Introducing Our New Program Director, Brian Hyosaka
We are thrilled to introduce you to Brian Hyosaka! Brian is our new Program Director who will oversee the Moonshot Innovation Fellowship. Get to know more about Brian’s journey and what he’ll be working on now that he’s on the Moonshot team.
introducing BRIAN
Brian Hyosaka (he/him) is an education and non-profit leader based in Denver, Colorado who is committed to building more human-centered, equitable learning experiences for young people and adults alike. His work sits at the intersection of developing people, designing innovative models, and helping teams turn bold, community-rooted ideas into practical action. An athlete and coach, Brian brings a deep sense of possibility and supports people to reach their aspirations, challenging individuals, teams, and systems to grow while providing the support needed to sustain that growth.
Brian’s perspective is grounded in his experience as a bilingual elementary teacher, school leader, and program designer. He began his career teaching 5th grade in a bilingual setting at Sabin World Elementary in Southwest Denver, where he worked closely with multilingual learners and families. He later served as a teacher and leader in Guatemala, a mentor with the Denver Teacher Residency, and an assistant principal at Academia Ana Marie Sandoval, where he led systems-level work in curriculum, staffing, and student support.
Most recently, Brian served as Senior Director of Programs and Head of School at Embark Education, where he led the development of a revolutionary learner-centered middle school model grounded in project-based learning and real-world experiences. He now leads the Innovation Space Fellowship at Moonshot EdVentures, supporting leaders across Colorado to design and refine solutions that address systemic inequities impacting youth.
Brian holds an M.A. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Denver and a B.A. in International Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, with minors in Political Science and Spanish. He is fluent in Spanish and continues to be grounded by his roles as a partner, parent, and lifelong learner. Outside of work, he enjoys trail running, mountain biking, and traveling with his family every chance they get.
What is a project that you are especially excited to work on during your first year at Moonshot? Why?
I am thrilled to support the Innovation Space and the 9th Cohort! The best ideas come from folks closest to the community they serve, and they are made even better by working in collaboration with others. The opportunity to lead the fellowship and bring incredible leaders from metro Denver together to solve critical challenges facing is both inspiring and deeply humbling.
What is a local and/or small business that you love?
I am a big fan of Art Club Coffee in the Navajo Arts District of Denver. Not only do they serve incredible coffee, but they create an inclusive and inviting space for community near and far. On top of this, they are folks who helped serve Embark Education when we were bringing our revolutionary middle school model to life!.
Brian enjoys the inclusive and inviting space at Art Club Coffee. Art Club Coffee partnered previously with Brian during his time at Embark Education.
What is a book that you think is inspiring that the Moonshot community at-large might benefit from?
For many years, the podcast “How I Built This” by Guy Raz has provided great inspiration and insight. Before I knew what entrepreneurial spirit looked like or meant, I was taken by the stories of folks who saw problems and challenges and built businesses that addressed them as opportunities. Little did I know I would both support the founding of a school, create my own small business, and help others to address problems or challenges they see and experience in their communities.
Brian’s hobbies include mountain biking and trail running.
What does Moonshot’s mission and vision mean to you? How does it personally resonate with you, your experiences, and your identity?
In 2010, I uprooted my life and moved to Denver to join Teach for America. I was incredibly fortunate to be placed in southwest Denver as a 5th grade teacher in a bilingual classroom. I came in with a big heart, but a great deal of misplaced beliefs about my role and the community I would serve. Gradually, by way of serving the incredible students and being welcomed by the community, I learned more and more about the challenges inside and outside the school system as well as the incredible talent and opportunity.
Fast forward to today, I am now firmly a Coloradan and have released my savior complex. At the same time, my purpose continues to be the same, to support our incredible youth and especially those from traditionally marginalized backgrounds. I have also had the opportunity to work with amazing community leaders with all the ideas and talent in the world. The ability to serve as the Program Director supporting these equity-driven learners to thrive resonates both with my value system, but also my personal why which is ultimately about positively impacting our youth.
Brian is an avid traveler who loves exploring new places and culture with his family. His daughter already had her passport within two weeks of her birth!