
Discover Our Staff
Adonahi
Ascencio
Family Engagement Coordinator
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Adonahi Ascencio
Family Engagement Coordinator
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Ahjia
Moore
Restorative Practices Director
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Ahjia Moore
Restorative Practices Director
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Aleida
Cajahuaringa
Speech and Language Pathologist Assistant
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Aleida Cajahuaringa
Speech and Language Pathologist Assistant
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Aleksandra
Vargas
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Aleksandra Vargas
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Alexander
Huerta
Cloud Support Manager
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Alexander Huerta
Cloud Support Manager
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Alexandra
Duggins
Mathematics Instructional Coach

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Alexandra Duggins
Mathematics Instructional Coach
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Alexandra
Lee
Vice President of Academic Initiatives

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Alexandra Lee
Vice President of Academic Initiatives
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Alexandra
Martinez Ramirez
Speech and Language Pathologist Assistant
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Alexandra Martinez Ramirez
Speech and Language Pathologist Assistant
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Ally
Nanji
School Psychologist
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Ally Nanji
School Psychologist
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Ana
Vargas
Vice President of Human Resources

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Ana Vargas
Vice President of Human Resources
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Angel
Cerritos
Transition Specialist
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Angel Cerritos
Transition Specialist
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Angelina
Calderon
Senior Director of Outreach and Engagement

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Angelina Calderon
Senior Director of Outreach and Engagement
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Ashley
Colburn
Director of Teacher Induction and Development
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Ashley Colburn
Director of Teacher Induction and Development
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Aya
Cheung
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Aya Cheung
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Bridget
Sibley
Speech & Language Pathologist
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Bridget Sibley
Speech & Language Pathologist
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Carla
Aguirre
School Psychologist
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Carla Aguirre
School Psychologist
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Carlos
Cordova
Maintenance

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Carlos Cordova
Maintenance
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Carmen
Garcia-Shushtari
Senior Manager, Marketing
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Carmen Garcia-Shushtari
Senior Manager, Marketing
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Carolina
Mora
Speech and Language Pathologist Assistant
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Carolina Mora
Speech and Language Pathologist Assistant
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Cesar
Gabriel-Vazquez
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Cesar Gabriel-Vazquez
Cluster Data Coordinator
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China
Habte
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China Habte
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Clara
Garay
Lead Instructional Mentor
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Clara Garay
Lead Instructional Mentor
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Claudia
Jerez Sneed
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Claudia Jerez Sneed
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Daisy
Gomez
School Data Specialist
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Daisy Gomez
School Data Specialist
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Daniel
Garcia
Cluster Data Lead
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Daniel Garcia
Cluster Data Lead
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Daniela
Feria
IT Helpdesk
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Daniela Feria
IT Helpdesk
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Dawn
North
Wellness Coordinator
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Dawn North
Wellness Coordinator
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Dominique
Romero
Alumni Support and College Success Community College & CTE Coordinator
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Dominique Romero
Alumni Support and College Success Community College & CTE Coordinator
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Dr. Eliza
Kimly
Head of Schools, Bright Star Schools

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Dr. Eliza Kimly
Head of Schools, Bright Star Schools
Dr. Eliza KimLy is the co-Head of Schools for Bright Star Schools, and the former founding principal of Rise Kohyang Middle School. As co-Head of Schools, she leads the development and execution of a rigorous instructional program that serves all students and supports principals to achieve their schools’ goals.
Dr. KimLy joined Bright Star Schools as a science teacher in 2004. After teaching both science and English Language Arts for three years, she served Bright Star Schools as assistant principal, principal, and director of instruction.
A Los Angeles-born native who grew up in Koreatown, Dr. KimLy wanted to give back to her “kohyang” (“hometown”). She founded Rise Kohyang Middle School in 2012 to serve the educational needs of families who live in Koreatown.
Prior to joining Bright Star Schools, Dr. KimLy served as a teacher, substitute teacher, student teacher, and teacher’s assistant for the Los Angeles, Culver City, and Beverly Hills Unified School Districts.
Dr. KimLy holds a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism with a minor in American Studies from the University of Southern California; a teaching credential and master’s degree in education; and a Doctorate in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. Her administrative credential was completed at Loyola Marymount University’s Institute of School Leadership & Administration.
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Elijah
Sugay
Chief Business Officer

