Dr. Amrik Singh 
​Principal

My name is Dr. Amrik Singh, your principal for the 2021-2022 school year. It is my 11th year at Sacramento Valley Charter school from the day Washington Unified School District authorized it in 2011. The SVCS instantly became popular with the community as it started catering to the educational needs of Sacramento area students in a safe environment. The school registered its name among the 25% of public schools that offered at least one world language starting from Kindergarten. The Indo-European roots of Punjabi language introduce SVCS students to a complex system of sounds comprehension of which accelerates their cognitive, emotional, and personal development. Most students who transition to a high school after 4-5 years at SVCS demonstrate high academic achievement and increased motivation for a college education. 
I came to SVCS in 2011 with 20 years of teaching experience both at primary school and the college level. I started my career in Elk Grove Unified School District in 2006. I earned my Teaching Credential and Administrative Services Credential from National University of San Diego.  In the same year, I was offered an Adjunct Professor position at Sacramento State University which afforded me the opportunity to work with college students that I continue to enjoy after all these years. I became excited to bring in my two decades of experience as a professor of English language and Linguistics in colleges of Panjab University Chandigarh (India).  
I earned a Masters in English and an M.Phil. in Anthropological Linguistics from Punjabi University Patiala, and a Ph.D. in English from Panjab University Chandigarh (India). Continuing my education in the US, I earned a Masters in Special Education from National University, California.
As your principal, I am committed to creating a positive school culture that promotes learning and engagement; that makes possible to provide a rigorous, standard-based curriculum for all SVCS scholars; and that creates a safe and compassionate environment for social, emotional, and intellectual growth of your child.
As administrator, I support an environment of high expectations, outstanding achievements, and good citizenship. I will spare no effort to create a spirit of mutual trust, productive collaboration, and continuous effort to make SVCS a premier institution in the region.

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Ms. Olson
Kindergarten Teacher

Hello SVCS family!
My name is Courtney Olson. I am so excited to begin my fourth year teaching at SVCS. I have taught both fourth grade and Kindergarten here at SVCS. I grew up in Southern California and received a softball scholarship to continue my education at William Jessup University where I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology. I earned my teaching credential at William Jessup University after working as a behavior therapist and substitute teacher for two years. I enjoy spending my free time with my son, Carson, playing and watching many different sports, and reading.  I love teaching and believe that every student can and will learn. I am looking forward to building relationships with students and watching them grow both academically and socially this upcoming year.    

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Ms. Anaya
1st. Grade Teacher​

My name is Andrea Anaya. I moved to Sacramento from Merced in January 2019 to accept a 3rd grade position at Sacramento Valley Charter School. This will be my second year at Sac Valley Charter. I completed the Multiple Subjects Credential Program at California State University, Stanislaus. In 2017, I graduated with my Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Studies with a concentration in TESOL (Teaching English to Students of Other Languages) from California State University, Stanislaus. I have worked with 2nd and 4th grade during my student teaching in the credential program. I have also worked as a Substitute Teacher for elementary grades and adult ELD classes. I am a very creative and patient teacher. I enjoy reading and arts and crafts. I love working with children and their curiosity of the world that surrounds them. I want the best for each and every student.  This year I will be teaching 1st grade. I am so excited to continue teaching at SVCS for the 2020-2021 school year.  

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Mrs. Cheema
2nd. Grade Teacher

Hello everyone,
My name is Preet Cheema. It has been a wonderful journey teaching at Sacramento Valley Charter School. I teach Second grade and this is my seventh year here.
​I bring along 22 years of teaching experience ranging from (k-8). I hold a clear California Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential and have completed The English Learner (EL) Authorization and Cross-cultural, Language, and Academic Development (CLAD) Certificate from Alliant International University, San Diego. I have earned my Bachelor's degree from Punjab University Chandigarh, and have completed my B.Ed with emphasis on the teaching of Language Arts and Social studies. I have also completed a diploma in Early Childhood Care. I have had an opportunity to study abroad in the United Kingdom which was an enriching experience overall.
I have taught at Delhi Public School and Mayor World School for a period of about 14 years in India. I taught in Roseville for a year before becoming a team member at SVCS 7 years ago. 
I am dedicated to promoting academic performance along with fostering creative, social, and character development skills in my students.
In my free time, I enjoy reading poetry, catching up with friends, baking, painting, and traveling with my family.
I am looking forward to the new session and hoping that the regular in-person classes will bring a sense of normalcy for the scholars.
Thank you for entrusting your child in my care and allowing me to be a part of their journey here at SVCS.

