryant has systematically implemented an intellectual character educational model in curriculum selection, hiring for teachers and staff, professional development and strategic planning with the board, and all aspects of our academic program grounded in IVA's mission and vision.

Ms. Bryant previously taught all levels of English Language Arts for ten years at the comprehensive high school, San Pedro HS in LA Unified. As a teacher she appreciated classrooms where students engaged with rigorous learning and metacognitive awareness at the same time and was super excited to see the connection of these in intellectual virtues. At San Pedro High, Ms. Bryant also worked as an instructional coach, helped lead school-wide professional development, and participated in the WASC accreditation process. While Ms. Bryant was teaching at SPHS she earned a a single subject clear credential in English from Cal State Long Beach, a Master's in Rhetoric and Composition, and an Administrative Credential from Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Ms. Bryant finds transformation and flourishing in the language of virtues and intellectual character and is eager to apply all of these deep and profound human goods into creating the adult community of educators and families that support student growth. She believes that intellectual character growth is personally meaningful for everyone involved at the school, and specifically seeks to support the culture of adults at a school as it has a direct impact on the culture of thinking that students experience. She finds meaning and purpose in the language of the virtues and its impact on teaching and learning and on her own continued intellectual character growth. Over the years, she has partnered with university-based researchers to train other teachers and leaders in virtue education. She finds joy in hosting visiting educator teams to observe classes in session and experience a pedagogy seminar grounded in intellectual virtues education. 

Ms. Bryant is currently enrolled in the University of Birmingham's Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues studying for a Masters in Character Education. 

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