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Elijah Sugay
Chief Business Officer
Elijah Sugay grew up in the San Fernando Valley near our Valor Academy schools and was the first employee hired at Valor Academy Middle School (VAMS). Elijah became the Founding Director of Finance and Operations for VAMS and helped the school launch and grow into the successful institution it is today.
After serving at VAMS for four years, Elijah became Senior Director of Operations for Bright Star Schools and then Vice President of Facilities and Finance for Bright Star, where he oversaw facilities and finance for all 9 Bright Star schools and helped build permanent campuses for Valor Academy Middle School, Valor Academy High School, and Stella Middle Charter Academy.
As Chief Business Officer, Elijah leads all facilities projects for Bright Star Schools, as well as Bright Star’s fiscal health. He supports school leaders to develop sustainable budgets that meet their schools’ highest needs, priorities, and visions for how they want to achieve our mission on behalf of the students we serve.
Elijah holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from UCLA.
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Elizabeth
Carter
Director of Expanded Learning
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Elizabeth Carter
Director of Expanded Learning
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Eman
Fakhr
Science Instructional Coach
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Eman Fakhr
Science Instructional Coach
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Eric
Tran
IT Helpdesk
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Eric Tran
IT Helpdesk
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Francisco
Uriarte Salazar
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Francisco Uriarte Salazar
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Gabriel
Gonzalez
COVID Operations Assistant
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Gabriel Gonzalez
COVID Operations Assistant
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Genoveva
Cortes
Director, Alumni Support and College Success

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Genoveva Cortes
Director, Alumni Support and College Success
Supporting: Bright Star Schools alumni, classes of 2010-2022, in graduate school applications and career coaching
M.A., Harvard Graduate School of Education, Class of 2010
B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, Class of 1997
Genoveva Garibay Cortes has over two decades of experience working as an elementary and middle school teacher, K-12 and college administrator, and program coordinator. She was Bright Star Schools’ founding math teacher for Stella Middle Charter Academy in 2003, and currently serves as the Director of the Alumni Support and College Success (ASCS) Program for the organization. Geno developed and launched Bright Star’s ASCS Program to support the organization’s alumni to persist in and graduate from higher education. ASCS tracks, supports, and coaches Bright Star Schools' alumni to get to and through higher education, with a goal of 60% of Bright Star Schools alumni graduating with a bachelor's or associate's degree, vocational certificate, or from a workplace development program within six years of high school graduation. Geno is a former foster youth and the first in her family to have graduated from college. She is passionate about educational equity and reform, and social justice.
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Gloria
Hamilton
Crossing Guard
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Gloria Hamilton
Crossing Guard
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Haruko
Hatakeda
School Psychologist
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Haruko Hatakeda
School Psychologist
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Hrag
Hamalian
Chief Executive Officer

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Hrag Hamalian
Chief Executive Officer
Hrag Manuel Hamalian currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Bright Star Schools. Hrag has strategically grown Bright Star Schools from four to nine schools, and created a community-based schools model that provides a transitional kindergarten to 12th grade education, plus 6 years of higher education support, for over 3,500 students across Los Angeles.
Prior to joining Bright Star, Hrag founded Valor Academy Middle School, a high performing 5th through 8th grade charter public school in Los Angeles. In 2013, Hrag helped lead the strategic merger of Valor and Bright Star, the first merger between two successful charter organizations in Los Angeles.
In 2011, Hrag was the recipient of Boston College's prestigious Gold Award, honoring him as alumnus of the decade. Hrag holds a double-major bachelor’s degree from Boston College in biology and honors English, a master’s degree in secondary education from Loyola Marymount University, and a master’s in business administration from UCLA.
Hrag is a Broad Academy Fellow, Aspen Institute Fellow, an Achievement First Accelerator Fellow, a Building Excellent Schools Fellow, and a Teach for America Corps Member. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for ExEd and Building Excellent Schools.
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Huang
Li
School Psychologist