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Mrs. Phillips
​3rd. Grade Teacher

My name is Mrs. Teresa Phillips and I am excited to be returning to SVCS for my 7th year. I bring to SVCS over twenty years of experience working with students K-12 in multiple subjects.  For the 14 years prior to my work at SVCS, I also taught piano and guitar. I  hold a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Studies from Northern Illinois University, with multiple concentrations in Science, Math, Child Development and Language Arts,  as well as my California clear teaching credential. 
In my spare time I enjoy reading, creative writing, gardening, hiking and cycling among many other interests! I look forward to helping your students grow in citizenship as well as their scholarship over the next several months.  I believe every child is a treasure. Thank you for entrusting yours to me.

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Ms. Church 
5th Grade Teacher

Hello SVCS families! My name is Zowee Church and I am so ecstatic for the 2021-2022 school year! I graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science (2019), Multiple Subject Teaching Credential (2020), and a Master of Arts in Teaching (2021). Last year I taught 4th grade at SVCS, but I am very excited to be moving to 5th grade for the upcoming school
year.
I live in the Tahoe Park area with my fiance, Casey, and our two dogs,
Jr and Maggie. In my free time I enjoy reading, traveling, and
interior design projects! I look forward to all of the adventures that
the 2021-2022 school year will bring. Have a wonderful school year and
as always, stay safe.

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Mrs. Nijjar
​Punjabi Teacher (Elementary)

My name is Sarbjeet Kaur Nijjar and this is my eighth year at SVCS  as an elementary Punjabi teacher. After completing  my bachelor’s degree from Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar, I earned a Master’s degree in Economics. I joined the teaching profession after completing a  bachelor’s degree in Education. In addition, I hold a clear credential in world language Punjabi. During my seven years at SVCS,  I have enjoyed the company of my beautiful stars. My students not only learn to read, speak and write in Punjabi, but they also sing Punjabi poems, multiplication tables (ਪਹਾੜੇ) and make better ethical choices. To help my scholars become better ethical thinkers, I have concluded daily discussions on a topic for about 10 to 15 minutes. By learning multiplication tables, scholars were able to perform better in their math classes. For the incoming students, I have made the curriculum simple and easy enough for them to smoothly transition into. I embedded art in my classes and saw a very creative side of my scholars. 
I brought 24 years of teaching experience. Before joining SVCS, I taught multiple subjects for 16 years at many government schools in India. I also have one and half years of experience working as an instructional assistant with Elk Grove Unified School District. 
I love spending time with my family. We enjoy watching TV and going on long trips! My son just completed his Bachelor's of Science in Computer Engineering from Sac State and my daughter is currently a student at Sacramento State University. I am looking forward to having a wonderful time with my dazzling stars from Kindergarten to 4th grade!

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Mrs. Duhra
​Middle School Math Teacher

Hi! My name is Apparjit Kaur Duhra.  This will be my Sixth-year teaching middle school math at Sacramento Valley Charter School.  Math has always been my passion.   I hold a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from California State University of Northridge and worked as a communications engineers for the City of Los Angeles for 10 years before I decided to stay home with my two daughters. My interest in teaching began when I volunteered at my daughters’ school where I realized how much I enjoyed working with children. This experience taught me how important it is to give quality time to our children for their success in the future. I then went on to earn my teaching credentials in Mathematics from the National University.  Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family, listening to music and participating in cultural and outdoor activities.   ​

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Dr. Boudreau
​Middle School Science Teacher

My name is Christine Boudreau and I am very excited to start my second year teaching middle school science here at SVCS, where my daughter is in third grade.
As an undergraduate at the University of San Francisco, I majored in biology. As a graduate student at the University of San Francisco, I majored in chemistry and
served as the teaching assistant for general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry. During my time at USF, I taught and tutored high school biology for the Upward Bound Project. After completing my master’s coursework, I worked as a research associate at UCSF designing and synthesizing compounds to treat asthma.
Just prior to attending medical school at UCLA, I spent a year teaching 7th grade math at a middle school in San Francisco. After graduating from medical school, I trained in general surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and then trained in neurological surgery at UC Davis Medical Center here in Sacramento. After having my daughter, I took a break from clinical medicine to spend time with my daughter. It is a great pleasure to join my daughter at SVCS and share my experiences in science and medicine with the students at SVCS!

