Growing Together at Bright Star Schools
At Bright Star Schools, growth looks different for everyone, and that is exactly the point.
As a free, public, joyful TK-12 charter school network, we believe investing in our people through mentorship and professional development strengthens our entire community. Some team members grow by expanding their leadership across schools and roles. Others grow by returning to Bright Star after meaningful experiences as students. Together, these pathways show that when people feel supported, they stay and lead with purpose.
The journeys of Stephanie Kozofsky, Bright Star's Induction Mentor, and Nataly Lopez, Lead Inclusive Specialist Teacher at Rise Kohyang Elementary School, reflect the many ways growth happens at Bright Star.
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Stephanie Kozofsky Induction Mentor Bright Star Schools |
Explain what you do at Bright Star.
“At Bright Star, I work with our New Teacher Team as an Induction Mentor. This means I support our teachers who are clearing their credentials through coaching, mentoring, observations, and data analysis. I love getting to be in classrooms across 4 of our schools and supporting teachers in their everyday needs!”
Share with us your Bright Star journey.
“I began at Bright Star at Valor Academy High School (VAHS) in 2016, where I was the founding social justice teacher for their first and second graduating classes! What is so special about that is Nataly was a junior when I began teaching at VAHS. I got to know her through being her soccer coach and also I recruited her to support planning our girls retreat and our senior summit in her senior year, as I knew she was an incredible leader. I became the Assistant Principal of Culture at Rise Kohyang High School in 2021, where I served our Koreatown community for three years. Last year, I taught 5th and 6th grade abroad in Taiwan and learned about second language acquisition, and I got to come back to Bright Star this year to join our School Support Team. It's been a really special journey getting to work with all of our communities and schools, and I am so grateful to continue to be serving in this way.”
Why do you enjoy working at Bright Star?
"To me, being at Bright Star means being in community and creating opportunities for students outside of the norm. From having the chance to support students going to their first musical at the Pantages, to being an assistant coach for our first ever girls flag football team, to watching five students from RKHS (Rise Kohyang High School) get POSSE scholarships which are a full ride to college, I could not be more proud of the work we all get to do together on behalf of our students. This doesn't happen by accident; it requires every single person on campus and off campus working towards these incredible milestones together, and doing their best at their jobs. It is amazing to be a part of the schools where these things happen, and to feel like a team working towards a common goal. I am so proud to be here, and to be on this team."
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Lead Inclusive Specialist Teacher Rise Kohyang Elementary School
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Explain what you do at Bright Star.
"My name is Nataly Lopez [and] I am the lead inclusive specialist teacher at Rise Elementary."
Share with us your Bright Star journey.
"I started at Bright Star as a 9th grade student. I was attending university when I was offered an interview to help found an after-school program at the new Rise Elementary [school]. Each year, I started a new role from after-school coordinator to lead inclusive specialist teacher."
Nataly continued her growth through Bright Star’s Alder Teacher Residency Program, a free, mentor-based pathway that allows aspiring educators to earn a master’s degree and teaching credential in one year through the Alder Graduate School of Education. Graduates receive priority hiring at Bright Star, creating a clear and supportive entry point into teaching.
Why do you enjoy working at Bright Star?
"I enjoy working at Bright Star because of the strong sense of belonging. Being a student at Valor High, I felt like all of my teachers truly cared about my success and well-being. As a staff member, I feel like the leadership cares about pushing me to succeed and having a good work-life balance. The Bright Star team is uplifting and filled with hard-working, dedicated people."
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Stephanie and Nataly’s mentor-mentee relationship shows what growth at Bright Star really means. It is about investing in people at every stage, creating multiple pathways to grow, and building a community people are proud to return to.
If you are looking for a place where your career can evolve, where mentorship matters, and where your impact grows over time, your bright future starts here.
Brighten your career. Apply HERE to join Bright Star Schools today.