Hello, my name is Dena Vang. This is my 8th year as a school counselor. I was born and raised in Stockton, but now I live here in the Bay Area. As a school counselor, my passion is to prepare all students to be lifelong learners through academic, social/emotional and college or career readiness.
Hello! My name is Kiera Henry and I am so excited to be a part of this counseling team!
I am a recent graduate of Fresno State with a Masters of Science in Counseling and a BA in Sociology from UCLA. My goal as a School Counselor is to be a positive adult for all students and to create an inclusive and positive environment where social and emotional needs are met in order for students to succeed and learn to their full potential. In my free time I love going on walks with my husband and son and trying new coffee shops around the Bay Area.
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Hello everyone! My name is Soyoung Joo and I am thrilled to be a part of the Imai community this school year. I am a recent graduate of USC with a masters of education in school counseling and a BA in psychology and education from UC Santa Cruz. My goal as a school counselor is to provide a supportive and nurturing environment where every student feels valued, heard and empowered to reach their full potential. I’m excited to meet everyone and collaborate to support our students in succeeding and thriving!
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Hello everyone! My name is Joseph Lagano. I am a recent graduate of San Francisco State University as I obtained my Masters in School Counseling, and I first became interested in school counseling because of my passion for teaching students social skills that help them succeed interpersonally and academically. In my free time, I enjoy watching and playing baseball, as well as spending time at the beach and in the ocean. I am always game for a swim!
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Hi, my name is Emily Hilkene and I am the school counselor at Stevenson Elementary School. I am a second year school counselor and a graduate from San Jose State University’s Counselor education program. Before I was a school counselor, I was working in schools doing case management for unhoused and Foster youth which was when I realized I could support students at a higher capacity as a school counselor. I am so happy to be a part of the Mountain View community and I look forward to exploring the area, checking out the local restaurants, coffee shops and hiking trails.
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Hi there! I'm Leigh Wilson, and I’m so excited to be Theuerkauf’s new school counselor. As a lifelong learner—and living proof that you can teach an old dog new tricks—I bring over 25 years of experience in education, from teaching kindergarten through third grade, to being a literacy coach, reading specialist, and holding various leadership roles across my schools. Though I've worn many different hats, my heart has always been in elementary school. For the past two years, I've had the privilege of serving as an elementary school counselor, and I absolutely love helping my students grow emotionally, socially, and academically. When I’m not at Theuerkauf, I’m usually spending time with my friends and family. Maybe planning our next road trip, attending a concert, walking through the redwoods, watching a baseball game, or enjoying a good game of Euchre (my Midwest roots run deep!). And lastly, laughter is a non-negotiable for me—so if you hear a loud laugh echoing through Mountain View, it’s probably me cracking up at something ridiculous!
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Hello! My name is Elisa Gove and I’m excited to be part of the Vargas community this year! As your counselor, I’m here to support all students, whether it’s with academic challenges, navigating social issues, or just someone to talk to. My educational background includes a B.A at the University of California, Los Angeles in Sociology and Education, and a M.A from San Jose State in Educational Counseling. I currently live in San Jose with my husband and 3 year old son. I enjoy going to food festivals, the beach and spending time with family. I look forward to getting to know everyone and working together to help our students succeed and thrive!
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Hi, I am Carolyn Chang and I am thrilled to be part of the Landels community as a school counselor. My educational background includes a B.S at University of California, Davis in Biological Sciences with an emphasis in Neurology, Physiology, and Behavior and a M.A. at San Jose State University in Counseling and Guidance. I live in San Jose and love going on foodie adventures. Additionally, I enjoy weightlifting, traveling, sewing, and reading. My passion is working with students and families to support their overall growth as students.
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Hello Graham community! I am Martha Bejar, and I am excited to support our students’ academic, social-emotional, and personal development. With 14 years in education, my work has been grounded in equity, culturally responsive practices, and building systems of support that empower all students to thrive. I look forward to partnering with students, families, and staff to foster a community where every learner is set up for success.
Undergraduate:
A.A. | Sociology (Honors) | Cabrillo College
B.A. | Behavioral Science with a second major in Sociology | SJSU
Graduate:
M.A. | Education, Concentration in Counseling and Student Personnel | SJSU
Pupil Personnel Services Credential – School Counseling & CWA | SJSU
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) | SJSU
Clear Administrative Services Credential | SCCOE
Hi, my name is Pedro Serrano and I am one of the two school counselors here at Graham Middle School. I am a Southern Californian native and my educational background includes two B.A. degrees; one in Psychology and the other in Educational Sciences at the University of California Irvine. I received my M.S. degree in School and Professional Clinical Counseling at the California State University San Bernandino. I am very thrilled to be a part of this community and working with you all but most of all, to contribute in helping Mountain View students grow into their best selves they can be.
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