Kiera Henry, Bubb

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.

Penny Cifuentes, Castro

Hello, I’m Penny Cifuentes, and I’m excited to join Castro Elementary as their new school counselor! I recently earned my Master’s in Counseling and Guidance from San José State University, and my Bachelor’s in Human Services from Notre Dame de Namur University. I’m passionate about helping students grow both emotionally and academically, and I’m eager to contribute to the wonderful community here. As your counselor, I strive to create a safe, supportive space for all students. Whether it's dealing with academic pressures, navigating social dynamics, or planning for the future, I'm here to listen, guide, and encourage. I look forward to getting to know everyone and working together to help our students succeed and thrive!

Soyoung Joo, Imai

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!

Caitlin Walsh, Landels

Hi, my name is Caitlin Walsh and I’m excited to be part of the Landels community this school year. I support all students and use a strengths-based and solution-focused approach to foster a safe and healthy learning environment. I am passionate about helping students discover and build on their strengths and grow into their best selves. My educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Gordon College and a Master’s from California State University, East Bay in Counseling. I live in San Jose and love dancing and the outdoors. In my free time you may find me on a trail, soaking up the sun somewhere, or enjoying a lovely meal outside. 

Jasen Okunnuga, Mistral

Hello everyone. My name is Jasen Okunnuga and it is an honor to join Mistral Elementary as their school counselor. I am deeply committed to creating an enriching, inclusive, and supportive environment for every student. As a father of elementary-aged children, I understand the profound impact that the right support and positive interactions can have on a child's development. Prior to becoming a school counselor, I spent many years in human services, assisting families in various ways. This is my 4th year living in the Bay Area and I have fully embraced all its wonderful offerings. My free time includes frequent beach, watching sports,  and visiting new restaurants.

Joseph Lagano, Monta Loma

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!

Emily Hilkene, Stevenson

Hi, my name is Emily Hilkene and I am the school counselor at Stevenson Elementary School. I am a first year school counselor and a recent 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. 

Leigh Wilson, Theuerkauf

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!

Elisa Gove, Vargas

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!

Carolyn Chang, Crittenden

Hi, I am Carolyn Chang and I am thrilled to be part of the Crittenden 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. 

Dena Vang, Graham

Hello, my name is Dena Vang. I am one of the middle school counselors at Graham. This is my 7th year as a school counselor at a middle school. 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.

Pedro Serrano, Graham

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.