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Huang Li
School Psychologist
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Jaime
Hernandez
Vice President of Information Technology

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Jaime Hernandez
Vice President of Information Technology
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Jennifer
Akshlomo
School Psychologist
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Jennifer Akshlomo
School Psychologist
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Jennifer
Simmons
Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction
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Jennifer Simmons
Vice President of Curriculum and Instruction
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Jesus
Regalado
IT Help Desk
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Jesus Regalado
IT Help Desk
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Johnny
Teran
Family Engagement Manager

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Johnny Teran
Family Engagement Manager
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Jonathan
Escobar
Vice President of Data Management
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Jonathan Escobar
Vice President of Data Management
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Jonathan
Perez
IT Help Desk

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Jonathan Perez
IT Help Desk
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Juan
Orozco
Maintenance
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Juan Orozco
Maintenance
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Julie
Shvarts
Speech & Language Pathologist
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Julie Shvarts
Speech & Language Pathologist
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Kaitlin
Foe
Chief of Staff

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Kaitlin Foe
Chief of Staff
Kaitlin Foe has served Bright Star Schools since 2016, first as Director of School Development and Strategic Initiatives and then as Vice President of Strategy. As Chief of Staff, Kaitlin oversees numerous Bright Star functions, including marketing and communications, educational compliance, fundraising, and organizational strategy.
Kaitlin started her career as an elementary school teacher for the East Baton Rouge Parish School System in Louisiana with Teach For America. After her time in the classroom, she served at both City Year, Louisiana and later as a Teach For America staff member for four years. Kaitlin was selected as both an Education Pioneers Fellow and a Broad Resident, both prestigious and selective programs that identify and support the further development of promising education leaders. Kaitlin holds a bachelor’s degree from UCSD, a master’s degree in public policy analysis from USC, and a master’s degree in educational leadership from The Broad Residency.
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Karlyn
Yngve
Enrollment Manager

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Karlyn Yngve
Enrollment Manager
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Kendra
Racouillat
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
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Kendra Racouillat
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
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Kunjal
Patel
Accounting Assistant
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Kunjal Patel
Accounting Assistant
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Laura
Reed
Director of Strategy
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Laura Reed
Director of Strategy
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Leeann
Yu
Chief Operations Officer

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Leeann Yu
Chief Operations Officer
Leeann Yu currently serves as the Chief Operations Officer for Bright Star Schools where she leads strategic operational initiatives across the network and oversees the student data, school operations, human resources, and information technology teams.
Leeann joined Bright Star in 2011 as the School Operations Manager for Stella Middle Charter Academy and Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy and has since held a variety of operational roles as the organization has grown from two to nine schools.
Prior to joining Bright Star, Leeann was an Education Pioneers Fellow at PUC Schools, an English teacher in Taiwan, and a financial advisor for Ameriprise Financial. Leeann holds a bachelor’s degree in international development with a minor in education from UCLA and a master’s in business administration from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management.
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Liezl
Caluag
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Liezl Caluag
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Lilianna
Gonzalez
Vice President of Inclusive Education

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Lilianna Gonzalez
Vice President of Inclusive Education
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Lora
Mancuso
Director of Literacy
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Lora Mancuso
Director of Literacy
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Maggie
Kwon
Enrollment & Outreach Coordinator

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Maggie Kwon
Enrollment & Outreach Coordinator
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Manuela
Hyman
School Psychologist
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Manuela Hyman
School Psychologist
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Maritza
Arambula
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Maritza Arambula
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Marni
Parsons
Vice President of Student and Family Services

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Marni Parsons
Vice President of Student and Family Services
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Matt
Williams
Vice President of Inclusive Education
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Matt Williams
Vice President of Inclusive Education
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Matthew
Garcia
IT Systems Analyst
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Matthew Garcia
IT Systems Analyst
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Melissa
Kaplan
Deputy Superintendent of Education

