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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?

Richard Williams

b_345_518_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Williams-Richard-StudentID-01578.jpgDirector of Programs and Operations

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Richard Williams is a career educator and is dedicated to the ideal that every child deserves the chance to receive a high-quality education.  He spent his first ten years in education at Green Dot Public Schools, a charter management organization with schools across the country.  At Green Dot, Mr. Williams had the joy of being a high-school math teacher in Inglewood, a data-analyst, and an operations and finance director.  During his time as a teacher, Mr. Williams participated in the original IVA Pedagogy Seminars and was inspired and invigorated by the vision for IVA.  Years later, he feels privileged to call this place home.
 
Mr. Williams lives with his wife and three young boys in Long Beach.  He is a Southern California native, through and through.  He earned an B.A. in Philosophy from Biola University, his single-subject math credential from Loyola Marymount, and his MBA from UCLA Anderson.
 
“I love education, and I believe access to a high-quality education is a fundamental right that should be afforded to every student.  I feel so lucky that I can use my unique set of skills and knowledge to support the functioning of a school that is doing right by students and families."

Martha Esquivias

b_341_512_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Esquivias-Martha-StudentID-01518.jpgSocial Science Teacher

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Martha is a Cal State Long Beach graduate, with a bachelor's degree in sociology, and her single subject teaching credential in history. Prior to IVA, Ms. Esquivias worked with the Long Beach Public Library, as well as a K-12 substitute teacher in Compton and Long Beach. Ms. Esquivias truly enjoys working with youth and is passionate about helping students find joy in learning about history and becoming critical and deep thinkers. In her free time, she enjoys watching reruns of Gilmore Girls, spending time with her husband and their golden retriever Twix, cooking, and working out. 

"I was drawn to IVA because of their student-centered approach, which focuses on deep thinking and personal growth. Each of the virtues play a role in helping students build a sense of autonomy and confidence in their learning. In particular, I am a huge fan of the virtues of curiosity and open-mindedness because I feel like those really drive the social sciences. I am eager to be a part of IVA, and I look forward to playing a role in helping our students succeed and achieve their personal and academic goals."

Sherry Eutsey

b_351_439_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Eutsey-Sherry.jpgPhysical Education Teacher

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Sherry Eutsey is a recent graduate of California State University, Long Beach, where she received her teaching credential in Physical Education. She also attended California State University, Fullerton where she earned her Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology. She has learned Montessori principles as a teacher in Newport Beach in which she feels compliments the way the virtues give the students an opportunity to grow as an individual in our community. 

Ms. Eutsey credits her curiosity in finding ways students are able to learn the benefits of being physically active throughout their lifetime. Ms. Eutsey loves to go on multiple adventures, where she is able to have a deeper connection with her family and find peace within her life. She is very creative and always finds a way to make each moment a time to enjoy and share and create smiles and memories.

“I was intringed to see how IVA connects their mission values to their different subjects taught at the school. I love the idea of having a team and a family and after meeting and getting to know the staff at this school they not only say they care about one another but show it through their actions. My goal is to help every student learn the importance of physical activity throughout their lifetime. Along with IVA’s virtues, my goals interconnect with helping the students find their own self through trial and error. I also like to participate in the games and activities to show the students movement is good.”

Rachel Stanley

b_351_527_16777215_00_images_bioimages_Stanley-Rachel-StudentID-01485.jpgArt 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."
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