LONG BEACH, CA – Today, the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) recognized the work and achievements of exceptional charter public schools, leaders, and advocates with the prestigious Hart Vision Award and the Rachel Willis-Henry Award for Volunteer of the Year at the 2022 California Charter Schools Conference. The awards are given annually to individuals and organizations with outstanding records of leadership and excellence in furthering California's charter public school movement.
“The legacy of Senator Gary K. Hart lives on through the work of this year’s Hart Vision Award recipients. Each of this year’s winners are tremendous examples of the impact of charter public schools in reimagining education in California,” said CCSA President and CEO Myrna Castrejón.
CCSA produced a special video series featuring the exemplary charter school leaders who received the 2022 Hart Vision Award. Please click on the links to learn about those award winners.
The recipients of the 2022 Hart Vision Awards are:
School Leader of the Year (North)
Alton Nelson, CEO, Making Waves Academy, Richmond
School Leader of the Year (South)
Dr. David Sciarretta, Superintendent, Albert Einstein Academies, San Diego
Charter School of the Year (North)
Rocketship Public Schools, Bay Area
Charter School of the Year (South)
Multicultural Learning Center, Canoga Park
Teacher of the Year
Autrilla Gillis, Director of Expanded Learning, ISANA Nascent Academy, Los Angeles
The awards were established in 1995 in honor of former California State Senator and Secretary of Education Gary K. Hart, author of the Charter Schools Act of 1992.
CCSA also recognized Julianna Hubbell of Springs Charter Schools as the winner of this year’s Rachel Willis-Henry Award Volunteer of the Year award. The Volunteer of the Year award is named in honor of the late Rachel Willis-Henry, who dedicated countless hours to working with public charter schools, as both a volunteer and part of CCSA’s staff, and her efforts to lead charter public school families, volunteers, and staff throughout her career