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Mrs. Sekhon
​Punjabi Teacher Grade 5-8

Hello My name is Manjit Kaur Sekhon. I am so excited to begin my third year as a Middle School Punjabi teacher at SVCS. It has always been my dream career. I think If I get  another life, again I choose to go in the same career.
I hold a Master's degree in English and in Punjabi.I also completed a B.Ed, M.Ed and M.Phil. degrees to be eligible to teach in Public school. I believe that is helping me address the learning needs of my scholars coming from both Punjabi and Non-Punjabi backgrounds. My experience at City College W. Sacramento as an Adjunct Professor is another asset to innovate Punjabi courses for our Middle School scholars.
My motto in life is, Good-Better- Best, Let's never rest. Till good gets better and better- best. Let's join our hands together and as a team take our goals to the best.  Looking forward to meeting with my scholars shortly. Amen.

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  Ms. Phillips
  Middle School English Teacher

My name is Ginny Phillips, and I am excited to begin my seventh year as the 6-8 English Language Arts teacher at Sacramento Valley Charter School! I hold a bachelor's degree in English and education from Augustana College in Illinois, as well as my California clear teaching credential. My goal is to help students become lifelong readers, writers, and learners. I believe that it is my job to provide students with the tools and support they need to engage in a deep understanding of what they read and write. In my spare time I like to read (especially mysteries!), work on art projects, hike, and camp. I look forward to the new school year with your scholars!

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Mrs. Graffigna
School Secretary

Hello Sacramento Valley Charter School! My name is Lauren Graffigna and I am the new School Secretary. I am very much looking forward to being a part of the SVCS community. Please feel free to come to the front office and say hello; I am eager to offer a helping hand and answer your questions.  I grew up in Southern California in Los Angeles county but moved to Sacramento 10 years ago to pursue higher education. I graduated from Sacramento State University with degrees in Organizational Communications and Theater. I had the rewarding experience of working as a nanny for multiple Sacramento families for the last 7 years. One of my goals in life is to inspire children to pursue their passions and to unlock their endless potential. I am very fortunate to have two parents who are educators, so being on-campus feels very natural to me. Currently, I live in Tahoe Park with my husband, our 2 German Shepherds, and our 3 cats. In my free time you will find me practicing yoga, checking out new restaurants and craft breweries, and hosting friends for board game nights. 

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Mrs. Kang
Kindergarten Teacher

Hello SVCS families.
My name is Sandip Kang. 2021-2022 school year will be my eighth year as the Kindergarten Teacher at SVCS.  I completed my Bachelors in Business Administration from CSU Fresno. I soon realized I was happier when I was working with children. I went back to school and earned my multiple subjects credential from Brandman University.
I am married and have two beautiful children. My daughter will be starting her senior year in high school this year. My son will be returning with me as a 7th grader here at SVCS.  My free time is spent with my family and friends. My children are involved in sports, music and dancing so they keep me pretty busy.  My kids and I love visiting our local library. They enjoy reading a good book just as much as I do. I have enjoyed getting to know my students and their families over the last seven years. I’m really looked forward to meeting my students in person and getting to know them this year.

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Ms. Ramos
1st. Grade Teacher

​My name is Carra Ramos and I am so excited to be teaching first grade this school year! I received my bachelor's degree from California State  University, Sacramento majoring in Liberal Studies with a concentration in science. I recently just completed my teaching credential program and my Masters of Arts in Education from Alder Graduate School of Education. Last year I student taught first grade alongside my mentor teacher.  
I grew up in Lodi and moved to Sacramento to complete my bachelor's degree. I recently just moved to Rocklin with my boyfriend and two dogs, Linus and Lucy. I love to go on walks, read, and travel with my family in my free time. I am so excited to meet students and their families and be part of the SVCS community. ​

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Ms. Reis
2nd Grade Teacher 

Hi! My name is Melanie Reis. I am so happy to be teaching 2nd grade this year. I have worked as a preschool teacher for 15 yrs before moving up to an Elementary level teacher. I went to Brandman University and received a BA in Liberal Arts and an MA in Educational Leadership. I was a 5th grade teacher, 6th grade and 3rd grade teacher before joining SVCS .
Education was always important to my family and I am glad to impart this love of learning to my students. I received my AS degree when I was 18yrs old because my parents had a respect for learning  and encouraged my sisters and me to do our best. They also expected us to volunteer in our community while being focused on our studies. This has also led me as an adult to give back to my community. When I am not teaching, I am a foster parent to over 30 children over the years. I believe every child is capable of learning and needs positive support to fully meet their potential. 

