Community Schools

Contact Abra: ashay@brightstarschools.org

As Community Schools Chair, Abra Shay proudly leads the founding Community Schools team at Bright Star Schools. As Chair, she sets the vision and strategy for the organization-wide transformation into Community Schools. At Bright Star Community Schools, the voices of students, families, staff, and partners direct our efforts to meet the needs of our community by connecting services and resources to the school such as medical care, mutual aid, academic programs, and more.

Prior to working at Bright Star, Abra led Strategic Partnerships at Teach For America Los Angeles where she led a team that recruited, onboarded, and placed 100+ new teachers annually in high needs schools across 18 districts. As an education consultant, she supported school leadership teams across the country to develop strategic action plans.

Abra began her career in education as a Teach For America corps member in Los Angeles where she served as a founding 5th grade teacher at Endeavor College Prep, being named Gold Standard Teacher of the Year by Building Excellent Schools for achieving significant results in reading growth with her students. She went on to lead Endeavor’s 4th-6th grade campus as Campus Director.

Abra holds a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College and a Master’s in Urban Education from Loyola Marymount University. A native Angeleno, Abra lives in the Valley with her partner and their young son.

Contact Christian: crisquez@brightstarschools.org

Christian Risquez joined the Bright Star family in October of 2023 as the Stella High Community Manager. Prior to joining our team, Christian spent the bulk of his career managing school youth programs such as Boys and Girls Clubs, summer camp programs and college and career readiness programs. Christian also teaches courses such as CPR, lifeguarding and first aid and formerly held an EMT certification. 

Beyond career life, Christian comes from a Venezuelan family, went to high school in Caracas and is very proud of his roots and having the opportunity to experience his heritage as a young person. Feel free to contact Christian with any questions. Se habla español!

Contact Marina: msandoval@brightstarschools.org

Marina Sandoval serves as the founding Community School Manager at Stella Middle Charter Academy in South Los Angeles, where she focuses on the Community School framework to lead the needs and assets assessment. Within the first six months, Marina identified community-based partners like Dynasty United Youth Association and Moving Mountains in immediate response to students' academic and social-emotional needs.

Prior to this role, Marina was the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Lawndale Elementary School District where she was an active member of the district’s leadership team. She streamlined practices, created efficient systems, and built the capacity of Office Managers and other support staff in an initiative she created called Level-Up.

Before the district-level role, Marina was the Community Liaison at the school level, where she conceptualized and piloted the family engagement model known as Family University. The model provides leadership opportunities for parents and guardians in Advisory Committees and, through workshops, exposes them to school-to-home learning to better support their children at home. Family efficacy increased, leadership capacity expanded, and Family University became the model districtwide.

Marina’s education is grounded in communities of practice in marketing, grassroots market research, leadership, and lived experiences. Marina Sandoval was born in Los Angeles and raised in the Lennox and Hawthorne area.

Contact Mark: mjutabha@brightstarschools.org

Dr. Mark Jutabha is the Community School Manager for Stella Elementary Charter Academy, a TK-4 Bright Star School (BSS). He is responsible for coordinating systems and services as part of the California Community Schools Partnership Program to implement programs that support the educational and socio-economic needs of students and their families in the communities where they live. He believes that knowledge and education is the pathway to liberation.

Prior to joining Bright Star Schools, Dr. Jutabha was a Senior Engagement Manager at WestEd, a national leader in education research, development, and service.  Dr. Jutabha partnered with educational leaders at the state-, district-, and school-level to lead research-based professional development and coaching services in School Turnaround, Leadership, Mathematics, and English Language Learning. He has conducted needs assessments to identify site-based assets and priority areas for turnaround efforts and has created and supported the design of district-, school- classroom-level curriculum and assessments aligned to the CCSS, ELD, NGSS standards and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium protocols for over 100 public and charter schools in urban and rural districts across the country.

 Dr. Jutabha holds an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCLA, a M.A. in Education and Administrative Services Credential from Pepperdine University, a M.A. and Teaching Credential from UCLA, and a B.S. in Political Science from UCLA.

Contact Johnny: jteran@brightstarschools.org

Johnny Teran is the Community School Manager at Rise Kohyang High School where he serves the families, students, and community.

He’s had the privilege of serving his community for over 12 years while working for LA City Recreation and Parks, After-School All-Stars Los Angeles, and a variety of charter public schools in the LA area. Johnny has been at Bright Star for 6 years and has helped develop family engagement, specifically at our Valor Academy cluster. 

Johnny was born and raised in South Los Angeles.

Contact Karen: kmedina@brightstarschools.org

Currently serving as a Community School Manager, Karen Medina leads efforts to create a supportive and engaging educational environment. Previously, she was instrumental as a founding office manager at a high school, ensuring smooth operations and compliance while supporting enrollment. Her passion for school development grew during her time as an operations associate at a middle school, focusing on behind-the-scenes support. 

She began her career as a teacher's assistant in primary schools, emphasizing academic support. Karen earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge.

