Murdock Smith

Executive Director
 Highlands Community Charter and Technical Schools

With the help of International Kids Festival Highlands has provided thousands of multicultural residents the opportunity to learn English as a second language, earn their U.S. high school diploma, and learn a skill. All at No Cost!

Thank you The International Kids Festival Organizers for all you do for the community!

Larissa Gonchar

COMMUNITY OUTREACH ACADEMY is a charter school that was started based on the need of the Slavic community to fully integrate ourselves into our new environment without losing where we came from and who we are fundamentally. Over the last 14 months, we have proven repeatedly that our core mission is being implemented and tested. Because of the terrible war in Ukraine, we have accepted a large influx of refugee families who fled the war in hopes of a better and safer life and future. Upon arrival to the US, these families were hit with a huge culture shock. Everything is different here: new culture, new systems for nearly everything, and it can all be very scary. When they found COA, they were able to find, at least a little bit of, a reprieve. To many families and students, it felt close to home. They were able to freely communicate with fellow students in their home language, receive the help they so desperately needed. I am proud of the community we have built here at COA and to have the ability to help so many people during the scariest time of their lives.

We are honored to be a part of the International Kids Festival hosted by Russian American Media and are proud to partner with them on many occasions over the last several years. This wonderful event is an excellent opportunity to showcase the Slavic Community we are so proud to be a part of. It is a privilege to work alongside Sergey Ivannikov and his amazing team once again.

Anna values growing a beautiful family above all of her other achievements. She believes that strong families make strong communities. Her passion is to raise healthy individuals at all cost. Developing God given gifts to her children is the biggest priority. She’s a soccer mom to three sons. Her sons play in Elite Academy level soccer teams.

Together with her husband Ruslan, Anna is raising four beautiful children and serving as pastors in multiple ministries that benefit local communities. She’s an accomplished woman in leadership. Activating people to live out their purpose and destiny.

She has earned a Master's Degree in Human Resources, teaching at GCC schools, and serves for many years as a President of School Site Council at Community Outreach Academy, one of the most prominent charter schools that focuses on Diversity in the greater Sacramento area.