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Mrs. Henighan
​4th grade Teacher 

​Hello SVCS families! My name is Sarah Henighan and I am so excited to be working with your 4th grade scholars! I have previous experience in every grade between 2nd and 8th grade and 4th grade is my absolute favorite. I grew up in the Bay Area and attended San Francisco State University for my Bachelors Degree in Liberal Arts with a Minor in Theatre. I got my teaching credential through CalState TEACH with CSU Fresno and moved to the Sacramento area. I am married and have three dogs, and one son, Killian, who was born in May of 2020. I spend my free time with my family, love to travel, and enjoy crafting. I like to tackle lessons with humor and make learning relatable for all students of all skill levels, and truly believe that all students are entitled to a fabulous education. I am passionate about learning and think that no matter the level of expertise, no one is ever truly done learning. Thank you so much for your trust and  partnership in working with your scholar! I can't wait to get started!

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Ms. Provost
​5th Grade Teacher

My name is Kristin Provost, and this will be my third year teaching at Sacramento Valley Charter School. I have been teaching 4th grade and am very excited to move up to 5th grade this coming year.  I have a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in Linguistic and Cultural Anthropology that I obtained at Sacramento State University. I worked at the University of California, Davis as an external fellowship analyst and advisor for graduate students and post-docs for several years running the Fulbright program and National Science Foundation fellowship programs. My passion has always been to be an elementary school teacher and I was afforded the opportunity to go back to school and get my teaching credential a few years ago and I jumped at the opportunity. I received my teaching credential through California State University, Fresno and did my student teaching in the Davis Joint Unified School district in the 2nd, 3rd and 6th grades. I also worked as a substitute teacher for 2 years with several long-term substitute positions in Davis as well as Arbuckle. I have never felt as passionate and fulfilled as I have teaching in the classroom and creating a wonderful student focused environment and community of learners. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my daughters who will be in the 4th and 7th grades next year, camping, bike riding, hiking, reading, creating art and playing games. I am looking forward to getting back into the classroom and having a wonderful school year!  ​

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Mr. Nijjar 
​Punjabi Teacher Grade K-5

Hello, My name is Amarjit Nijjar, and I am very excited to join SVCS team again for the 2021-2022 school year! This will be my third year at SVCS as a world language Punjabi teacher. I have earned my bachelors and masters degree in Mathematics Honors from Punjab University Chandigarh, India. It was my life’s wonderful experience While staying in dorms for six  years in such a profound University situated in the capital of Punjab. I have earned my teaching credentials in Punjabi from Alliant International University, San Diego.
I played volleyball as a sport for six years. I enjoy setting up the net in the park and playing it with my family and friends on occasions. I grew up playing traditional games and I enjoy teaching them to my kids and students. I also enjoy gardening and planting vegetables in my backyard. I enjoy teaching and I I am very blessed to have this opportunity in my life. I always loved teaching and tutoring kids and I am lucky to do this as a profession. I look forward to building new great relationships with my upcoming students and staff this upcoming year.​

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Mr. Henderson
Middle School Social Studies Teacher

My name is Brian Henderson and this will be my fourth year teaching Middle School History at SVCS. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Portland and received my Teaching Credential from the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). In my class, I focus on teaching students how to use evidence and sources to analyze and defend claims about a specific topic. I also use instruction to help students learn about the amazing variety of cultures and traditions from around the world and how the histories of different civilizations from around the world have created the world we all live in today. My goal is for each student to leave class with a firm grasp of the targeted academic skills as well as an open and welcoming mindset that they can use to form successful relationships with the many people they will encounter later in their lives who will come from a variety of religious, ethnic, racial, cultural, and personal backgrounds. It’s a magical world, let’s go exploring!

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​ELD Teacher