Why New Hires Choose Sage Oak: Work-Life Balance, Support, and Innovation

In this episode, host Tiffiny Webster welcomes new Sage Oak hires Savannah Wheeler (5th grade virtual academy teacher), Elizabeth Metcalf (personalized learning academy teacher), and Codi Dauz (events management) following Sage Oak’s Energage Top Workplace for Education award. Each shares their path to Sage Oak—often via referrals from friends, family, or neighbors—and highlights motivations such as flexibility, manageable workload, supportive leadership, and being valued as individuals. Savannah describes moving from a sales background into teaching, praising Sage Oak’s technology, rapid feedback cycles, and leadership responsiveness to teacher mental health. Elizabeth, a former brick-and-mortar teacher, emphasizes work-life balance, regular surveys, and meaningful one-on-one time with students and families. Codi discusses leaving long event-industry hours for a family-supportive role planning field trips, noting strong team culture, cross-department collaboration, and innovation focused on students and families. Guests close with advice encouraging nontraditional paths, positive work environments, and taking leaps into new teaching models.

00:00 Welcome and Guests
01:03 Savannah Career Switch
02:54 Codi Events to Education
05:27 Elizabeth Return to Teaching
06:40 Why Sage Oak Stands Out
07:13 Savannah Loves Tech Support
08:50 Elizabeth Support and Students
10:30 Codi Team Culture Innovation
13:26 Advice for Career Changers
15:52 Final Thanks and Wrap

For more information on applying for a position at Sage Oak visit our website www.sageoak.education

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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Inside Sage Oak High School ASB: Leadership, Hangouts, Travel, and Student Passion Projects

In this episode, Host Tiffiny Webster welcomes ASB advisor Danny Levin and students Izzy Dyer, Ava Mendes, and Ezra Williams to explain Sage Oak High School’s ASB student council program. They describe ASB as an A–G elective meeting weekly that builds leadership, community, and 21st-century skills through committees, school spirit, and major events like hangouts, homecoming, prom, and grad night. Danny outlines in-person and virtual activities plus travel opportunities including Catalina, Pali, a Sacramento day trip with UC Davis and the State Capitol, and an East Coast spring break trip; he also highlights the CASL state leadership conference. Students share passion projects such as an art showcase/open mic, extensive volunteering, and an anti-child sex trafficking awareness initiative. They discuss recognition for multi-year participation and how to join via an educational advisor and start-of-year beach party.

00:00 Sage Studio Podcast – Sage Oak ASB
00:15 Welcome & Introductions
02:42 What is ASB?
04:09 Travel & Field Trips
07:47 Passion Projects
15:32 Homecoming, Prom & Events
20:22 How to Get Involved in ASB

For more information on High School enrollment visit our website www.sageoak.education

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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Trade School Pathways for High School Students with Counselor Coral Prendergast

Host Tiffiny Webster welcomes Sage Oak High School counselor Coral Prendergast to discuss growing student interest in trade school pathway. Coral highlights common trade careers such as electrician, welder, construction, cosmetology, firefighter, and EMT, often available affordably through community colleges. She walks through a Trade School Resource Hub she and a team created, including a recorded parent webinar, community-college program search tools by career or by school, and industry-sector tabs with descriptions, certifications students can pursue in high school, and county-based listings of community colleges and private trade programs with cost, length, and links. They emphasize dual enrollment, early exploration starting in 9th grade, and how families can access the resources and schedule counseling support.

00:00 Welcome and Topic
00:50 Meet Counselor Coral
01:34 Why Trades Now
02:38 Popular Trade Careers
03:21 Choosing a Path
04:14 Trade Resource Hub
04:54 Community College Search
07:47 Industry Sectors and Costs
10:18 Where to Access Links
11:27 Start Exploring Early
13:07 Family Feedback and Impact
14:11 Wrap Up and Next Steps

For more information on High School enrollment visit our website www.sageoak.education

Trade School Resources from Coal Prendergast cprendergast@sageoak.education

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1IITnOtBM6JGFE7cfx4Vz1uWpJGP6ciHArPMW-q-280c/edit?tab=t.lncsc5lxygwq#heading=h.rafbmwg9wtcx

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1vmoS1NLdPkWJgRgrGfafreLH19AAzlA2sMuGsynDgYY/edit?slide=id.p1#slide=id.p1

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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College Prep and Application Essays: Timing, Strategy, and a Junior Summer Bootcamp with Jen Pham

Host Tiffiny Webster welcomes Jen Pham, Sage Oak’s new college counselor, to discuss strategic college preparation and essay writing. Jen explains her specialized role in admissions support, from major and college selection to applications, essays, and scholarships. She emphasizes that planning can start as early as seventh grade due to course pathways, while reassuring families it’s never too late to pivot. They cover when to build a college list (finalized by mid-October of senior year), the value of campus tours and “demonstrated interest,” and key application timelines, including August 1 openings and early deadlines. She introduces a live junior summer essay bootcamp (about 12 hours) to draft a strong personal statement, highlighting how essays differentiate students and can support scholarship applications. Details for enrolling in the summer bootcamp in the show notes.

