24-25 School Year Information Learn More

Stella High Charter Academy

Discover Our Staff

Discover Our Staff

Abdulmalek
Sulaiman

Teacher

Abdulmalek Sulaiman

Abdulmalek Sulaiman

Teacher

Contact

Ailyn
Galvan

Teacher

Ailyn Galvan

Ailyn Galvan

Teacher

Contact

Alberto
Vera

Teacher

Alberto Vera

Alberto Vera

Teacher

Contact

Alexandra
Brown

School Counselor

Alexandra Brown

Alexandra Brown

School Counselor

Contact

Alexis
Carrero

Teacher

Alexis Carrero

Alexis Carrero

Teacher

Contact

Amanda K.
Lopez

Paraprofessional

Amanda K. Lopez

Amanda K. Lopez

Paraprofessional

Contact

Amanda
Lopez

Campus Aide

Amanda Lopez

Amanda Lopez

Campus Aide

Contact

Andrea
Garcia Chavez

College & Career Counseling Assistant

Andrea Garcia Chavez

Andrea Garcia Chavez

College & Career Counseling Assistant

Contact

Angelique
Lopez

Teacher

Angelique Lopez

Angelique Lopez

Teacher

Contact

Anita
Pande

Teacher

Anita Pande

Anita Pande

Teacher

Contact

Anthony
Lentz

Counselor

Anthony Lentz

Anthony Lentz

Counselor

Contact

Asma
Ali-Dodough

Assistant Principal of Student & Family Services

Asma Ali-Dodough

Asma Ali-Dodough

Assistant Principal of Student & Family Services

Contact

Bernadette
McComish

Teacher

Bernadette McComish

Bernadette McComish

Teacher

Contact

Beth
Pollak

Instructional Coach

Beth Pollak

Beth Pollak

Instructional Coach

Contact

Bryan
Alfaro

School Data Specialist

Bryan Alfaro

Bryan Alfaro

School Data Specialist

Contact

Carla
Chavez

Inclusion Specialist Teacher

Carla Chavez

Carla Chavez

Inclusion Specialist Teacher

Contact

Chloe
Resler

Teacher

Chloe Resler

Chloe Resler

Teacher

Contact

Christian
Risquez

Community School Manager, Stella High Charter Academy

Christian Risquez

Christian Risquez

Community School Manager, Stella High Charter Academy

Contact Christian: crisquez@brightstarschools.org

Christian Risquez joined the Bright Star family in October of 2023 as the Stella High Community Manager. Prior to joining our team, Christian spent the bulk of his career managing school youth programs such as Boys and Girls Clubs, summer camp programs and college and career readiness programs. Christian also teaches courses such as CPR, lifeguarding and first aid and formerly held an EMT certification. 

Beyond career life, Christian comes from a Venezuelan family, went to high school in Caracas and is very proud of his roots and having the opportunity to experience his heritage as a young person. Feel free to contact Christian with any questions. Se habla español!

 

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Christie
Romero

Teacher

Christie Romero

Christie Romero

Teacher

Contact

Christopher
Simpson

Teacher

Christopher Simpson

Christopher Simpson

Teacher

Contact

Colleen
Trejo

Assistant Principal

Colleen Trejo

Colleen Trejo

Assistant Principal

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Crystal
Macias

Teacher

Crystal Macias

Crystal Macias

Teacher

Contact

Cynthia
Astorga

Counselor

Cynthia Astorga

Cynthia Astorga

Counselor

Contact

Danny
Oliver

Dean of Operations

Danny Oliver

Danny Oliver

Dean of Operations

Contact

Darryl
Garris

Principal, Stella High Charter Academy

Darryl Garris

Darryl Garris

Principal, Stella High Charter Academy

Darryl Garris is the principal for Stella High Charter Academy, and he leads the school to ensure all Eagles achieve academic excellence and grow their unique talents so they find joy and fulfillment in higher education, career, and life.

Previously, Darryl served Bright Star Schools as principal of Stella Middle Charter Academy (Grades 5-6) and as assistant principal of Stella Middle Charter Academy. Darryl also taught pre-algebra, algebra readiness, and Algebra 1 at Stella Middle Charter Academy and Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy.

Prior to joining Bright Star Schools, Darryl was a teacher at Dorsey High School as a Teach For America corps member.

Darryl holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics from UC Berkeley’s College of Natural Resources. He also holds a master’s degree in urban education, a master’s degree in school administration, and a certificate in charter school leadership from Loyola Marymount University's School of Education.

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David
Liebhauser

Teacher

David Liebhauser

David Liebhauser

Teacher

Contact

David
Salinas

Instructional Assistant

David Salinas

David Salinas

Instructional Assistant

Contact

Elizabeth
Juarez

Campus Aide

Elizabeth Juarez

Elizabeth Juarez

Campus Aide

Contact

Elizabeth
Rojas

Coordinator, Alumni Support and College Success

Elizabeth Rojas

Elizabeth Rojas

Coordinator, Alumni Support and College Success

Originally born and raised in South Central Los Angeles, Elizabeth, a first-generation college graduate, went to Gertz-Ressler High School near the Pico-Union area of the city. At 18, she took the biggest leap of faith that would change her life and moved to the midwest to attend the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

St. Joseph became her new home for the next 4 years. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Hispanic Studies and Communications, and also studied abroad in Guatemala where she was able to connect to her roots through food and poetry.

