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Alexis
Scott
Dean of Academic Support
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Alexis Scott
Dean of Academic Support
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Allison
Thielen
Teacher
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Allison Thielen
Teacher
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Alondra
Medina
Instructional Assistant
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Alondra Medina
Instructional Assistant
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Andrea
Mancia
Paraprofessional
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Andrea Mancia
Paraprofessional
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Angel
Hernandez-Romero
Teacher
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Angel Hernandez-Romero
Teacher
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Anne
Fleming
Teacher
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Anne Fleming
Teacher
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Benjamin
Katcher
Teacher
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Benjamin Katcher
Teacher
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Bryan
Aguillon
Campus Aide
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Bryan Aguillon
Campus Aide
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Carissa
Gonzalez
Teacher
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Carissa Gonzalez
Teacher
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Christian
Sandoval
Teacher
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Christian Sandoval
Teacher
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Christopher
Wellbrook
Assistant Principal of Instruction
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Christopher Wellbrook
Assistant Principal of Instruction
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Dana
Daniels
Teacher
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Dana Daniels
Teacher
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Elijah
Falk
Teacher
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Elijah Falk
Teacher
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Elsy
Ordones Menjivar
Custodian
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Elsy Ordones Menjivar
Custodian
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Eric
Luna
Assistant Dean of Student Support
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Eric Luna
Assistant Dean of Student Support
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Erica
Johnson
Teacher
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Erica Johnson
Teacher
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Eva
Serrano
MSW Post-Grad Intern
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Eva Serrano
MSW Post-Grad Intern
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Evelyn
Moran
Counselor
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Evelyn Moran
Counselor
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Genevie
Santiago
Instructional Assistant
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Genevie Santiago
Instructional Assistant
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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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Gurpreet
Kaur
Teacher
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Gurpreet Kaur
Teacher
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Gustavo
Vaz
Teacher
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Gustavo Vaz
Teacher
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Isabel
Sanchez
Instructional Assistant
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Isabel Sanchez
Instructional Assistant
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Jahvon
Hayes
Campus Aide
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Jahvon Hayes
Campus Aide
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Jecenia
Trinidad
Substitute Teacher/Administrative Support
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Jecenia Trinidad
Substitute Teacher/Administrative Support
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Jennifer
Anaya
Assistant Principal, Valor Academy High School
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Jennifer Anaya
Assistant Principal, Valor Academy High School
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Jennifer
Presuel
Athletic Director/Assistant Dean of Operations
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Jennifer Presuel
Athletic Director/Assistant Dean of Operations
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Jesus
Flores
Dean of Restorative Practices
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Jesus Flores
Dean of Restorative Practices
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Jorge
Gonzalez
At Promise Counselor Intern
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Jorge Gonzalez
At Promise Counselor Intern
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Judith
Elguezabal
Lead Campus Aide/Behavior Implementation Interventionist
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Judith Elguezabal
Lead Campus Aide/Behavior Implementation Interventionist
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Karisa
Torres
Instructional Assistant
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Karisa Torres
Instructional Assistant
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Kevin
Pena Bustillo
Instructional Assistant
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Kevin Pena Bustillo
Instructional Assistant
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Kristin
Shaw
Teacher
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Kristin Shaw
Teacher
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Kyle
Petrie
Coordinator, Alumni Support and College Success
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Kyle Petrie
Coordinator, Alumni Support and College Success
Supporting: VAHS Class of 2017-2022 (4-Year Colleges & Universities)
B.A., Bowdoin College, Class of 2006
Kyle Petrie has worked in urban public education for over 12 years. He initially entered the field as a high school history teacher in the Bronx, NY, as part of Teach For America. After his time in New York, Kyle spent seven years as an AP teacher, advisor, coach, and Director of Alumni Support at Gary Comer College Prep on Chicago's south side.
As the ASCS Coordinator at Valor Academy High School, Kyle's primary responsibilities revolve around ensuring that all Valor alumni receive adequate support with the financial, academic, and social-emotional concerns that they face while pursuing higher education. Kyle is primarily motivated by the belief that higher education is the foundation that will allow our students to be successful and happy in both their careers and personal lives.
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Lauren
Albi
Teacher
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Lauren Albi
Teacher
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Laurie
Singer
Office Manager
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Laurie Singer
Office Manager
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Lori
Cook
Campus Aide
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Lori Cook
Campus Aide
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Marc
Lee
Campus Aide
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Marc Lee
Campus Aide
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Marcus
Greetis
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Marcus Greetis
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Maria
Cordova
Custodian
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Maria Cordova
Custodian
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Mark
Darby
Counselor
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Mark Darby
Counselor
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Matthew
Gonzalez
Teacher
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Matthew Gonzalez
Teacher
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Melanie
Garrett
Teacher
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Melanie Garrett
Teacher
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Michelle
Arras
Teacher
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Michelle Arras
Teacher
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Mildred
Fernandez
Teacher
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Mildred Fernandez
Teacher
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Mitchell
Stern
Teacher
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Mitchell Stern
Teacher
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Patricia
Chavez
Dean of Operations
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Patricia Chavez
Dean of Operations
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Perla
Lepore
Counselor
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Perla Lepore
Counselor
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Ryan
Sexton
Teacher
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Ryan Sexton
Teacher
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Shawn
Mann
Substitute Teacher
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Shawn Mann
Substitute Teacher
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Shonice
Latimer
Instructional Assistant
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Shonice Latimer
Instructional Assistant
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Stephanie
Bernache
Office Assistant
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Stephanie Bernache
Office Assistant
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Tisha
Bernard
Dean of Restorative Practices
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Tisha Bernard
Dean of Restorative Practices
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Victor
Lee
Assistant Principal of Instruction
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Victor Lee
Assistant Principal of Instruction
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Yesenia
Roa
Teacher
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Yesenia Roa
Teacher
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Yogeshwari
Patel
Teacher
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Yogeshwari Patel
Teacher
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Youngkwang
Jew
Teacher
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Youngkwang Jew
Teacher
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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.