Teachers are a fundamental part of children’s lives. They dedicate countless hours and resources to guide and support them. Children are our future, and they depend on teachers to point them in the right direction, guide their curiosity and encourage the pursuit of their dreams.
Teachers deserve to be celebrated for their dedication, so this week, in honor of National Teacher Appreciation Week and California Day of the Teacher, we’re featuring stories from two of Compass Charter Schools’ (CCS) teachers. Read their perspective on being an educator and being part of the Compass family:
Lindsey Chalco-Paz, Educational Facilitator
I joined the CCS family in January of this year. I am currently working as an Educational Facilitator to support families in our Options (home study) program. I am a homeschool mom, and I appreciate and understand the journey that many of our families are on.
I absolutely LOVE my job! CCS does a wonderful job supporting and appreciating me as a teacher. There are so many knowledgeable people at our school that I can turn to for support. Compass gives me the tools and resources I need to successfully serve the scholars.
It can be challenging to know where to start when you first begin homeschooling. What I appreciate most about our Options program is that we really work with each family to get to know the scholars and their respective learning styles. This helps us to advise the home study families on things like homeschool philosophies, curriculum, enrichment activities and engagement opportunities for connecting within the homeschool community.
I work with scholars that participate in a wide variety of activities, including music, robotics, art, dance, gardening, animation, and even soldering! It is so exciting for me to see how each scholar discovers and pursues their passions. Most families choose to homeschool because they want to create a tailored educational experience for their children. I think the Options team at Compass Charter Schools does a fantastic job of helping the parent do just that — our goal is to meet the needs of every family and scholar we serve!
Carrie Talcott, Elementary School Teacher
I chose to work at Compass Charter Schools to make a difference in the lives of our children through a group effort to develop a new and innovative academic institution. I have been working for the school since its inception, and have really seen it change for the better. Some of the changes include more teachers on staff, more class options, scholar clubs, a communication website for families to communicate with staff, college preparation for high school scholars, a counseling department and a special education department.
Initially, there was a big need for new enrollment, so that we could sustain our school, but now we are more organized and better equipped to serve our scholars. I appreciate that there are professional development sessions every year to help our teachers be more prepared for the school year. Along with the school’s professional development, the school pays for teachers to attend outside training, which in the long run benefits the scholars.
My favorite part of working at Compass Charter Schools is being a part of the development of new ideas and new program initiatives. The scholars are becoming more independent through our program, which is great to see as well. They are becoming more accountable for their education, with the help of their teachers. Along with becoming more independent, scholars are learning to be problem solvers in this high tech world, by using different operating systems, logging into online sessions, and just figuring out how to solve computer issues when they arise. I am so excited to see how well our scholars will be prepared for their academic future.
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Lindsey Chalco-Paz is an educational facilitator who supports the Options (home study) families. She earned her Masters in Education from Pepperdine University and has been in education for 12 years. She currently lives in West Hills with her husband and three children.
Carrie Talcott is an elementary teacher who supports scholars in the Online program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Child Development and Multiple-subject clear teaching credential from California State University, Northridge. Along with teaching, she used to teach classical dance at her local Y.M.C.A!
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Interested in learning more about online education or homeschooling through Compass Charter Schools? Check out our academic programs. Or, contact our enrollment team at enrollment@compasscharters.org or (877) 506-8631.