Member Spotlight: Amber Raskin

Amber Golden Raskin is a veteran charter school founder and accomplished television producer with expertise in school governance and business management. Amber has worked tirelessly for the past several years to launch Santa Clarita Valley International (SCVi) Charter School. The idea for the school began when Amber, who had moved to the Santa Clarita Valley for its outstanding neighborhood schools, quickly became disillusioned when she realized that her local school with its high test scores and stellar reputation was not a good match for her sensitive and creative daughter. Amber’s son, a naturally structured little boy who prided himself on following rules, caused her to worry that a traditional educational model might promote too many rigid behaviors and not help him explore enough of his own thoughts and ideas as he followed a well-defined and entrenched path of learning. Seeking alternative educational options, Amber soon learned Santa Clarita Valley schools, including private institutions, focused on traditional models that did not respond to the instructional needs of her children.

Amber began touring the state looking for alternative educational models that fostered learning beyond multiple-choice tests and a “one size fits all” approach to learning. Over the course of her search, Amber found exciting educational innovations that focused on providing youth with the necessary skills for achieving 21st century demands. Amber also learned that while it would have been more financially prudent to establish a private school, her interest in educational reform and alternative educational models had become a newfound passion. Amber decided to create a charter school so that access to innovative educational instruction would be accessible to a wider range of students throughout the Santa Clarita Valley. Amber’s efforts quickly found its grassroots supporters among other Santa Clarita Valley residents, many of whom had been home schooling their children due to a lack of local educational options. Soon innovative educators became interested in Amber’s efforts and an email list turned into a founding group that launched SCVi. When the time came, Amber selected a board of directors who reflected the necessary leadership needed to establish facilities, a financial and business framework and individuals with educationally progressive expertise.

When Amber is not taking care of her 2 school-aged children or working at SCVi where she currently oversees all operations, facilities and business development, among other things, she can usually be found working as a community activist. She founded a local chapter of another non-profit in an effort to protect children from gun violence. She has lobbied in both Sacramento and Washington for safety issues on behalf of our community.

A graduate of Cal State University at Long Beach, she has traveled the world, usually with kids in tow, and has worked hard to bring an international perspective to her family. Amber first traveled though Europe after graduating from college with a degree in interior design, but the heart for doing something more. Inspired by Oprah Winfrey, a woman who has realized great success through making a difference, she went into television — working as a producer to create hundreds of hours of network television. She was responsible for multimillion-dollar budgets, hiring staff, and the start-up of new companies, including work in payables, receivables, and a host of other management activities. She managed several different staffs of 100-plus, including some especially difficult talent relations. These experiences prepared her for the most difficult of all producing jobs: being a mom. She can be reached at amber.raskin@scvcharterschool.org

http://scvcharterschool.org