Who We Are
Since 1987, Monarch School Project has been dedicated to providing a sense of belonging for thousands of unhoused youth and their families. Our trauma-informed and strength-based community empowers the youth we serve to overcome the challenges impacting their lives.
Monarch provides comprehensive academic, social and emotional support to youth, alumni, and their families. Our tailored programs and wrap-around services empower youth to succeed and define their own path to achievement.
From increased attendance and academic performance to emotional wellness and earning a high school diploma, students are defining success on their own terms and thriving at Monarch. The school is a public-private partnership between the San Diego County Office of Education and the nonprofit Monarch School Project, a 501(c)(3) corporation.
Q&a
board of directors
Board Chair
Pamela Gray Payton
Vice President, Chief Impact and Partnerships Officer
San Diego Foundation
Vice Chair
Carolina Bravo-Karimi
Managing Partner
Wilson Turner Kosmo LLP
Finance Chair & Treasurer
Ryan Rowland
Senior Manager, Assurance Services
Ernst & Young LLP
Partnership & Strategies Chair
Makeba Jones
Assoc. Teaching Professor
UC San Diego
Governance Chair
Anjuli Arora-Dow
Attorney of Law
John Paul Stevens Foundation
Secretary
Jill Skrezyna
Community Volunteer
Resource Development Chair
Kristopher Lichter
Co-Founder/Principal
DuMonde Ventures
Audit Chair
Jenni Stephens, CPA
Audit Senior Manager
Ernst & Young LLP
Marciano Perez
Vice President, Student Services
San Diego City College
Sam Attisha
President & General Manager
Cox California
Kimberly White-Smith
Dean & Professor
School of Leadership and Education Sciences
University of San Diego
Lake Price
Community Volunteer
Graeme Reid
Assurance Partner
Ernst & Young LLP
Randall Camp
Community Volunteer
Melissa Crawford
President & General Manager
NBC 7 and Telemundo 20
monarch leadership
Carter Anderson
Chief Development Officer
Kate Piontek
Chief Finance Officer
Vicki Wodarczyk
Vice President of Operations
Melissa Bailey
Senior Director of Development and Grants
Belen Beltran
Senior Director of Programs
Erika Malone
Senior Director of Learning and Engagement
Virginia Bays
Senior Director of Finance and Administration
Our History
Hope and dedication isn’t accomplished overnight.
The outlook is grim for youth experiencing homelessness needing help in San Diego County. Recognizing a desperate situation, the San Diego County Office of Education (SDCOE) funds a drop-in center in downtown San Diego. Named The P.L.A.C.E. (Progressive Learning Alternative Center for Education), it is staffed with a single teacher, Sandra McBrayer, and offers an opportunity for youth experiencing homlessness to get off the streets and pursue an education.
Needing a larger facility but lacking funds, The P.L.A.C.E. relocates to a low-income neighborhood in downtown. Despite challenges, the program continues to flourish.
Students rename The P.L.A.C.E., and Monarch School is born.
Students rename the school to Monarch School in honor of the butterfly’s transformation, which symbolizes their current struggle as well as the success they hope to achieve.
Monarch School Project is formed as a California nonprofit corporation.
The school moves to a new building on Cedar Street in Little Italy. SDCOE agrees to fund a 15-year lease, and Monarch School Project raises over $1 million to fund renovations, furniture and fixtures in the school. The new 10,000-square-foot facility opens with 48 students and includes a computer lab, three classrooms, a small health clinic, library and conference room, kitchen, laundry room and shower.
Monarch School reaches its capacity of 150 students in May, four years ahead of growth projections.
Building modifications are made in order to add a kindergarten and first-grade classroom. Monarch School is now able to serve youth experiencing homelessness from grades K through 12.
Monarch offers full physical education and recreation sports program thanks to new Nat and Flora Bosa Campus.
Monarch gains admission into the California Interscholastic Federation, San Diego Section (CIFSDS) as part of the Frontier Conference.
The Launch Point is unveiled to offer space to students to learn , including a construction lab for the construction and building Career Technical Education pathway. Launch Point was intended to serve as a career academy for our high school students. As a flexible learning atmosphere, the physical space is an environment with moveable furniture to support multiple learning opportunities. The space includes a career and college center for the MSP Life Skills staff to connect with students to plan out their futures.
The newly constructed Parent Resource Center and Parent Classroom are unveiled. Caregivers are welcomed into a space to connect with staff for resources and a learning space to welcome parents as partners in their child education. The larger space allows for parents to access needs, including access to an onsite health navigator and laundry services.
Monarch expands into previously rented out space allowing for a comprehensive mental health program offering services to families and students. Mental Health clinical trainees from local universities began their first placement on campus. This expansion of services allows for more individual, group and family mental health services.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, all MSP employees become case managers assigned to families to ensure resources were disseminated through bi-monthly distribution days enabling Monarch staff to stay connected to families and offer ongoing support. Monthly resource distribution continues through July 2021.
Campus reopens to students in a limited capacity. August 2021: school reopens at full capacity.
The Chrysalis, Monarch School’s Center for the Arts opens providing students, families and the community with a visual and performing arts space. The first major scale art exhibition is held to celebrate the opening.
