FLEX Academy teacher Carlos Vieira. (Carlos Guerrero/Daily Democrat)
Carlos Vieira credits his mother as one of his main inspirations for wanting to help others.
The son of a caretaker, Viera learned from an early age the importance of giving back, which eventually led him down the path of education.
“I find that I have a really similar desire to help people, and so just being able to help kids learn and prepare for life after high school is my favorite part of teaching,” Viera said.
Originally from New Mexico, Vieira attended the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in chemistry. While completing his master’s degree, he enrolled in the school’s alternative licensing program. Vieira explained that the alternative licenses are similar to teaching credential programs in California.
“When I enrolled in my master’s program, I was a TA in general chemistry, so I kept the lab hours and also held tutoring sessions for the students,” Viera said. “That basically started my desire to just help kids and I thought why not start teaching?
“I also got a lot of advice from my wife’s family, who are a bunch of educators and shared their experience and love of teaching. They talked about the impact they had made, and just hearing their stories about how they helped kids and with my own experience inspired me to start teaching.”
After receiving her alternative license, Viera taught at School of Dreams Academy, a charter school in Los Lunas, New Mexico for one semester.
In July 2021, Viera’s wife was offered a job at UC Davis, bringing them to the Yolo County area. Viera was hired to teach at Woodland Joint Unified School District’s FLEX Academy, where he teaches all subjects in grades seven through 12.
FLEX, WJUSD’s virtual program, was created to meet the growing demand for online learning opportunities for K-12 students.
“I think this model suits me because I can work one-on-one with my students, which makes it much easier to develop a relationship with them,” explained Vieira.
The program offers a unique educational experience, combining up-to-date educational technology and support from committed staff to create a successful virtual learning environment. As part of the school district’s independent study options, students have a more flexible schedule and turn to their teachers for support.
“I think having a program like this is very valuable because we get students who are not necessarily successful in an in-person format,” Vieira emphasized. “Some children have anxiety or health issues that would make it uncomfortable to be live, so it makes more sense for them to be homeschooled.
“We also have high achievers who want to work at their own pace, so a program like this is great for them. I could go on and on about the benefits of a flexible schedule and being able to have an education that is tailored to what students need.”
Admittedly a more non-traditional learning environment, Vieira said the program is successful because of the cooperation and support he receives from other staff members. Vieira explained that teaching in front of a virtual audience comes with its own challenges such as catering to all the different age groups and making sure students are engaged and still getting the support they need.
“We’re not right there over their shoulder telling them, ‘Hey, you’re on the right track or you’re not on the right track,'” Viera said. “So to support them, we really need to teach them to communicate effectively with us and not be afraid to ask for help.”
According to Cache Creek High School Principal Will Jarrell, Viera is just the man for the job, where communication is key.
FLEX Academy is strongly supported by the staff of Cache Creek High School. According to Viera, they are “serving Cache Creek students and supporting the FLEX Academy program” and doing “double the work.” Viera said he “gives a lot of credit” to the staff at Cache Creek for helping make the FLEX program a success.
Jarrell describes Vieira as a “genuine and thoughtful person who puts everyone around him at ease.”
“Carlos goes the extra mile to support students. He constantly meets with them individually and is available throughout the week,” Jarrell praised. “He proactively and consistently communicates with families and has clear expectations. It also provides excellent guidance on how students can measure their own progress. Carlos has always been a go-to teacher, ready to take on difficult tasks without missing a beat.”
Outside of the classroom, Viera enjoys spending time outside gardening, going downtown and playing Pokémon Go with his wife, and picking up and taking his Australian Shepherd, Loki, for walks.
Vieira said the most important thing for him as an educator is seeing his students grow.
“You can’t become a master at something right away because it comes with years and years of training,” Viera said. “For me, mastery, which is a big buzzword in education, isn’t really something that’s immediately attainable in high school, so I’m looking for growth.
“I want them to understand that it’s okay to mess up and that it’s okay to make mistakes and learn from them. I just want them to be confident in showing who they are and showing their individuality in the work they do.”