Contact Lindsay: ldumas@brightstarschools.org

Lindsay Dumas serves as the Community School Manager for Rise Kohyang Elementary where she collaborates with students, families, staff, and community partners to address essential school community needs. She envisions school as a place where everyone belongs, works together, and can thrive.

Lindsay has spent the last decade working in higher education and non-profit organizations focused on advancing educational equity. She strives to create safe and brave spaces for students, families, and communities through the use of restorative practices, and enjoys challenging the status quo and encouraging others to think outside the box. Lindsay holds her Master of Education from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign for the Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership program with an emphasis on diversity and equity. 

Originally from Minnesota, Lindsay lives in Long Beach with her husband, Jonathan, and in her free time she can be found watching women’s soccer, spending quality time with family and friends, traveling, eating spicy food, y practicando su español.

Contact Brian: bmartinez@brightstarschools.org

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Brian Martinez has worked in supporting students academically by bringing programs and resources to campuses throughout Los Angeles County.

Brian joined Bright Star Schools in 2023 and is currently serving as Community School Manager for Valor Academy Middle School in North Hills, where he has the opportunity to address the needs of the community that allow for informed building and growing of partnerships that will bring valuable resources to campus. Through his own experiences in education attending public schools in Los Angeles, Brian has gained immense self motivation to bring change and work to ensure all students succeed!

After transferring from Los Angeles Valley College, Brian obtained a B.A. in History & Education from the University of California, Santa Cruz and an M.A. in Educational Foundations from California State University, Los Angeles.

Written By: Community Schools Manager, Yadira Sanchez

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One participant shared how deeply grateful she was for the opportunity to join the ESL program. After years of managing a chronic illness and dedicating herself to caring for her family, she enrolled in the class to finally do something for herself. She shared that the program has renewed her sense of purpose and that her family has noticed she is happier, more energized, and more hopeful. Although she was initially nervous to enroll, she immediately felt welcomed and found a supportive community that she now considers like family.

As part of the program, participants visited Los Angeles Mission College, where they received student IDs, toured the campus, learned about the many student support services available to them, and explored career pathways they can pursue after completing their English courses. Inspired by the experience, she enrolled in summer classes at the college to continue her education and begin working toward her career goals.

As a Community School, Valor Academy Elementary is committed to responding to the needs and strengths of our families. The success of the ESL program demonstrates what is possible when schools, families, and community partners work together to remove barriers and create opportunities for growth.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are grateful to Los Angeles Mission College for their partnership, to our dedicated instructor for guiding our families throughout the semester, and most importantly, to the parents whose determination and commitment inspire us all.

 As we look ahead to the new school year, VAES is excited to continue expanding opportunities for families through our partnership with Los Angeles Mission College. Whether you are interested in improving your English, exploring career pathways, or becoming more connected to your child's school community, we invite you to join us. Enrollment for our next ESL cohort will open in early August. Families and community members interested in participating can contact our Community School Manager, Yadira Sanchez, or contact the VAES main office to learn more. 

Congratulations to our ESL participants! Your hard work, resilience, and dedication to learning are worth celebrating!

 

Yadira Sanchez is the Community Schools Manager for Valor Academy Elementary School and a dedicated team member of our Cubs community.

Contact Daniel: dabner@brightstarschools.org

Daniel Abner serves as Valor Academy High School’s Community Schools Manager. He is excited to continue the work together in reimagining what school can be—a place where students’ needs are met holistically. 

Before joining VAHS, Daniel served as a Student Support Specialist, where he focused on restorative justice and trauma-informed practices, leading to improved student behavior, attendance, and academic performance. Daniel’s journey in education also includes time as a Special Education Para-educator, where he worked closely with teachers, families, and students to develop and monitor IEPs, ensuring each student received the personalized support they needed to thrive. In the process, he also supported multilingual learners, adapting instruction to meet their unique language and academic needs. Earlier in his career, Daniel also served as an After School Program Educator, where he created a positive, engaging environment that fostered both learning and growth. 

Throughout his time in education, Daniel has been dedicated to building inclusive, supportive spaces where all students are empowered to reach their full potential. 

Contact Yadira: ysanchez@brightstarschools.org

Yadira Sanchez is the Community School Manager at Valor Academy Elementary School (VAES), spearheading initiatives aimed at transforming the school into a vibrant community hub through enhanced family engagement, collaborative partnerships, and tailored support services.  

Prior to joining VAES, Yadira played a pivotal role in transforming a public charter high school into a community school, establishing vital family resources and support programs. With over a decade in community outreach, including eight years with the City of Pasadena's Police Department Community Relations section, Yadira has a proven dedication to improving community well-being. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology with a minor in psychology from California State University, Northridge. 

Yadira believes in equality for all, regardless of socioeconomic status, and is dedicated to creating an inclusive and supportive educational environment. She grew up in the San Fernando Valley near VAES, and her roots in the community inspire her work every day.