Overview:
Special education teacher Kaitlin Marchesi of Vista Virtual Academy, recently named the county's Teacher of the Year, has become beloved for a student-driven approach to learning.
Vista is a hybrid model, where students have some in-person and some virtual learning classes, a method that appears to be helping pupils perform at higher levels of success compared to other WCCUSD schools, according to state testing data.
Just a year after being told she might have to leave the school she helped create, Vista Virtual Academy special education teacher Kaitlin Marchesi was named Contra Costa County’s Teacher of the Year. She went on to represent Richmond as a contender for the state’s Teacher of the Year award.
Vista, which was founded during the pandemic, isn’t a typical WCCUSD K-12 setting. Students are given a voice in the type of education they’re receiving and learning happens both online and in hybrid classrooms. Half of the week, she’s with her grade five through 12 students virtually; the other half, her classroom is filled with pupils across grade levels and one very popular emotional support dog, a mixed breed staffie named Truman.
When Richmondside visited Marchesi’s classroom, students trickled in and out, some even bringing gifts, like a new bed for Truman. Behind her multi-screen set up hangs a large “2025 Teaching Excellence Award” poster representing her recent county honor, along with other accolades. Her walls are lined with inspirational quotes and resources; desks are topped with snacks for anyone who wants to come in. Students can sign up for different themed treat days, such as “hot cocoa day” or “apple cider day.”
But things were not always this lively. When she helped found Vista in 2021 it was all virtual. She decided to open an in-person classroom after students shared that face-to-face support would help them thrive.
“When my students request something, I’m always going to listen,” Marchesi told Richmondside. “This is what is great about this school…Everything we do at Vista is to honor what the students are requesting.”
That philosophy has shaped the school’s offerings — even down to elective courses. When one student expressed an interest in photography, Marchesi worked with a WCCUSD photography teacher to adapt a similar lesson plan..
“Today, I had a small group where we went over the math lesson. And sometimes we’ll do a readers’ workshop, writers’ workshop. It’s whatever the student needs to succeed to meet that benchmark,” Marchesi said, noting the online model offers more flexibility.
Each teacher on campus acts as a supervising teacher who oversees roughly 23 students, smaller than class sizes at other WCCUSD schools. Because Marchesi teaches special education, her caseload is a bit larger. Elementary students stick with one teacher, but older students rotate through subject teachers who report back to the supervising teacher.
“Our school doesn’t look like a traditional program, because it’s not supposed to. It’s supposed to be different to meet students’ needs who aren’t being met in a comprehensive school,” Marchesi added.
The school serves a wide variety of students — some with disabilities, others who travel frequently, or families who prefer an online model. Enrollment is open to any WCCUSD student and students from neighboring districts.
Attendance is tracked through assignments completed, not by logging in daily, so students can work at their own pace. Overall the school’s approach is proving effective, according to state testing data.
In 2023-24, only 25% of Vista students met or exceeded state standards in English and 15% in math. In 2024-25, 33% of students met or exceeded state standards in English and 20% in math — one of the largest increases seen districtwide.
A coalition of parents recently started an online petition to expand the virtual academy’s capacity because of its success, pointing out that it could maintain or increase revenue for the school district amid budget shortfalls and a potential teachers strike.
Marchesi fell into teaching doing a favor for a friend
Marchesi, 37, who has been teaching for 17 years, said she never dreamed of being a teacher. She initially planned to earn a law degree after graduating with a business degree from Cal State East Bay. But close to graduation, a friend at a private school needed a six-week substitute teacher. That short stint changed everything.
“Being the ‘girls’ girl’ that I am, I stepped in for her math class so she could chase her dreams,” Marchesi said. “(Afterwards, my friends told me) ‘I’ve never heard you happier as when you talk about the work you’re doing with students at the school,’ so why would I do anything different?”
Her first fulltime job was in her hometown at Antioch Learning Academy, where she taught fifth- through eighth-graders in multiple subjects. During her three years there, she discovered a passion for special education and earned her master’s degree in education from Loyola Marymount University.
In 2014, she joined WCCUSD as a reading coach at Lincoln Elementary, then became an autism specialist at Lupine. She later supported special education students at El Cerrito High before finding her “dream position” at Vista.
Despite her success, Marchesi’s journey hasn’t been without challenges. Amid districtwide teacher shortages and budget cuts, she was nearly forced to transfer to another campus to fill a fulltime position — just months before earning the county’s top teaching honor.
Parents and students fought mightily to keep Marchesi at Vista Virtual.
