One Bee’s Journey: Riley Mew
Every Bee starts their journey as a WannaBee by applying to BrightBee. They are eager to explore what it means to make a difference in schools. Once they make it through a rigorous screening process and background checks they step into their hive as a NewBee, training and getting their first assignments under their wings. Before long, they grow SuperBees—versatile, experienced pros who take on assignments with confidence and heart. The small but mighty few become EmployBees and join BrightBee full time. That’s the story of one Bee in particular: Riley.
Riley Mew’s Bright Bee journey began with a click on Indeed and a first interview with the Founder, Michael Lombardo. (Yes, this was early enough at BrightBee that Michael was still doing some of the Bee interviews!) “I loved their mission. In the interview, I understood what they were trying to do and make a difference and have an impact in education. Immediately, I wanted to be a part of it.” Riley dove in, taking on roles from science teacher to office manager, and quickly rose to SuperBee status. Her strong work ethic and team-first mindset caught the attention of leadership, and soon after that she was invited to join the internal BrightBee recruitment team full time.
Her onboarding experience prepared her for success in every assignment. “The training covered classroom management and gave me resources I could self-pace. It included foundations of student learning, lesson planning tips, and even the chance to contribute to one-pagers for multiple roles. It made me feel ready to add value from day one.”
When stepping into any role, Riley is deliberate about how she enters the space. “I was very intentional because I was new, and Bright Bee was still growing. I wanted to represent the company in the best way possible.”
One of Riley’s favorite moments came when she worked as a paraprofessional for a Spanish-speaking autistic student. “I started taking Spanish lessons so I could better support him. One day, we worked on math using building blocks for 10’s and 1’s. It took him about ten minutes, but he solved it! I was so proud of his effort that I bought him a Thomas the Tank Engine toy. He was so excited and gave me a hug—which was huge.”
Leaving the daily work with kids wasn’t easy for Riley. “I’ve worked with kids for so long, I didn’t know if I could step away. But I wanted to continue helping the company, and I love to help people. Being at Bright Bee has grown my confidence and shaped the way I approach recruitment.”
Now that she’s hiring Bees herself, Riley’s “why” is two-fold. “For myself, I’ve had a lot of people make choices for me in the past. In this role, I get to add value to a company I believe in. And for others, I get to help people who are trying to get to the next level in their career—because I’ve been there.”
BrightBee has grown from 3 schools to 100s, and Riley has been part of that journey. Her advice: “Be courageous. Be okay with making mistakes. Be open-minded. You can’t want better for yourself if you’re not willing to do better for yourself. Whether you’re working with kindergarteners and building patience or running the front office and mastering task management, you have to be ready to learn.”
Riley’s story is a testament to the growth, impact, and community that’s possible at BrightBee. If you’re ready to make a difference in schools and see where your wings can take you, apply today at brightbee.org.