
Discover Our Staff
Afreen
Ahmed
Staff
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Afreen Ahmed
Staff
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Ajay
Ghingoor
Teacher
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Ajay Ghingoor
Teacher
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Allen
Andrews
Assistant Principal of Instruction

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Allen Andrews
Assistant Principal of Instruction
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Allison
Horn
Inclusion Specialist Teacher
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Allison Horn
Inclusion Specialist Teacher
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Angie
Lee
Instructional Assistant
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Angie Lee
Instructional Assistant
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Brian
Ortiz
Campus Aide
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Brian Ortiz
Campus Aide
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Candice
Nigra
Teacher
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Candice Nigra
Teacher
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Cecilia
Cueva
Teacher
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Cecilia Cueva
Teacher
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Christopher
Flaherty
Teacher
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Christopher Flaherty
Teacher
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Claudia
Coronel Lopez
Office Manager
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Claudia Coronel Lopez
Office Manager
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Claudia
Gardner
Office Manager

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Claudia Gardner
Office Manager
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Curtis
Spiller
Teacher
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Curtis Spiller
Teacher
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Cynthia
Trigueros
Principal, Rise Kohyang High School

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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
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Deana Estrada Wu
Dean of Instruction
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Desirae
Dickinson
Teacher
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Desirae Dickinson
Teacher
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Edwin
Hernandez
Teacher
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Edwin Hernandez
Teacher
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Gabriela
Monje
Dean of Operations

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Gabriela Monje
Dean of Operations
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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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Ibian
Cervantes
Teacher
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Ibian Cervantes
Teacher
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Iliana
Dorantes
Counselor
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Iliana Dorantes
Counselor
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Isaac
Nef
Teacher
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Isaac Nef
Teacher
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Israel
Vasquez Romano
Campus Aide: Math Specialist
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Israel Vasquez Romano
Campus Aide: Math Specialist
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Jill
Massinger
Staff
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Jill Massinger
Staff
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Jocelynn
Velazquez
Instructional Assistant
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Jocelynn Velazquez
Instructional Assistant
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John
Nelson
Teacher
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John Nelson
Teacher
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Jonathan
Merrick
Teacher
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Jonathan Merrick
Teacher
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Kimberly
Arteaga
Alumni Support and College Success Coordinator

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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
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Leonardo Vargas Ponce
Teacher
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Luis
Bermudez
Counselor
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Luis Bermudez
Counselor
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Mariloli
Barcena Martinez
Behavior Implementation Interventionist
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Mariloli Barcena Martinez
Behavior Implementation Interventionist
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Mikaela
Kelley
Teacher
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Mikaela Kelley
Teacher
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Peter
Baik
Teacher
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Peter Baik
Teacher
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Rachel
Scutti
Teacher
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Rachel Scutti
Teacher
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Roberto
Franco
Associate Dean of Restorative Practices
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Roberto Franco
Associate Dean of Restorative Practices
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Sean
Burgess
Teacher
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Sean Burgess
Teacher
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Spencer
Szabo
Counselor
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Spencer Szabo
Counselor
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Stephanie
Kozofsky
Assistant Principal of Culture

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Stephanie Kozofsky
Assistant Principal of Culture
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Sue
Chae
Counseling Department Chair and Grade 12 Counselor

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Sue Chae
Counseling Department Chair and Grade 12 Counselor
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Summer
Silbart
Teacher
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Summer Silbart
Teacher
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Tae Min
Kim
Teacher
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Tae Min Kim
Teacher
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Taek
Chang
Teacher
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Taek Chang
Teacher
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Tamar
Rivera
Instructional Assistant
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Tamar Rivera
Instructional Assistant
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Thiany
Armijo
Teacher
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Thiany Armijo
Teacher
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Vladimir
Duran
Teacher
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Vladimir Duran
Teacher
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Yolanda
Galeazzi
Dean of Student Activities & Athletics

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Yolanda Galeazzi
Dean of Student Activities & Athletics
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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.