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Melissa Kaplan
Deputy Superintendent of Education
Melissa Kaplan currently serves as the Deputy Superintendent of Education at Bright Star Schools, where she leads school growth, culture, and performance, and oversees the Heads of Schools and the Vice Presidents of Family and Student Services, Curriculum and Instruction, Inclusive Education, People Development, and Academic Initiatives in their management and guidance of school staff.
Previously, Melissa was the Chief Academic Officer at ICEF Public Schools, where she was responsible for managing the academic program at 14 schools serving 4,500 students in grades K-12, coordinating and delivering professional development for more than 150 teachers and administrators, and ensuring the alignment of the curriculum with college readiness standards.
Melissa has been involved in the Los Angeles charter school movement since 2003, and has served in a variety of leadership roles including district and site administration, demonstration teacher, and teacher coach. She has also worked extensively as a consultant assisting districts and charter management organizations nationally in curriculum development and system building, especially in the area of reading and writing across the curriculum.
Before joining the charter school movement, Melissa taught English in Palos Verdes Unified School District and Oley Valley School District in Pennsylvania. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education and theater from DeSales University and a master's of education from UCLA.
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Melody
Morris
English Language Development Instructional Coach

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Melody Morris
English Language Development Instructional Coach
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Michael
Hoover
Director of School Culture

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Michael Hoover
Director of School Culture
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Michelle
Washington
Outreach Coordinator

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Michelle Washington
Outreach Coordinator
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Miguel
Avila
Human Resources Coordinator
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Miguel Avila
Human Resources Coordinator
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Nicole
Wellman Noble
Vice President of People Development

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Nicole Wellman Noble
Vice President of People Development
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Olga
Ramos
Senior Director of Human Resources

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Olga Ramos
Senior Director of Human Resources
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Olivia
Martinez
Head of Schools, Bright Star Schools

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Olivia Martinez
Head of Schools, Bright Star Schools
Olivia Martinez is the co-Head of Schools for Bright Star Schools, and former principal of Stella Middle Charter Academy (Grades 7-8). As co-Head of Schools, she leads the development and execution of a rigorous instructional program that serves all students and supports principals to achieve their schools’ goals.
Olivia joined Bright Star Schools in 2008 as a teacher and taught physical science, life science, biology, and earth science to students in grades 7 through 11. She became assistant principal at Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy in 2011, and principal at Stella Middle Charter Academy in 2013.
Olivia began her teaching career with a student teaching position at David Starr Jordan High School in Watts through Teach For America.
Olivia holds a bachelor’s degree in psychobiology from UCLA and two master's degrees in urban education and in educational leadership from Loyola Marymount University.
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Olivia
Ray
Manager of Compliance and Special Projects

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Olivia Ray
Manager of Compliance and Special Projects
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Pablo
Olivares
Vice President of Inclusive Education
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Pablo Olivares
Vice President of Inclusive Education
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Paulina
Sylvester
Senior Talent Manager
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Paulina Sylvester
Senior Talent Manager
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Rachel
Asher
School Psychologist
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Rachel Asher
School Psychologist
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Raquel
Martinez
Human Resources Generalist

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Raquel Martinez
Human Resources Generalist
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Rebecca
Vogel Sanchez
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
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Rebecca Vogel Sanchez
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
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Roxanne
Romero
Outreach & Recruitment Manager

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Roxanne Romero
Outreach & Recruitment Manager
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Sebastian
Valdes
Vice President of School Operations and Safety
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Sebastian Valdes
Vice President of School Operations and Safety
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Stephanie
Adams Mendez
School Psychologist

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Stephanie Adams Mendez
School Psychologist
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Stephen
Allen
Cluster Data Coordinator

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Stephen Allen
Cluster Data Coordinator
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Steven
Lopez
Senior Talent and Credential Manager
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Steven Lopez
Senior Talent and Credential Manager
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Sunil
Kewalramani

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Sunil Kewalramani
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Victor
Perez
Family Engagement Coordinator

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Victor Perez
Family Engagement Coordinator
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Victoria
Banuelos
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Victoria Banuelos
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Wendy
Gadea
SIS & Compliance Manager
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Wendy Gadea
SIS & Compliance Manager
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Young
Kim
Attendance Compliance Assistant
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Young Kim
Attendance Compliance Assistant
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In our small, joyful schools we provide students with excellent academics, holistic and inclusive support, personal attention, and rich life opportunities beyond the classroom so they thrive from kindergarten through high school.