Northwest Prep Public Charter School

Established in 2004- Reinvented 2012- Soaring in 2025-2026

Growing Global Citizens

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Teacher Introductions

Adam Napoleon- Principal

Claudia Camacho- School Counselor

Lourdes Singh - Outreach Worker- Spanish Slideshow Link

Susan Shields- Office Manager

Alyssa Dossat- 9-12 Math, IC, Academic Support

Brad Edmondson- 7-12 Science, IC, 9/10 Crossroads/CTE

Stephanie Boone-7-12 ELA, IC, 11/12 Crossroads, ELD

Saloni Jhaveri- 7-12 Social Studies, IC, ⅞ Crossroads

Aaron Shreve- 7-12 Math, IC, 9/10 Crossroads/CTE, Credit Recovery

Brad Saunders- 7-10 and Homestudy PE

Cory Hakola- 7-12 Art, Woodshop, IC, Homestudy Art

Susan Volmerding and Arlie Haun- 7-12 RSP

Laura McCorkell- K-12 Homestudy

Heather Tait- K-12 Homestudy

Leonila Bergstrom- Technology Assistant

Jennifer Milsap-PBL Program Assistant

Dante Hernandez- PE Tech, PBL Program Assistant

Susan De Varney Speier- Food Service, Homestudy Program Assistant, All Programs-Culinary Teacher

Calvin Ortlinghaus- Homestudy Program Assistant

Sou Souvannasay- Custodian

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Northwest Prep Achievements/Awards:

• Who we are and how we got here: “Established in 2004- Reinvented 2012- Soaring in 2025”
• Recipient of the 2022 California Pivotal Practice Award (formerly the CA Distinguished Schools Award)
• NWP was the only middle and high school in Sonoma County to receive this award in 2022.
• 2020-2021 school year- Two Northwest Prep teachers Alyssa Dossat and Stephanie Boone were recognized as “Sonoma County Exemplary Teachers”
• Northwest Prep was the recipient of the 26th Annual Jack London Award for Educational Innovation
• NWP works closely with SCOE helping other county schools develop and incorporate PBL, WBL, and Performance Assessments
• WASC Accredited through 2028
• Press Democrat Spotlight Article July 2025

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Who we are:

NWP is a place where we grapple with the interconnectedness of:

• academic content
• develop social and emotional awareness
• explore social and environmental justice
• forge independent thought, cooperative relationships
• develop meaningful and constructive solutions.

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We want to teach you how to learn, not just what to learn.

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Students are:

• engaged and informed citizens
• empowered to create positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world
• mindful and principled decision makers who understand the long and short-term effects of their actions on others and the environment.
• compassionate
• ethical
• active citizenship in local, global, and virtual settings
• strive to achieve a balance between their own needs and the needs of others.

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What we do?

Core Academics- Our curriculum is grounded in the California and Next Generation Standards, creating connections between disciplines and to delve deeply into academic themes. Learning is layered in each class towards a common, school-wide outcome.

Social Systems 9-12 WH, US His, Gov/Econ, Ethnic Studies and 7th/8th World and US History

Science 9-12th Integrated Sciences 1-3 StemScopes Curriculum (Includes Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics). 9th/10th Health Class. Middle School Science- Ocean Ambassador Program. Middle School Sex Ed.

Language and Communications English 7-12 and ELD

Mathematical Systems 7th/8th Math, 9-12 Algebra 1-2, Geometry, Data Science, Financial Lit.

Spanish 1 and 2 / American Sign Language

Electives/CTE Pathways- Electrical Engineering/ HVAC/Healthcare/Design and Animation/Peer Counseling/Game Design/Psychology/Criminology/ Cosmetology etc.

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Exhibitions

What else we do?

• 7th-12th grade Inquiry Class- Visual and Performing Arts, woodshop, fine arts, graphic design, performing arts etc
• 9th-10th Grade- World Languages 1 & 2
• 11/12th Grade- Art Elective, Schools PLP courses/CTE Courses/Credit Recovery/SRJC Dual Enrollment Courses
• English Language Development (ELD) course for newcomers and long-term EL (LTEL) students (ELPAC Prep)

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What else we do?

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Crossroads 9-12: NWP leadership skills development, portfolio design and defense, college/career prep, volunteer hours, job shadows, internships, and 7th/8th grade- Leadership/Life Skills, Farm to Table Sustainable Gardening and Culinary, Typing program.

Move-It: 7th-10th PE 3x/week (exercise, mile run, mindfulness, sports- basketball, soccer, softball, street hockey, capture the flag, flag football, volleyball, physiology, nutrition and more.)

