Valley Oaks Charter School Launches First-Ever Athletics Program

For the first time in its 25-year history, Valley Oaks Charter School (VOCS) is fielding school sports teams. This fall, students are officially competing as the Coyotes, with teams in 8-man football and cross-country.

“For years, offering sports has been one of the top requests from our parents,” said Becky Bartz, Senior Director at VOCS. “Many of our students have chosen to leave after eighth grade so they could attend a traditional high school and participate in athletics. We knew it was time to create those opportunities here.”

The effort took shape when Kara Martin, a former VOCS parent, joined the staff last year as a teacher. Martin spearheaded the push to join CIF as an associate member and helped lay the foundation for an athletics program designed to grow gradually.

“As a parent, I recognized the need for sports at Valley Oaks when I wanted my own children to stay in this wonderful charter through high school,” said Martin.

Martin explained that, like many families, she faced the difficult choice between keeping her children enrolled at VOCS, which did not offer sports, or transferring them to a traditional high school where athletics were available. After joining VOCS, she quickly realized her experience was not unique. Her goal, she said, was to help launch a program that addressed this gap. 

What began as a grassroots effort soon drew wider support. Longtime Kern County coach Keith Powell volunteered to lead football after his former program closed. With 48 years of coaching experience, including starting programs at Bakersfield Christian High School, Powell saw the chance to build something lasting at VOCS.

“This will be the sixth program I’ve started,” Powell said. “We got started a little late, but we already have 20 players. The goal isn’t just wins. It’s about building camaraderie, teaching responsibility, and helping these young men grow. When we play our first game, it will already be a huge success.”

For players like senior Maverick Mack, the chance to finally wear his own school’s jersey is a dream come true. 

“I’ve been at Valley Oaks since kindergarten, and my whole life I’ve had to play sports for other schools,” Mack said. “I’m stoked to finally be able to represent my own school.”

His teammate Levi Hall, who has attended VOCS since second grade, agreed. 

“It’s cool just to get to play for my team and not somebody else’s,” he said. “Most of the guys out here are people I’ve grown up with, so it feels really official to take the field together.”

Vice Principal Samantha Bryant said the benefits of sports are already showing. 

“We saw students transform last year when they had the chance to play through another program, and we’re seeing it again now,” she said. “Their grades improved, their confidence grew, and the camaraderie they’ve built is incredible. Even students who aren’t playing are out at lunch tossing the football or cheering them on. It’s unified our campus in a way we’ve never experienced.”

Cross country has also gained momentum, spearheaded by Spanish teacher Shelby Ordoñez Jones, with Martin managing scheduling and CIF compliance. The team consists of 15 runners from the Bakersfield and Tehachapi campuses, who train locally but compete collectively.

“When we started practices this summer, I asked students to introduce themselves by saying their name and why they are running cross country,” Ordoñez Jones said. “All of them shared that they love running. Starting the Valley Oaks Cross Country team has given these students an outlet to enjoy the sport with the support and motivation of fellow students and their coaches.”

Bartz credits both Ordoñez Jones and Martin for making the program possible. 

“Launching cross country would not have been possible without Shelby’s leadership and Kara’s behind-the-scenes work,” she said. “Their efforts have been central to building and sustaining our athletics program.”

The new athletics program has already sparked a wave of school spirit, from parents volunteering to students rallying around a new mascot, the Coyotes. Bartz said the name was chosen to reflect the resilience and teamwork of VOCS students.

“As independent study students, our kids are strong and resourceful as individuals, but even stronger together,” said Bartz. “Just like coyotes.”