Dr. Amrik Singh  
            Principal

    Hello Proud SVCS parents,
My name is Dr. Amrik Singh, your principal for 2019-20 school year. It is my 9th year at Sacramento Valley Charter school as teacher, vice principal, and principal. My pursuit with SVCS started in 2011 when school opened with great hopes. It has been an exciting journey as I saw SVCS  becoming a unique institution over the years. In my capacity as a teacher of English, and World Language Punjabi, I took guidance from the latest research which upholds that learning a world language starting from Kindergarten leads to higher academic achievements on standardized tests, provides cognitive benefits to students, and strengthens their problem solving skills.  It is quite evident from high academic performance in high schools of 90% of students who had studied 4-6 years at SVCS.
I came to SVCS in 2011 with 20 years of teaching experience both at school and college levels. I started my career from Robert J. Fite Elementary school in Elk Grove Unified School District and on getting teaching credential from National University, joined Franklin High School as English Teacher in 2006-2007. In the same year, I was offered t an Adjunct Professor position at Sacramento State University which afforded me the  opportunity to work with college students that I continue to enjoy all these years. I became excited to bring in my two decades of experience as professor of English language and linguistics in colleges of Panjab University Chandigarh (India).  
I earned a Master 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 Master in Special Education (M.S.) from National University, California along with Single Subject Credential in English, Single Subject Credential in Punjabi, and Administrative Service Credential.
As your principal, I will create 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 am committed to 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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Mrs. Nijjar
  Punjabi Teacher (Elementary)

 My name is  Sarbjeet Kaur Nijjar and this is my fifth 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 have earned a Single Subject Credential in Punjabi. 

During my four 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. 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. 
 Starting last year, I began to teach art to students once a week. I saw a very creative side of my scholars.
Before joining SVCS, I taught multiple subjects for 15 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 is currently a student at Sacramento State University and my daughter is a freshman in college. I am looking forward to having a wonderful time with my dazzling stars from kindergarten to 4th grade!

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Mrs. Cheema
2nd. Grade Teacher

My name is Preet Cheema. It has been a wonderful journey teaching here at S.V.C.S so far ,and l am excited for  a fruitful fifth year here.

I bring along 20 years of teaching experience at different grade levels(k-8). I hold a clear California Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential (k-8).I have earned my Bachelors degree from Punjab University and completed my B.Ed with emphasis on teaching of language arts and Social studies. I have also completed a diploma in Early childhood care.
I have also had the opportunity to study in United Kingdom after my High school in India.I completed my A-Levels in language arts and Biology there. I encourage creativity in class where there is room for flexibility,differentiated instruction, projects ,usage of technology to aid learning with fun.
In my free time,  I enjoy reading poetry ,painting and travelling with my family. I am looking forward to  the new session and all the adventures it will bring !
Thank you for entrusting your wonderful child to me this year and allowing me to be a part of their journey here at S.V.C.S.

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Ms. Anaya
3rd. 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.  I am so excited to continue teaching at SVCS for the 2019-2020 school year. 

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Ms. Whittall 
4th Grade Teacher

Hello SVCS families!

​My name is Katharine Whittall and I am so excited to be teaching 4th grade this upcoming year. This will be my first year at SVCS so I am looking forward to getting to know our scholars and their families. I obtained a degree in Child Development at Sacramento State University and went on to earn a teaching credential at the University of California, Davis. Over this past summer break I was awarded an opportunity to travel to London, England and work in partnership with the Shakespeare Globe Theatre’s education academy.
​I look forward to sharing what they taught me with our scholars in order to improve comprehension of difficult texts in a fun and engaging way. I will be continuing my studies this year along with your students as I return to UC Davis this fall to complete my M.A. in Education. Learning never stops for teachers either! I hope we all have an exciting and productive school year!

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Ms. Provost
​4th Grade Teacher

My name is Kristin Provost, and this will be my first year teaching 4th grade at Sacramento Valley Charter School. 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 have 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. I am very excited to begin teaching 4th grade at the Sacramento Valley Charter School. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my daughters who will be in the 2ndand 5th grades next year, camping, bike riding, hiking, reading, creating art and playing games. I am looking forward to meeting all my students and their families and becoming part of this wonderful school community!

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Mrs. Duhra
​Middle School Math Teacher

My name is Apparjit Kaur Duhra.   I am very excited to teach Middle School Math for my 2nd year.  Math has always been my passion. Ever since my school years and helping my own kids with their math classes.  I hold a Bachelor Degree in Electrical Engineering from the California State University of Northridge. I earned my teaching credential in Math from the National University. I worked as a Communications Engineer 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 kids’ school and enjoyed working with children.   I believe it is very important to give quality time to our children for their success in the future.  This will be my Fifth year with Sacramento Valley Charter School.       Outside of teaching, I enjoy spending time with my family, listening to music and participate in cultural and outdoor activities.

