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It is with much joy and excitement that I join the Mountain Oaks community as the new assistant administrator. With over 25 years in education, my experiences are diverse and include teaching, directing a summer program, leading a school as a site administrator, and most recently supporting math teachers as an instructional coach.



Similar to the school’s mission, I see children as unique individuals who learn best through active engagement in safe, nurturing environments. It is my personal conviction that all people deserve to be treated with kindness and respect, and that is how I approach my professional roles and responsibilities.



I recently relocated to Calaveras County from the Bay Area and have been enjoying the peace and beauty the natural landscape offers. As I settle into your wonderful school community, I am most excited to build connections and support your children’s educational experiences.

Posted: 10/14/26

Dear Mountain Oaks Community,
Please be advised that we must remove one of the mature pine trees in the courtyard due to safety and structural concerns. The tree's root system has compromised the adjacent sidewalk, creating a significant tripping hazard that unfortunately resulted in a recent injury. Additionally, there are rising concerns regarding potential structural damage to the main building.

The County Office of Education has officially classified the tree as a safety hazard and is currently coordinating with specialized contractors to ensure its safe and proper removal. To minimize disruption, the work is scheduled to take place over Thanksgiving break, allowing ample time for the removal and cleanup process before school resumes.

As of right now, we will only be removing the 1 tree. If it is suggested that additional trees should be removed, we will hold a Mountain Oaks Community meeting. This forum will allow us to collectively discuss the structural concerns and explore alternative shade options for the courtyard.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Andrew Gardner at 754-0532, ext. 4062 or at [email protected].

Posted: 10/13/26

Greetings Mountain Oaks Students and Families,

Mountain Oaks has two significant benchmarks before us this year: Charter Renewal and WASC Accreditation. Both of these important processes require us to examine data, review progress, and evaluate programs and practices. To do that well, we need to hear the voices from our entire community.

One way we can gather important information from you about your experiences at Mountain Oaks Charter School is through the CA Healthy Kids Survey. The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is an anonymous assessment administered to students in grades 5,7,9, and 11 and families to evaluate school climate, safety, student wellness, and youth resiliency. These surveys are voluntary. However, we strongly encourage you to participate in these surveys so we can identify school wide areas of strength and need so we can continue to support our students and families in all ways at Mountain Oaks. Please click on the title to access the surveys.

Science Camp was last week and all of the families who attended had a fabulous time. We had a smaller turnout than usual. We would like to know what we could do to maybe build more interest or if there are different programs or changes, we can make. We are looking to get a better understanding of what barriers may be keeping students from attending our school science camp. The team would love feedback so we can better plan for the future. Please click on the title to take the small survey. Thank you for your time and input. Posted 10/5/26

This October 27th, Mountain Oaks is providing the opportunity to take the PSAT. The PSAT is 2 hours and 45 minutes long practice test for the SAT and tests your skills in reading, writing, and math. The deadline to register is October 16th. There is a readiness deadline of October 23rd, this will make the day of testing shorter as you will have already filled out a lot of the pre-test information. We have 10 spots available for each age group; 8th and 9th graders are combined, 10th Graders and last 11th Graders. If you are a 12th Grader and wanting to take the test please reach out to Michael Hicks and he will help you.

Click on the title to access the Google Sign Up form. Posted 9/27/26

A Message from Andrew Gardner
I am incredibly grateful and honored to join the Mountain Oaks community as your new School Administrator. Having spent my career serving students, families, and educators throughout the foothills, it feels especially meaningful to continue that work in a community that values family, flexibility, independence, and student-centered learning.
For more than 20 years, I have had the privilege of working in public education in a variety of roles, including as a teacher, principal, district Career and Technical Education Director, and most recently as the Executive Director of Amador College Connect. Throughout each of these experiences, one thing has remained constant: I believe every student deserves to be known, supported, challenged, and given meaningful opportunities to succeed.
What excites me most about Mountain Oaks is the opportunity to serve students and families whose educational journeys may look different from the traditional school experience. Independent study and homeschooling require trust, partnership, creativity, and a deep commitment to meeting students where they are. I look forward to listening and learning from our families, supporting our incredible staff, and helping ensure that every Mountain Oaks student has the opportunity to thrive.
I feel very fortunate to continue serving the students and families of our foothill communities. I am thankful for the warm welcome I have already received and excited about the relationships, experiences, and opportunities that lie ahead.
I look forward to being part of this community!

Please click article title to review the Mountain Oaks Cell Phone Policy. Posted 10/3/25