22-23 School Year Information and COVID Procedures Learn More

Rise Kohyang High School

Discover Our Staff

Discover Our Staff

Afreen
Ahmed

Staff

Afreen Ahmed

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Afreen Ahmed

Staff

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Ajay
Ghingoor

Teacher

Ajay Ghingoor

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Ajay Ghingoor

Teacher

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Allen
Andrews

Assistant Principal of Instruction

Allen Andrews

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Allen Andrews

Assistant Principal of Instruction

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Allison
Horn

Inclusion Specialist Teacher

Allison Horn

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Allison Horn

Inclusion Specialist Teacher

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Angie
Lee

Instructional Assistant

Angie Lee

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Angie Lee

Instructional Assistant

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Brian
Ortiz

Campus Aide

Brian Ortiz

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Brian Ortiz

Campus Aide

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Candice
Nigra

Teacher

Candice Nigra

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Candice Nigra

Teacher

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Cecilia
Cueva

Teacher

Cecilia Cueva

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Cecilia Cueva

Teacher

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Christopher
Flaherty

Teacher

Christopher Flaherty

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Christopher Flaherty

Teacher

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Claudia
Coronel Lopez

Office Manager

Claudia Coronel Lopez

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Claudia Coronel Lopez

Office Manager

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Claudia
Gardner

Office Manager

Claudia Gardner

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Claudia Gardner

Office Manager

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Curtis
Spiller

Teacher

Curtis Spiller

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Curtis Spiller

Teacher

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Cynthia
Trigueros

Principal, Rise Kohyang High School

Cynthia Trigueros

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Cynthia Trigueros

Principal, Rise Kohyang High School

Cynthia Trigueros is the principal of Rise Kohyang High School, and she leads the Tritons to achieve academic excellence and grow their unique talents so they find joy and fulfillment in higher education, career, and life.

Cynthia has served Bright Star Schools for over 15 years. She previously served as a founding biology teacher, an assistant principal, and interim principal at Rise Kohyang High School before being named principal in 2021. Cynthia was also a founding science teacher at Rise Kohyang Middle School, where she taught for nearly six years.

Cynthia holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from California State University, Northridge, a master of arts in bilingual elementary education from Loyola Marymount University as well as a master and credential in educational leadership and administration from California State University, Dominguez Hills.

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Deana
Estrada Wu

Dean of Instruction

Deana Estrada Wu

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Deana Estrada Wu

Dean of Instruction

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Desirae
Dickinson

Teacher

Desirae Dickinson

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Desirae Dickinson

Teacher

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Edwin
Hernandez

Teacher

Edwin Hernandez

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Edwin Hernandez

Teacher

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Gabriela
Monje

Dean of Operations

Gabriela Monje

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Gabriela Monje

Dean of Operations

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Genoveva
Cortes

Director, Alumni Support and College Success

Genoveva Cortes

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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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Ibian
Cervantes

Teacher

Ibian Cervantes

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Ibian Cervantes

Teacher

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Iliana
Dorantes

Counselor

Iliana Dorantes

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Iliana Dorantes

Counselor

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Isaac
Nef

Teacher

Isaac Nef

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Isaac Nef

Teacher

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Israel
Vasquez Romano

Campus Aide: Math Specialist

Israel Vasquez Romano

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Israel Vasquez Romano

Campus Aide: Math Specialist

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Jill
Massinger

Staff

Jill Massinger

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Jill Massinger

Staff

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Jocelynn
Velazquez

Instructional Assistant

Jocelynn Velazquez

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Jocelynn Velazquez

Instructional Assistant

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John
Nelson

Teacher

John Nelson

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John Nelson

Teacher

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Jonathan
Merrick

Teacher

Jonathan Merrick

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Jonathan Merrick

Teacher

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Kimberly
Arteaga

Alumni Support and College Success Coordinator

Kimberly Arteaga

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Kimberly Arteaga

Alumni Support and College Success Coordinator

Coordinator, Alumni Support and College Success
Supporting: RKHS Class of 2020-2022

B.A., UC San Diego, Class of 2014

Kimberly Arteaga received her B.A. in Human Development and minor in Chicana/o studies from UC San Diego. She was born and raised in LA and is the first one in her family to go to college and graduate. She has been supporting students in higher education, college access and retention programs for over 7 years. Part of her passion for working with students comes from her own lived experiences. Through her multiple roles she has supported and guided high school and college students in attaining higher education and beyond. She has also worked with community members and parents in supporting students' achieving their hopes and dreams.

Kimberly is excited to continue working with students in her current role as the RKHS Alumni Support and College Success Coordinator. She is here to support and guide students in achieving their maximum potential whether it is with attending higher education or entering the workforce.

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Leonardo
Vargas Ponce

Teacher

Leonardo Vargas Ponce

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Leonardo Vargas Ponce

Teacher

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Luis
Bermudez

Counselor

Luis Bermudez

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Luis Bermudez

Counselor

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Mariloli
Barcena Martinez

Behavior Implementation Interventionist

Mariloli Barcena Martinez

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Mariloli Barcena Martinez

Behavior Implementation Interventionist

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Mikaela
Kelley

Teacher

Mikaela Kelley

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Mikaela Kelley

Teacher

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Peter
Baik

Teacher

Peter Baik

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Peter Baik

Teacher

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Rachel
Scutti

Teacher

Rachel Scutti

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Rachel Scutti

Teacher

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Roberto
Franco

Associate Dean of Restorative Practices

Roberto Franco

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Roberto Franco

Associate Dean of Restorative Practices

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Sean
Burgess

Teacher

Sean Burgess

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Sean Burgess

Teacher

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Spencer
Szabo

Counselor

Spencer Szabo

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Spencer Szabo

Counselor

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Stephanie
Kozofsky

Assistant Principal of Culture

Stephanie Kozofsky

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Stephanie Kozofsky

Assistant Principal of Culture

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Sue
Chae

Counseling Department Chair and Grade 12 Counselor

Sue Chae

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Sue Chae

Counseling Department Chair and Grade 12 Counselor

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Summer
Silbart

Teacher

Summer Silbart

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Summer Silbart

Teacher

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Tae Min
Kim

Teacher

Tae Min Kim

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Tae Min Kim

Teacher

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Taek
Chang

Teacher

Taek Chang

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Taek Chang

Teacher

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Tamar
Rivera

Instructional Assistant

Tamar Rivera

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Tamar Rivera

Instructional Assistant

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Thiany
Armijo

Teacher

Thiany Armijo

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Thiany Armijo

Teacher

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Vladimir
Duran

Teacher

Vladimir Duran

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Vladimir Duran

Teacher

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Yolanda
Galeazzi

Dean of Student Activities & Athletics

Yolanda Galeazzi

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Yolanda Galeazzi

Dean of Student Activities & Athletics

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Yoseline
Crisostomo

Yoseline Crisostomo

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Yoseline Crisostomo

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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.