After graduating from college, Elizabeth served in College Possible AmeriCorps as a college coach, where she mentored and coached numerous first-generation and low-income college students. She then became a high school college counselor for the next 4 years at a private Jesuit high school in Twin Cities, Minnesota. She fulfilled a goal of 100% college acceptance rate for all students and collaborated with Georgetown University to create a retention and persistence program.

After living in Minnesota for 10 years, she returned to replant her California roots. She is thankful and grateful for the countless mentors she had along her journey. She looks to pay it forward to under-resourced and historically excluded communities to ensure they have access to information, resources, and higher education.

Contact

Emily
Robles

Paraprofessional

Emily Robles

Emily Robles

Paraprofessional

Contact

Frank
Amezcua

Teacher

Frank Amezcua

Frank Amezcua

Teacher

Contact

Genesis
Peinder

Teacher

Genesis Peinder

Genesis Peinder

Teacher

Contact

Georgina
Perez

Campus Aide

Georgina Perez

Georgina Perez

Campus Aide

Contact

Gustavo
Herrera

Teacher

Gustavo Herrera

Gustavo Herrera

Teacher

Contact

Gustavo
Padilla

Teacher

Gustavo Padilla

Gustavo Padilla

Teacher

Contact

Heidi
Bretado

Inclusion Specialist Teacher

Heidi Bretado

Heidi Bretado

Inclusion Specialist Teacher

Contact

Idalia
Farias Izaguirre

Campus Aide

Idalia Farias Izaguirre

Idalia Farias Izaguirre

Campus Aide

Contact

Jarol
Dubon Argueta

Campus Aide

Jarol Dubon Argueta

Jarol Dubon Argueta

Campus Aide

Contact

Javier
Caldera

Teacher

Javier Caldera

Javier Caldera

Teacher

Contact

Jennifer
Shetland

Teacher

Jennifer Shetland

Jennifer Shetland

Teacher

Contact

Jessica
Fernandez

Teacher

Jessica Fernandez

Jessica Fernandez

Teacher

Contact

Jesus
Ramirez

Assistant Principal

Jesus Ramirez

Jesus Ramirez

Assistant Principal

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Johanna
Lopez

Office Manager

Johanna Lopez

Johanna Lopez

Office Manager

Contact

Johanna
Madrid-Gastelum

Dean of Culture and Restorative Practices

Johanna Madrid-Gastelum

Johanna Madrid-Gastelum

Dean of Culture and Restorative Practices

Contact

Jonathan
Meneses

Instructional Assistant

Jonathan Meneses

Jonathan Meneses

Instructional Assistant

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Jose
Cabrera

Instructional Assistant

Jose Cabrera

Jose Cabrera

Instructional Assistant

Contact

Juana
Garcia

Maintenance

Juana Garcia

Juana Garcia

Maintenance

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Julia
Davis

Teacher

Julia Davis

Julia Davis

Teacher

Contact

Julian
Rosero

Campus Aide

Julian Rosero

Julian Rosero

Campus Aide

Contact

Kestler
Mencos Alonzo

Campus Aide

Kestler Mencos Alonzo

Kestler Mencos Alonzo

Campus Aide

Contact

Kimberly
Sanders

Culture and Restorative Practices Specialist

Kimberly Sanders

Kimberly Sanders

Culture and Restorative Practices Specialist

Contact

Luis
Garcia

Maintenance

Luis Garcia

Luis Garcia

Maintenance

Contact

Maigon
Buckner

Assistant Principal of Culture

Maigon Buckner

Maigon Buckner

Assistant Principal of Culture

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Marcus
Turner

Teacher

Marcus Turner

Marcus Turner

Teacher

Contact

Marmar
Tavasol

Teacher

Marmar Tavasol

Marmar Tavasol

Teacher

Contact

Marvin
Casasola

Campus Aide

Marvin Casasola

Marvin Casasola

Campus Aide

Contact

Mayra
Moreno de Valle

Meal Server

Mayra Moreno de Valle

Mayra Moreno de Valle

Meal Server

Contact

Miguel
Fuentes

Instructional Assistant

Miguel Fuentes

Miguel Fuentes

Instructional Assistant

Contact

Monica
Gonzalez

Dean of Student & Family Services

Monica Gonzalez

Monica Gonzalez

Dean of Student & Family Services

Contact

Morganne
Gigray

Teacher

Morganne Gigray

Morganne Gigray

Teacher

Contact

Oscar
Moreno

Teacher

Oscar Moreno

Oscar Moreno

Teacher

Contact

Preeyam
Roy

Teacher

Preeyam Roy

Preeyam Roy

Teacher

Contact

Ranica
Hortelano

Campus Aide

Ranica Hortelano

Ranica Hortelano

Campus Aide

Contact

Ricardo
Gomez

Instructional Assistant

Ricardo Gomez

Ricardo Gomez

Instructional Assistant

Contact

Rigo
Torres

Lead Campus Aide

Rigo Torres

Rigo Torres

Lead Campus Aide

Contact

Said
Cambray

Teacher

Said Cambray

Said Cambray

Teacher

Contact

Samuel
Perez

Attendance Coordinator

Samuel Perez

Samuel Perez

Attendance Coordinator

Contact

Shelby
Goodrich Jr

Teacher

Shelby Goodrich Jr

Shelby Goodrich Jr

Teacher

Contact

Stephanie
Martinez

Instructional Assistant

Stephanie Martinez

Stephanie Martinez

Instructional Assistant

Contact

Wendy
Pineda

Counselor

Wendy Pineda

Wendy Pineda

Counselor

Contact

Zayra
De Leon

Instructional Assistant

Zayra De Leon

Zayra De Leon

Instructional Assistant

Contact

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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.