00:00 College Prep Kickoff
00:33 Meet The College Counselor
01:29 Why Seventh Grade Matters
02:52 Choosing Majors Without Pressure
04:02 Building A College List
05:06 Campus Tours And Interest
07:01 Application Timeline And Deadlines
08:18 Early Action Vs Decision
10:48 Junior Essay Bootcamp
12:40 Writing Essays That Stand Out
15:51 Helping Every Student Find A Story
18:27 Scholarships And Next Steps
19:40 Wrap Up And Farewell

For more information on High School enrollment visit our website www.sageoak.education

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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Finding a Path to Graduation at Sage Oak: Lydia Winslow’s Story

Host Tiffiny Webster interviews Sage Oak parent Lydia Winslow about her son Malachi’s journey after transferring to Sage Oak High School in his junior year to recover credits and get back on track for graduation. Lydia shares how he initially struggled to adjust to the workload and routine, how she helped him get organized with a daily schedule, and how he gradually became more independent managing Canvas, Zoom classes, and his time. She highlights the role of Sage Oak education advisors in planning his course pathway, choosing electives he would enjoy, monitoring progress, and making quick adjustments when a class wasn’t the right fit, along with tutoring and other resources. Now weeks from graduation, Lydia describes the relief and pride of seeing him reach this milestone and encourages other parents to consider the program and attend enrollment webinars.

00:00 Graduation Isn’t Linear
00:37 IEPs and Independence
02:18 Meet Lydia Winslow
03:07 Why They Transferred
04:28 Finding a New Routine
06:46 Advisor Support and Credits
08:14 IEP Services That Work
10:46 Graduation Day Emotions
12:53 Advice for Other Parents
13:58 Webinars and Wrap Up

For more information on High School enrollment visit our website www.sageoak.education

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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Sage Studio Podcast: Miryna Ortega on Flexible Learning, Dual Enrollment, and Flag Football Goals

In this episode, Sage Studio Podcast host Tiffiny Webster interviews Sage Oak High School 10th grader Miryna Ortega, who has attended Sage Oak for about three years. Miryna shares how Sage Oak’s flexible schedule, supportive teachers, and recorded live sessions help her balance online coursework, dual enrollment economics at Crafton Hills College, and competitive girls’ NFL flag football. With guidance from her educational advisor, she began dual enrollment to support her goal of graduating at 17 and pursuing a firefighter career path, including interest in sports medicine and future EMT classes. Miryna describes learning to perform under pressure through flag football, staying positive, setting goals, and believing the program works especially well for student athletes.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:46 How Miryna Found Sage Oak
01:54 Flexible High School Experience
02:42 Dual Enrollment Game Plan
04:38 Graduating Early to Firefighting
05:34 Why Firefighting Matters
07:42 Flag Football Journey
09:01 Mindset Under Pressure
10:22 Balancing School and Training
11:59 Social Life and Looking Ahead
13:25 Advice and Final Thanks

For more information on High School enrollment visit our website www.sageoak.education

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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Adventures in Learning: The Sage Oak Charter Experience

In this episode, Tiffiny Webster interviews Linda, a parent of five with three children in Sage Oak’s Personalized Learning Academy, including a ninth grader enrolled since first grade, a middle schooler, and a third grader. Linda shares she chose Sage Oak for flexibility and the ability to personalize learning, emphasizing creativity, cursive, and a well-rounded education beyond books and screens. She describes trying different curricula before settling on a literature-based program that integrates reading, vocabulary, writing, and cross-curricular connections, and using Singapore/Dimensions Math plus Oakschool classes. Linda highlights social opportunities through Oakschool, field trips, high school hangouts, clubs, and in-person vendors like martial arts, and praises teacher support in selecting curricula and managing multi-grade learning. The episode closes with encouragement for interested families and a plug for upcoming enrollment webinars at sageoak.education.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions
01:03 Why Choose Sage Oak
03:26 Finding the Right Curriculum
05:35 Math and Oakschool Classes
06:53 Field Trips and Social Life
09:06 Support from Teachers
11:09 Monthly Meetings Rhythm
13:02 Each Kid’s Favorite Parts
14:39 High School Plans Dual Enrollment
16:12 Encouragement and Next Steps

For more information on PLA enrollment visit our website www.sageoak.education

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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In this episode of Sage Studio, hosted by Tiffiny Webster, the focus is on navigating the upcoming testing season and addressing the anxiety it can cause. Guests Bethany Burgos, an assessment facilitator at Sage Oak, and Allie Whalen, a school counselor, offer insights and strategies to help students and parents manage testing stress. The discussion covers the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) and its components, including the Smarter Balanced Test and the California Science Test. Additionally, they discuss practical tips for test preparation, creating a conducive testing environment, and techniques to alleviate anxiety. Key takeaways include familiarizing students with the test format, ensuring proper rest and nutrition, and utilizing calming techniques. The episode also highlights upcoming test preparation workshops and the importance of celebrating once the testing season is over.

00:00 Welcome to Sage Studio: Tackling Testing Anxiety
00:47 Meet the Experts: Bethany Burgos and Allie Whalen
01:33 Understanding CAASPP: What You Need to Know
02:22 The Importance of CAASPP Participation
03:55 Managing Testing Anxiety: Tips and Strategies
06:04 Preparing for the Test: Familiarity and Practice
16:36 Creating a Supportive Testing Environment
20:49 Final Tips and Encouragement

For more information on Oakschool Test Prep classes, visit the Sage Oak website at www.sageoak.education.

Thank you for listening to the Sage Studio podcast presented by Sage Oak Charter Schools and hosted by Tiffiny Webster, M.A.Ed. We invite you to follow the show and leave your review below. Sage Oak Charter Schools is an independent study nonclassroom based TK-12 personalized learning public charter school serving students in Southern California. Visit sageoak.education for more information.

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