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Mrs. Sekhon
​Punjabi Teacher Grade 5-8

  Ms. Phillips
  Middle School English Teacher

My name is Ginny Phillips, and I am excited to begin my fifth 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, 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. Kang
  Kindergarten Teacher

     My name is Sandip Kang. This will be my sixth year as the Kindergarten Teacher at SVCS.
I completed my Bachelor's 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 sophomore year in high school this year . My son will be returning with me as a 5th 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 five years. I’m really looked forward to meeting my students and getting to know them this year.

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Ms. Olson
Kindergarten Teacher

Hello SVCS family!
My name is Courtney Olson and this will be my second year teaching at SVCS. I am very excited for my new adventure of moving from 4th grade to Kindergarten for the 2019-2020 school year. 

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 am currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in teaching. 

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. Ruffino
1st. Grade Teacher

My name is Cammi Ruffino and I love teaching 1st grade at SVCS. This is my 4th year teaching at Sac Valley, and my 6th year teaching overall. I received my Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education from Southern Illinois University. I hold a teaching credential for K-9 in both Illinois and  California. 
I am passionate about early elementary education and thoroughly enjoy finding engaging and innovative ways to teach the common core and state standards in my classroom. I strive to create a balance between hands on teaching methods and using technology in order elevate my students learning experiences. 
In my free time I enjoy making memories with my family. We love to spend our free time outdoors at the river, beach, or hiking. My other hobbies include a love for reading, hula hoop dancing, and distance running. ​

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Mrs. Phillips
​3rd. Grade Teacher

Dear SVCS   Parents, Scholars and Friends,
 
My name is Mrs. Teresa Phillips and I am excited to be returning to SVCS for my 5th 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 earned my undergraduate degree in Liberal Studies at Northern Illinois University, in DeKalb Illinois, with multiple concentrations in Science, Math, Child Development and Language Arts. I hold a Creative Writing Certificate and have been honored to earn scholarships for poetry writing.  I received my California teaching credentials through the graduate program at Alliant International University. 
​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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Mrs. Koven
​5th Grade Teacher

Hi folks! My name is Kristine Koven and I am excited to be a part of the SVCS team again for the 2019-2020 school year! Having earned my bachelor’s degree in education and then professional certification to teach K-9 in multiple subjects with a minor in English at California State University Northridge after earning a degree in broadcast news and communications in 1998 has kept me busy working with kids ever since. This will be my fifth year at SVCS and having gained such insight with the families here I have learned much and have so much to give. Here I can share over twenty years of experience working with kids. Having taught in Washington for over 10 years and Southern California before that gives me a wide array of skills to teach with. My two children are now off to university and the military. The oldest is graduating  E.W.S.U. this summer with a degree in computer animation and the youngest is in the U.S. Marines and studying fire science.

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Ms. Lester
​5th Grade Teacher

​Hi, my name is Madisen Lester. I am very excited to start my first year at SVCS! I grew up in La Quinta, California and later attended Cal Poly where I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Liberal Studies with a minor in Child Development. In January 2019, I completed my Multiple Subject Credential and Master’s in Elementary Education at Western Governors University. During the credential program I was a student teacher in a third grade classroom. Shortly after, I was a long-term substitute teacher in sixth grade. I believe in educating the whole child and creating an inclusive classroom environment. I hope to foster a growth mindset and cultivate resilience in all students. In my free time I enjoy reading, hiking, camping, and exploring with my dog, Charlie. I am looking forward to teaching 5th grade this year!

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English Learners Teacher Assistant

Ms. Ibrahim​

My name is Nadine Ibrahim and I am excited to work with your kids this upcoming school year. This is my first full year support teaching at SVCS. I have an extensive background in linguistic studies and teaching. I studied foreign language at CSU Sacramento, earning my BA in French. I completed most of my MA in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and have experience working with ESOL students. I am also a mother of two children, one of which is also a second language learner. I believe that learning another language makes scholars more capable both in and out of the classroom. I look forward to helping your children learn and grow this school year.

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Mr. Henderson
Middle School Social Studies Teacher

Hello, my name is Brian Henderson and this will be my third year teaching Middle School Social Studies at Sacramento Valley Charter School (SVCS). As your student’s Social Studies teacher, I will be helping your student to build a wide-reaching understanding of the cultures, people, events, religions, and ideas that have helped to create the world as we know it today. Your student will work to master an array of academic skills such as analytical reading, evidence-based writing, and organized public speaking to build an understanding of the class content and for their future as they continue their educational development beyond this coming year. I look forward to working with your student to continue their growth into becoming capable and confident scholars.  ​

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My name is Manjit Kaur Sekhon. I am really excited to start my second as a Middle School Punjabi Teacher. It has always been  my passion dream career. I  hold a Master's degree in English and a Master's in Punjabi. I also completed a B. Ed. and M.Ed.  degrees to be eligible to teach in public schools. I believe that will help me address learning needs of students coming from both Punjabi and Non-Panjabi backgrounds. My experience at City College W. Sacramento as an adjunct Professor of Punjabi will further assist me to innovate Punjabi courses for our middle school scholars. 

           My motto in life is, 'Good- better- best, Let's never rest.'  Let's join hands together and take our goals to the Best. Looking forward to meeting with my students shortly. ​

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