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’s 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. “I enjoy the combination of being a teacher and an athletic trainer because I get to see the kids in a different light,” Kofman said. “[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.”

After a shoulder injury limited her movement, Kofman still advanced her career while juggling various jobs. “It didn’t stop me from getting my master’s [degree],” she said. “It didn’t stop me from getting a doctorate or working at the college level. I just kept pushing.”

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—a reason she took on the role of athletic trainer for Stanford’s rugby teams in the first place. “I wanted to be back in the training room,” Kofman said. “This gives me that ability to be back working with athletes.”

Kofman loves the work she does and finds that it is appreciated. “The kids are great,” she said. “They 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’re giving their athletes.”