Middle School Extramural Sports (with VHS)- Boys/Girls/Combine- Flag Football, Cross Country, Basketball, Volleyball (possibly)

7-12 Intramural Sports- Soccer, basketball, volleyball street hockey etc

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Inquiry class offers unique, integrated, cross-curricular projects that create depth, breadth, and academic rigor. The project-based design allows student curiosity to drive academic study, making learning authentic, rich, and oftentimes profound.

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Inquiry Class- Integrating all core classes into large group projects that can last a few months. VPA Credits- research and performance

• Research
• Organization
• Collaboration
• Observe-think-act
• Design
• Implementation
• Presentation

Senior Project- 2nd Semester Senior Year

Project Example:

During the 5-Minute Physics project students investigated How can we demonstrate a law of physics in five minutes or less?

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In teams of four, students:

• conducted research about a specific law of physics they chose
• learned the ins and outs of their law
• explored the historical context in which their law was made known
• designed a method to demonstrate their law in action.
• used their findings and ideas to write a script and design a short educational film, lasting five minutes or less.

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Project Examples:

• How do Society and Water Interact? (Theatrical Performance and Documentaries)
• Sustainable Power Project (Outdoor Fair Style)
• The Powers of Persuasion Project (Campaign Ads, Campaign Posters, Mock Debate, Theatrical Performance etc)
• Connections Across Place and Time Project (Traditional Museum Style)
• Art, Community and Culture Project (Art Museum Style)
• The Food Project (Ted Talks)
• The Float Project (Santa Rosa Rose Parade)
• The Mythbusters Project (Science Experiments)
• Rube Goldberg/Social Movement Project
• Global Citizens/Campus Improvement Project

Projects and Exhibitions

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What we do?

Clubs- Game Club, Music Club (guitar/ukulele,rock band), Art Club, Pride Club, Yearbook Club, After School Intramural Sports. Student designed clubs are always encouraged (eg. Sewing, Drama)

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SRJC connection- We encourage all students to take at least one course at the SRJC before they graduate. Many begin this in their 10th or 11th grade year while others wait until their senior year.

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Northwest Prep Leadership Skills

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Citizenship and Global Responsibility

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• Students are engaged and informed citizens
• They create positive change in themselves, their communities, and the world
• They take into consideration the short term and long term effects there actions have on the environment
• They practice compassionate, ethical, and active citizenship locally, globally, and virtually

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Personal Integrity

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• Handle themselves with confidence
• Act with honesty and courage
• Develop beliefs
• Assume roles as observers
• Working relationships
• Take responsibility for actions
• Open to feedback and guidance

Productive Collaboration

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• Cooperate together in order to overcome obstacles
• Helping your team after you’re done with your own part
• Work together to set and achieve goals as a team.

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Critical and Creative Thinking

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• Students arrange, examine, and apply info in new and innovative ways
• Projects: taking information we have collected to create papers or hands on pieces

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Effective Communication

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• Students understand and practice effective communication using verbal and nonverbal language
• They are empathetic, emotionally intelligent, persuasive, and articulate
• Students present their ideas with clarity and confidence
• Students use practical, academic, and artistic abilities to give meaning to there statement

Reflective Learning

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• Look back at past work to see where to improve
• Learn from past mistakes and growth to better succeed in the future
• Projects: assessing ourselves and peers at the end of projects

Resiliency and Drive

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• Persevering even when things don’t go as planned
• View mistakes as stepping stones to future growth

Student Voice and Choice

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Small School and a Connected Community

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What Else We Do……..

• Safe School Ambassador Program- Over ¼ of our school body has been trained
• Youth Transforming Justice- Suspension Diversion Program 1x
• Restorative Practices including Restorative Circles and Community Circles
• Digital Citizenship and Online Presence
• Verity Awareness Project
• Regular Safety Drills- Lockdown, Fire, Earthquake, Reunification
• Field Trips- Project connected as well as others (6-Flags Physics Day/Armstrong Redwoods)

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Northwest Prep Public Charter School

Past Projects

A word from our students……...

NWP Instagram:

@northwest_prep

Northwest Prep Public Charter School

Northwest Prep K-12th Homestudy

Including- On-Site Academic Support, Two Dedicated Credentialed Teachers, Two Program Assistants, On-Site Culinary Classes, PE Classes, and Art Classes

In Closing……..

We are now accepting applications for all grade levels for the 2026-2027 school year. Contact the main office at 707-522-3320, email sshields@pousd.org, or apply online by visiting http://northwestprep.pousd.org

Open Enrollment Begins- November 1, 2025

Interviews begin 12/1/25

Note: If you are already part of the POUSD district, you do not have to apply online through Aeries. You can pick up the supplemental application sections in the main office or have our Office Manager Susan Shields email them to you for you to complete and turn in.

Thank you for joining us this evening!!!!