Bright Star Teacher Spotlight: Kevin Peña

Spotlight on Bright Star teacher, Kevin Peña
School: Valor Academy High School
Subjects: Algebra 1 and Math Lab
Grade: 9th

Why do you choose to teach at Bright Star Schools?

I started my journey at Bright Star as an Instructional Aide, and during that time, students would often tell me that I should become a math teacher. Their trust and encouragement really stayed with me and pushed me to take that next step.

Now, as a teacher, I’m proud to continue building those relationships—especially in a space where I can teach in both English and Spanish and make sure all students feel included.

Bright Star’s mission aligns with my passion for helping students believe in themselves and succeed, no matter their background or skill level.

Here, it feels like a community that values every student’s growth, and I’m honored to be part of that.

Why do you enjoy teaching math?

I enjoy teaching math because it gives students the chance to build confidence through problem-solving. Math can be intimidating for some students, but when they see themselves improving and finding solutions, it boosts their self-esteem.

I love showing students that there’s more than one way to reach a right answer and helping them find the method that works best for them.

Whether I’m teaching in English or Spanish, I make sure every student feels supported, seen, and capable of success.

What is something you have learned about teaching?

Before I started teaching, I thought the job was mostly about explaining content, like how to solve math problems. But I’ve learned that teaching is just as much about emotional support, relationship-building, and creating a safe space where students feel included and encouraged.

There’s a lot of planning behind the scenes that goes into making sure every student, especially those who are multilingual or have different learning needs, can access the content and feel good about themselves.

Now that I’m in the role, I have a much greater appreciation for all the work teachers do to support the whole student—not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.