About Us
Why Nexus?
228,763
unhoused youth in California
1.1 million
unhoused youth in US
Nexus: Center of Training and Innovation is Monarch School Project’s response to this national crisis. Through Nexus, Monarch School Project offers training, coaching, and consulting in our integrated, evidence-based approach to serving students and families, especially those experiencing housing insecurity.
Monarch School Project
Monarch School Project is a 501c3 located in the Barrio Logan neighborhood of San Diego. Partnered with the San Diego County Office of Education, our school is a public/private partnership serving about 300 K-12 students, their families, and our alumni. All students enrolling at Monarch School “lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” (see McKinney-Vento definition).
Learn more about our school and history here.
The Monarch Model
At Monarch School Project, we systematically build authentic relationships with unhoused children and their families. These relationships form the foundation for a safe community, which enables high-level learning. We integrate learning with trauma-informed care, a strengths-based approach, and restorative practices. We invite you to read our full Monarch Model e-publication to learn more about our integrated approach.
Meet Our Team
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Vicki Wodarczyk, EdD
VP of Operations
Dr. Vicki Wodarczyk established an evaluation system at Monarch, fostering a culture of data-driven growth. She oversees strategic research initiatives and refines evaluation frameworks to support continuous learning. With over 20 years of experience in education and underserved communities, Vicki also leads the development of MSP’s Nexus Center of Training and Innovation, enhancing impact on unhoused students and families. She holds a BA in Psychology, an MA in Teaching, and a Doctorate in Education.
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Sarah Cusey, MBA
Scaling Project Manager and Lead Trainer
Sarah Cusey has over 15 years of experience in education, as a 5th grade teacher, K-12 teaching artist, instructional coach, community of practice facilitator, curriculum designer, and trainer. Sarah leverages her MBA and experience as a social practice artist to engage a wide range of stakeholders in projects that advance the missions of nonprofits and benefit the broader community. Sarah’s work is rooted in asset-based practices– her mantra is, “everyone has something to teach and something to learn.”
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Najmo Abdi, BA
Research and Evaluation Coordinator
Najmo Abdi served as a Behavioral Intervention Specialist at Monarch School Project from 2022 to 2024. She holds a BA in Sociology with a concentration in Law and Society from the University of California, San Diego. Najmo leads data collection for Monarch’s first longitudinal social-emotional learning (SEL) study focused on unhoused students in grades 3–12 and assists with implementation of the Cycle of Evaluation. A first-generation Somali American and the first in her family to graduate from college, Najmo is deeply committed to educational equity. She believes that a single caring adult can change the course of a student’s life—a belief that continues to guide her work in the field.