“They actually met several times with the (former) superintendent, Dr. (Chris) Hurst, and talked to him about my role, talked about the school, talked about the connection that their children and the other children on my caseload have to me,” Marchesi said. “And then he made the decision to keep me in this position.”
The community said what makes Marchesi special is the trust she’s built with families. She’s become a safe haven for the many students who need an adult to understand their struggles and need someone who will act swiftly to accommodate and enhance their learning experience.
Students see Marchesi as more than just a teacher
One of those students who advocated for Marchesi was Liana Kozolchyk, a senior at Vista. She transferred there after a difficult freshman semester at El Cerrito High.
Kozolchyk has a genetic condition where her muscles tire easily, making it difficult for her to maneuver around a large high school. The lack of accommodations left her exhausted and isolated. Bullying she experienced only deepened the pain.
She recalled one incident where she was left behind during a fire drill because a teacher said it would be “too difficult” to help her across campus.
“I wasn’t even sure if I could even keep going with the way things were going in my life,” Kozolchyk told Richmondside. “But once I settled here, everything completely changed for me. And she (Marchesi) gave me an experience like no other… She is my closest person.”
Kozolchyk said Marchesi is unlike any teacher she has ever known. When Marchesi promised to help, she followed through. Her optimism and warmth created an accepting classroom where she no longer had to fear bullying. For the first time, Kozolchyk said, she felt understood at school.
Her academic progress wasn’t the only thing that improved — her physical health did too. Last year, doctors found a treatment that significantly alleviated her pain.
“A part of me feels like, if I hadn’t found Katie, I wouldn’t have gotten to a point of treatment because my motivation to excel caused me to want more,” Kozolchyk said. “Before I would have been fine being miserable for the rest of my life. But once I came here, I realized I’m not supposed to be miserable.”
Kozolchyk said Marchesi became more than a teacher or on-campus confidante. She grew to become a family friend who has had dinner at her house. Her mother was the person who nominated Marchesi for the teacher of the year award.
Being named teacher of year is a competitive process
Educators can be nominated by students, parents, or peers. The selection process is rigorous. Teachers are first nominated at the district level, then two from each district advance to the county level. The top two at the county move on to the state competition.
“(After winning at the county) It’s about 17 pages of a packet that I had to complete with essays, resume, and a lot of writing,” Marchesi said. “There is a speaking competition as part of it, and classroom visitations and an interview.”
A teacher must be fully credentialed, have at least eight years of experience, and demonstrate leadership and innovation in and outside the classroom. They also need strong community support and a commitment to the mission of teaching. The winners at the state level go on to motivate current or prospective educators.
Paraeducator Zola Hanson, who works alongside Marchesi, said she is the perfect person to win the award.
“Special education is hardcore, and Katie is the most hardcore,” Hanson told Richmondside. “Katie comes in earlier than 9 a.m. and leaves at like five o’clock, even though her workday ends at 3:30 p.m. She not only teaches, she supervises other teachers. We have teachers coming in and out asking for help. She helps with tech. She does not have one job. She has all the jobs, she wears all hats. She truly goes above and beyond.”
Hanson said she has worked as a contracted paraeducator for two years at five different schools, many of which were chaotic or under-supported.
“Getting to work with Katie in a classroom that is so kind and so organized really is like a treat. She’s always prepared. She’s always ready,” Hanson said. “It’s really special to get to work in a place where everyone wants to be here.”
Hanson said she’s even applying to work directly for the district — despite a possible reduction in pay — just to guarantee that she can stay in Marchesi’s classroom.
Marchesi said she was honored to win the county award but emphasized that the recognition reflects the collective work of the entire Vista Virtual community. Her peers reviewed her applications, sat in on her practice speeches, and supported her without reservation, even those who were also nominated.
More so, the educators at Vista are sincere in their collaborative efforts to ensure all students, even if they don’t directly teach them, are taken care of. She said any of the teachers at the school could’ve also won the award.
“I love it here…it’s the little moments,” Marchesi said. “It’s the moments where kids believe in themselves. It’s connecting with the community. It’s getting to foster a love for learning. It’s finding that thing that a student feels successful at. It’s getting to see kids happy and that they are excited to learn.”
Marchesi said now she can’t imagine being anything but a teacher — and wherever she goes, she will continue to advocate for the hybrid learning model she helped bring to life at Vista.
“I love the uniqueness of this and I want to make sure this option stays around for students, so I will continue to teach as long as it’s offered in this district,” Marchesi said. “All kids are amazing, and if they feel connected, if they feel loved, if they feel appreciated, if they feel successful, you get to see that amazingness — and that’s something that we get to see here all the time.”
