Stacey Kofman
Sports medicine teacher Stacey Kofman balances responsibilities at Gunn, Stanford
University, Palo Alto High School (Paly) and Go 4 Ellis. A passion for teaching and helping athletes connects all of Kofman鈥檚 jobs.
Her career began at Paly as the athletic trainer in 1993. Later, she began teaching sports medicine in 2000 and Physical Education (P.E.) in 2004. 鈥淚 enjoy the combination of being a teacher and an athletic trainer because I get to see the kids in a different light,鈥 Kofman said. 鈥淸Students] see me in a different way in the classroom [in comparison to the training room]. Teacher Ms. Kofman in class, Dr. Kofman in the training room.鈥
After a shoulder injury limited her movement, Kofman still advanced her career while juggling various jobs. 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 stop me from getting my master鈥檚 [degree],鈥 she said. 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 stop me from getting a doctorate or working at the college level. I just kept pushing.鈥
Kofman teaches zero, second, third and fourth period P.E. as well as sports medicine classes at Paly, and sixth period sports medicine at Gunn. Outside of school, Kofman works as an athletic trainer for the rugby team at Stanford University and with different sports at Go 4 Ellis. Kofman appreciates the proximity of her jobs to each other, distance and job wise鈥攁 reason she took on the role of athletic trainer for Stanford鈥檚 rugby teams in the first place. 鈥淚 wanted to be back in the training room,鈥 Kofman said. 鈥淭his gives me that ability to be back working with athletes.鈥
Kofman loves the work she does and finds that it is appreciated. 鈥淭he kids are great,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hey appreciate the fact that they have a full-time mentor coming to give them care. And the coaches are great because they appreciate the quality of care that we鈥檙e giving their athletes.鈥