Tera Napier is the Executive Director at Sherman Thomas Charter Schools in Madera, California. During her 21 years guiding the K-8 program she has seen STCS ride a continuous wave of academic improvement to become the highest-performing school in the city of Madera, as well as a 2014 California Distinguished School. Her efforts have also created the foundation for two additional schools – Sherman Thomas Charter High School and the Sherman Thomas STEM Academy. Her success and expertise have distinguished her as one of the leading school choice advocates and school leaders in the Central Valley.
Tera began her career in education as a teacher and coach in the Clovis Unified School District. At Clovis High School, she worked with the most diverse student population in the district – both in her role as a physical education teacher and varsity volleyball coach.
She then took those leadership skills she gained in Clovis and returned to her hometown of Madera to help launch Sherman Thomas Charter School. Working alongside the executive director, she served as both a classroom teacher and administrator in the school’s formative first year. Beginning in year three, she took over the role of sole school leader and administrator – creating an innovative academic program and fostering immense parental and community involvement. Under her leadership, Sherman Thomas quickly ascended to the top performing elementary school in all of Madera – all the while maintaining greater diversity than all of the other schools with similar academic achievement.
Recently Tera has served as an integral part of the 99 Accelerator – a collaborative effort among five of the top charter schools in the Central Valley that focuses on spreading best practices and scaling charter reform efforts in the Central Valley. The peer-to-peer network has been so successful that Tera has been invited to speak at various conferences and host multiple visiting groups that are interested in replicating the work of the group.
Charlene Torok, Site Lead at Sherman Thomas Charter High School
Mrs. Charlene Torok is a teacher with 20 years of experience in 1st-12th grades. She has worked as a teacher in California, Oregon, Colorado and taught abroad in Santa Marta, Colombia. She has spent the last 4 years working in the Sherman Thomas Charter School system. She is currently RSP teacher and Principal at STCHS and RSP teacher at Sherman Thomas STEM Academy. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, reading, dancing, and spending time with her family.
Minerva Sanchez is an Executive Secretary in the Administration Office for Sherman Thomas Charter Schools. In 2003 as she offered her time and skills as a volunteer. She transitioned from her volunteer roles to become an Office Assistant. Today, after 20 years of service, Minerva holds the position of Executive Secretary, overseeing the administrative aspects of all three Sherman Thomas Charter School sites.
Outside of her work at the school, in her spare time, Minerva enjoys riding motorcycles with her husband. She also cherishes the moments spent in Morro Bay. At home, she channels her creativity through DIY projects. Through it all, Minerva remains grounded in her values, always putting faith in God and family first.
I have been a part of Sherman Thomas Charter High School 2018. I am a proud STCHS Volunteer, deeply committed to the growth and development of our students.
I hold a teaching credential in Arts, Media, and Entertainment within the field of Career Technical Education (CTE). This credential equips me to guide and inspire students in various important areas.
Currently, I teach a range of courses aimed at preparing our students for the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. These courses include:
In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I serve as the Freshman and Senior Supervising teacher, ensuring that our students have the support they need at critical points in their high school journey. I’m also in charge of Work Permits, ensuring that our students are legally able to gain valuable work experience.
Moreover, I wear the hat of Sports Coordinator, helping our students engage in physical activities and teamwork, fostering a well-rounded educational experience.
On my days off, you’ll often find me shuttling my daughter to local rodeos and equine events where she competes. I also cherish spending time with my perfect grandbaby. I have a profound love for the outdoors, especially when it involves lakes, oceans, or chasing waterfalls.
One of my true passions is helping students understand the power of networking and actively participating in the community through volunteering and hands-on experiences. I believe that these experiences are invaluable for personal growth and future success.
I’m Alyssa Ford, your new Art teacher at Sherman Thomas Charter High School. I have a Bachelor of Art degree in English with a minor in Art and am credentialed to teach both English and Art. I also have a Masters of Education with the emphasis on curriculum and instruction. I am driven to bringing literacy and creativity together in engaging ways to my classroom. I am married with two beautiful daughters and love to write, cook, paint, and travel on my free time!
Mr. Taylor Kent grew up in Madera and attended Fresno State University. He has 3 years of teaching experience in Clovis high schools and Sherman Thomas Charter High. He thrives to give students the best experience with English Literature. Several of his previous students have their works of fiction and poetry from class published on TeenInk. In his spare time, Mr. Kent is an avid reader and beginning watercolor artist.
Mr. Kent teaches English 9-12, PE 1-3, Driver’s Education, and oversees the Education Enrichment program and J-Culture extracurricular.
Paul M. Perez has been an integral part of our team since 2012. His dedication to maintenance work is both remarkable and rewarding. Paul thrives on the challenges that each day presents in his maintenance role.
Outside of work, Paul is an avid outdoor enthusiast. He finds joy in fishing, camping, and hiking. Additionally, he’s a passionate music lover and actively contributes to his church as part of the worship team.
Steve Mount joined our team in 2019 as a dedicated groundkeeper and maintenance worker. What he loves most about his job is the opportunity to work outdoors, particularly when it comes to tending to the yard and landscaping.
During his downtime, you can find Steve working on cars. Additionally, he has a knack for carpentry.
Louie Vela has been a dedicated member of the Sherman Thomas Charter Schools community since 2015. He began his journey as a volunteer in maintenance, working alongside his mentor Paul to keep the school facilities in top-notch condition. He has since taken on the role of the evening maintenance staff.
However, the most important aspect of Louie’s life is spending quality time with his wife and grandkids. He loves making model cars and BBQing for his family.
Hi, I am Karina, an STCS School Nurse. I have worked as a school nurse since 2015. I currently hold my California Board of Registered Nursing License, Master’s in the Science of Nursing, and School Nurse Credential.
I enjoy traveling, reading, and spending time with my husband and sons. I enjoy working with children and am passionate about promoting health services and wellness that will positively impact student learning in the school community.
My name is Ashley Wilson-Camy or Mrs. Camy and I am the School Counselor for Sherman Thomas Charter Elementary and High School. I was born and raised in Clovis but recently moved to Madera County. I am a graduate from Fresno State University having earned a bachelor’s in Psychology and a master’s in School Counseling. My role on campus varies from assisting students with social-emotional learning and support, academic planning and college/career counseling. Aside from my daily responsibilities as a counselor, I am a wife, sister, and daughter, and I believe family comes first. I have a love for all things Disney and football – Go Niners! I love my role as a counselor and I am very thankful to be serving the students and families within the Sherman Thomas community.
Paul T. Perez, a native of Madera, embodies the spirit of dedication and commitment to his community. His journey began in 2011 when he became a volunteer, starting his service in maintenance.
Over the years, Paul’s dedication and hard work led him to rise through the ranks, and he now holds the position of Maintenance Supervisor. Paul is deeply invested in his work and his community. Paul finds immense joy and fulfillment in the work he does. His commitment to his responsibilities and his genuine enjoyment of the work make him an invaluable asset to his organization and community.
During his downtime, Paul finds himself at the beach. He also enjoys quality time camping with his family. Paul is a devoted minister of the gospel and a dedicated student of the Bible. He finds great joy in sharing his faith and uplifting his fellow worshippers with words of encouragement and inspiration from the Bible. Paul is known for being fun to be around, bringing positivity, and a sense of enjoyment to any gathering.