Discover Our Staff
Abdulmalek
Sulaiman
Teacher
Abdulmalek Sulaiman
Teacher
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Ailyn
Galvan
Teacher
Ailyn Galvan
Teacher
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Alberto
Vera
Teacher
Alberto Vera
Teacher
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Alexandra
Brown
School Counselor
Alexandra Brown
School Counselor
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Alexis
Carrero
Teacher
Alexis Carrero
Teacher
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Amanda K.
Lopez
Paraprofessional
Amanda K. Lopez
Paraprofessional
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Amanda
Lopez
Campus Aide
Amanda Lopez
Campus Aide
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Andrea
Garcia Chavez
College & Career Counseling Assistant
Andrea Garcia Chavez
College & Career Counseling Assistant
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Angelique
Lopez
Teacher
Angelique Lopez
Teacher
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Anita
Pande
Teacher
Anita Pande
Teacher
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Anthony
Lentz
Counselor
Anthony Lentz
Counselor
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Asma
Ali-Dodough
Assistant Principal of Student & Family Services
Asma Ali-Dodough
Assistant Principal of Student & Family Services
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Bernadette
McComish
Teacher
Bernadette McComish
Teacher
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Beth
Pollak
Instructional Coach
Beth Pollak
Instructional Coach
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Bryan
Alfaro
School Data Specialist
Bryan Alfaro
School Data Specialist
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Carla
Chavez
Inclusion Specialist Teacher
Carla Chavez
Inclusion Specialist Teacher
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Chloe
Resler
Teacher
Chloe Resler
Teacher
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Christian
Risquez
Community School Manager, Stella High Charter Academy
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
Teacher
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Christopher
Simpson
Teacher
Christopher Simpson
Teacher
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Colleen
Trejo
Assistant Principal
Colleen Trejo
Assistant Principal
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Crystal
Macias
Teacher
Crystal Macias
Teacher
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Cynthia
Astorga
Counselor
Cynthia Astorga
Counselor
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Danny
Oliver
Dean of Operations
Danny Oliver
Dean of Operations
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Darryl
Garris
Principal, Stella High Charter Academy
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
Teacher
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David
Salinas
Instructional Assistant
David Salinas
Instructional Assistant
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Elizabeth
Juarez
Campus Aide
Elizabeth Juarez
Campus Aide
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Elizabeth
Rojas
Coordinator, Alumni Support and College Success
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.
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Emily
Robles
Paraprofessional
Emily Robles
Paraprofessional
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Frank
Amezcua
Teacher
Frank Amezcua
Teacher
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Genesis
Peinder
Teacher
Genesis Peinder
Teacher
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Georgina
Perez
Campus Aide
Georgina Perez
Campus Aide
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Gustavo
Herrera
Teacher
Gustavo Herrera
Teacher
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Gustavo
Padilla
Teacher
Gustavo Padilla
Teacher
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Heidi
Bretado
Inclusion Specialist Teacher
Heidi Bretado
Inclusion Specialist Teacher
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Idalia
Farias Izaguirre
Campus Aide
Idalia Farias Izaguirre
Campus Aide
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Jarol
Dubon Argueta
Campus Aide
Jarol Dubon Argueta
Campus Aide
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Javier
Caldera
Teacher
Javier Caldera
Teacher
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Jennifer
Shetland
Teacher
Jennifer Shetland
Teacher
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Jessica
Fernandez
Teacher
Jessica Fernandez
Teacher
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Jesus
Ramirez
Assistant Principal
Jesus Ramirez
Assistant Principal
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Johanna
Lopez
Office Manager
Johanna Lopez
Office Manager
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Johanna
Madrid-Gastelum
Dean of Culture and Restorative Practices
Johanna Madrid-Gastelum
Dean of Culture and Restorative Practices
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Jonathan
Meneses
Instructional Assistant
Jonathan Meneses
Instructional Assistant
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Jose
Cabrera
Instructional Assistant
Jose Cabrera
Instructional Assistant
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Juana
Garcia
Maintenance
Juana Garcia
Maintenance
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Julia
Davis
Teacher
Julia Davis
Teacher
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Julian
Rosero
Campus Aide
Julian Rosero
Campus Aide
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Kestler
Mencos Alonzo
Campus Aide
Kestler Mencos Alonzo
Campus Aide
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Kimberly
Sanders
Culture and Restorative Practices Specialist
Kimberly Sanders
Culture and Restorative Practices Specialist
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Luis
Garcia
Maintenance
Luis Garcia
Maintenance
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Maigon
Buckner
Assistant Principal of Culture
Maigon Buckner
Assistant Principal of Culture
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Marcus
Turner
Teacher
Marcus Turner
Teacher
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Marmar
Tavasol
Teacher
Marmar Tavasol
Teacher
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Marvin
Casasola
Campus Aide
Marvin Casasola
Campus Aide
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Mayra
Moreno de Valle
Meal Server
Mayra Moreno de Valle
Meal Server
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Miguel
Fuentes
Instructional Assistant
Miguel Fuentes
Instructional Assistant
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Monica
Gonzalez
Dean of Student & Family Services
Monica Gonzalez
Dean of Student & Family Services
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Morganne
Gigray
Teacher
Morganne Gigray
Teacher
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Oscar
Moreno
Teacher
Oscar Moreno
Teacher
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Preeyam
Roy
Teacher
Preeyam Roy
Teacher
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Ranica
Hortelano
Campus Aide
Ranica Hortelano
Campus Aide
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Ricardo
Gomez
Instructional Assistant
Ricardo Gomez
Instructional Assistant
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Rigo
Torres
Lead Campus Aide
Rigo Torres
Lead Campus Aide
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Said
Cambray
Teacher
Said Cambray
Teacher
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Samuel
Perez
Attendance Coordinator
Samuel Perez
Attendance Coordinator
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Shelby
Goodrich Jr
Teacher
Shelby Goodrich Jr
Teacher
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Stephanie
Martinez
Instructional Assistant
Stephanie Martinez
Instructional Assistant
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Wendy
Pineda
Counselor
Wendy Pineda
Counselor
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Zayra
De Leon
Instructional Assistant
Zayra De Leon
Instructional Assistant
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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.