Achieve Charter School: New Beginnings

Up from the Ashes

In August 2019, just 10 months after the Camp Fire leveled Paradise, CA, 217 kindergarten-through-8th-grade students streamed onto Achieve Charter School’s newly-constructed campus in Chico, CA. Achieve Executive Director Casey Taylor’s heart swelled with an indescribable feeling as she welcomed them. A fire survivor herself, Casey could see that the facilities provided what her staff and students had needed—a new home.

Achieve Charter School has risen out of the literal ashes of the Camp Fire, but the school’s origins trace back to the metaphorical ashes of St. Thomas More School, the private Catholic school Casey attended while growing up in Paradise. The nurturing and support she received there as a student lifted her out of a challenging childhood and into a fulfilling career as a teacher and school administrator. When financial constraints closed St. Thomas More’s doors, Casey eagerly joined a team to found an independently governed and publicly funded charter school to preserve “the best elements” of St. Thomas More School, including high expectations, small student enrollment, and personalized learning.

From its inception in 2005, Achieve has enjoyed impressive community support. Casey recalls the community raising $10,000 in a single night to hire an attorney to craft the highly technical language of the initial charter. The K-8 waiting list, with nearly as many hopefuls as the actual Achieve student body, speaks to the ways the school meets the needs of the community. “Achieve is a small school by design,” explains Casey. “We focus on individual support, identifying students’ gifts, and how they can give back, so they develop a sense of purpose.”

When it comes to giving back, Casey consistently leads by example. In 2007, as Achieve’s principal, she responded to community requests and expanded Achieve to include junior high grades. In 2015, Achieve’s strategic planning team appointed Casey to pioneer yet another charter for a high school. In 2017, supported by parents, staff, the Town of Paradise, Butte County Office of Education, and other local entities, Casey moved from her role as principal to the executive director to undertake this new challenge. Achieve Charter High School, with college-preparatory and entrepreneurship pathways, opened for ninth grade in August 2018, just months before the flames hit on November 8.

On November 9, Casey woke up full of questions centered on how to begin rebuilding Achieve. She marks the months after the fire with the names of an incredible host of people and organizations who helped reach that goal: Butte County Office of Education, California Charters Association, Sacramento’s Fortune Charters, Margaret Fortune, and Chico Unified School District, among others. “The faith community in Chico also stepped up in a big way,” she says, recalling how Living Hope Fellowship, Neighborhood Church, Grace Community Church, and Life Church made accommodations for Paradise’s six charter schools.

“So many people came together to give those 1,000 Paradise kids a soft place to land and put something normal and consistent in their world, which is what all Camp Fire survivors needed,” Casey says.

She particularly praises her staff as “true examples of resiliency.” Although they chose not to reopen the high school for now, all Achieve’s K – 8 teachers returned to teach, and all but three support staff, who were unable to find local housing, returned as well.

Casey, her husband, and their children were able to rent a townhouse in Chico soon after the fire, which eased her son’s commute to Chico State University and her daughter’s commute to Inspire School of the Arts. “I’m a Paradise native, so I definitely miss Paradise, but I’m thankful for Chico’s hospitality,” Casey says. Outside of her school activities, Casey’s idea of refreshing herself entails working tirelessly with the Rebuild Paradise Foundation, Paradise Rotary Club and Paradise Citizen’s Alliance. “I’m one of those people who feels better when pushing forward and seeing progress,” she admits.

With her home base established, Casey’s thoughts and efforts now focus heavily on her students and their families. Although 70 students moved out of the area after the fire, 70 more have enrolled in Achieve K – 8 since the fire. Casey says the school has committed to remaining active in Chico for as long as families need it and to reopening their still-standing Paradise campus when necessary repairs are completed, and enrollment reaches a point to sustain a quality school. In other words, with Casey’s leadership and the incredible efforts of the staff and community, Achieve Charter School emerges from the ashes not only as strong as before but with twice the force and passion for affecting change in the lives of youth in the North State.

If you’re interested in Achieve’s long-term recovery efforts, visit their website. You’ll find links to donate to an upcoming maker space and sports league, as well as updates on plans to return to Paradise.