Anaheim Union High School District

News and Announcements

National School Counseling Week Honors Counselors

National School Counseling Week is celebrated the first week of February, and this year’s theme is “School Counselors: Creating Pathways to Success.”

Celebrating the work of counselors helps focus attention on their unique and invaluable contribution to the educational system. It highlights the tremendous impact they have in helping students achieve academic and personal success, and plan for a career.

Counselors in the Anaheim Union High School District bring rich training and a wide educational background to their work. They are gaining renown for their Support Personnel Accountability Report Cards, which outline what they are doing to boost academic achievement. They are implementing a research-based approach to counseling that encourages them to assess the effectiveness of their services through the analysis of data. They are aligning their work to national counseling standards, and these approaches are positively impacting student achievement. For their efforts, AUHSD counselors were cited for “truly leading the way in Orange County” by the Orange County Department of education.

When counselors talk about what they do, they speak to the value of shaping young lives. Here’s what they had to say:

“I enjoy being able to connect with students on a personal level, which

is just as important as the academic. Kids need to know there is an adult at

school they can trust. That’s what counselors do.”

--- Lacie Mounger, Cypress High School (13 years)

“I really care about students and want to help them believe in themselves

and work hard for their future -- even when people think they can’t do it.”

--- Dianne McGinnis, Cypress High School (36 years)

“I want to have a strong impact on young adults, helping them discover

their future, and working with them and their parents to achieve that.”

--- Michael Brewer, Loara High School (31 years)

“I want to be an advocate for young people in their growth in academic,

career and social endeavors,”

--- Tisa Read-Bottorff, Katella High School and South Junior High School (11 years)

“The Number One reason I am a counselor is to impact the lives of young people. I can honestly look myself in the mirror on a daily basis and know that I make a difference in the life of a young person. That is a great feeling.”

--- Steve Gonzales, Magnolia High School (22 years)

“I am a counselor because of a combination of personality, tendencies, opportunities, ability and chance. What the universe wants, the universe gets.”

--- Rick Hullinger, Anaheim High School (14 years)

“I am a counselor because I have known too many people who didn’t know what their options were. I want to make sure that students know what their options in life are, and are prepared to make life decisions to get them to their goals.”

--- Billie Ann Lavrov, Magnolia High School (11 years)

“After teaching for almost 15 years, I felt like I wanted a new challenge -- a way still to connect with guiding and assisting students on a daily basis.”

--- Dianne Kuramoto, Western High School (15 years)

“I enjoy helping students. Watching them grow into better students, better

friends, or better people in general is very rewarding. I am faced daily with many

opportunities to help make a difference.”

--- Elizabeth Cardenas, Western High School (10 years)

“I am a counselor because I learned from my experience that education is a

key to open opportunities. I want to share this with students who may not know this or do not have an example of how education does work in their lives.”

--- Osvaldo Hurtado, Katella High School (10 years)

“Like anyone attracted to the helping professions, I believe I can make a difference in the lives of children.”

--- Trish Blake, Ball Junior High School (25 years)

“Since graduating from high school, every job I’ve enjoyed has involved young people. Counseling is a career where I can positively impact students, and I love every minute of it.”

--- Kyle Henderson, Dale Junior High School (6 years)

“For 31 years now I have enjoyed working with students and their families, first in teaching, providing lessons in science, and now in counseling, providing lessons for life. As a counselor, I can make a difference in our students’ lives by helping them achieve academic success, personal and social development, and career choices.”

--- Christine Pappas, Brookhurst Junior High School (31 years)

“I believe in the process of supporting the academic achievement of our students so they are prepared for life beyond school.”

--- Gracie M. Montes, Anaheim High School (33 years)

“I enjoy working with young people.”

--- Tricia Montelongo, Anaheim High School (21 years)

“I have always wanted to work with students and the fact that I didn’t not have a role-model counselor when I attended junior high made me want to be a part of this profession even more.”

--- Liliana Saldivar, Dale Junior High School (8 years)

“I love working with students and families to connect with school to ensure a better education.”

--- Diane Roberts, Orangeview Junior High School (12 years)

“Education has always been important to me and has always been one of my top priorities. I understand that life happens and gets in the way of one’s schoolwork. I hope that my passion for education and my own experience can help students obtain success in school and in their own personal life.”

--- Maria Uribe, South Junior High School (2 years)

“As a teenager, I was a lost soul. As a result, helping kids find the right path is a fitting career.”

--- Tu Huang, Sycamore and Dale junior high schools (4 years)

“I want to give students a place where they can be heard and know an individual really cares about their well being.”

--- Joyce Byrnes, Sycamore Junior High School (30 years)

“Originally, I wanted to become either a teacher or a marriage and family therapist. I couldn’t decide between the two, so I combined them and became a school counselor. And I love it.”

--- Alexandra J. Dortch, Walker Junior High School (7 years)

“I am a counselor because all students deserve guidance from a trained professional. I open doors for students that they didn’t even know existed.”

--- Amber Russell, Savanna High School (16 years)

“I had an amazing high school counselor, and it was always in my mind. I love working with kids …so I went into school counseling.”

--- Jaime Borad, Walker Junior High School (6 years)

“I became a counselor to assist students in the areas of academics, career and personal/social domains. I really enjoy seeing students grow and flourish as they mature.”

--- Cindy Wolff, Savanna High School (11 years)

“I am a counselor because I like to work with students.”

--- Kortney Tambara, Oxford Academy (3 years)

“I am a counselor because I enjoy helping our youth to grow, succeed, and build a better foundation for their future. I get to give back the same opportunities that I was given.”

--- Jeff Denison, Walker Junior High School (2 years)

“I love working with students, and I want to be a positive factor in their lives.”

--- Jennifer Frembling, Loara High School (7 years)

“I became a counselor to support students in their education and personal life.”

--- Annel Widger, Ball Junior High School and Loara High School (9 years)

“I am a counselor because I enjoy helping students succeed.”

--- Marcela Michea, Loara High School (7 years)

“I became a counselor to be an advocate for my students, to champion beside them in the accomplishment of goals, both personally and academically.”

--- Lisa Rockwell, Polaris (25 years)

“School counseling is the perfect blend of my two passions: social work and education! I love being able to help students to be successful in school by helping them in all aspects of their lives.”

--- Molly Guillen, Sycamore Junior High School (3 years)

“I love helping students realize their potential and I love to be a resource to the whole family.”

--- Veronica Alvarez, Sycamore Junior High School (6 ½ years)

“I chose to be a counselor because I wanted to make a positive change and impact in young people’s lives.”

--- Cecilia Soberanis, South Junior High School (3 years)

“There are so many factors that affect a student’s performance in school. In college, I knew that I wanted to work with adolescents in the mental health field, but I didn’t want to be limited to private practice. Counseling and teaching students within the school setting is a perfect setting.”

--- Candice Dion, South Junior High School (9 years)

“I love working with students, being a good role model and helping them make good decisions, set goals and grow as individuals. I know this is what I am meant to do.”

--- Amie Whitaker, Orangeview Junior High School (3 years)

“I wanted to help students on an individual basis, to help them achieve their academic goals.”

--- Anita Gaston, Cypress High School (15 years)

“I enjoy working with high school students in helping them to attain their educational and personal goals.”

--- Carrie Vaughn, Cypress High School (11 years)

“I wanted to be a counselor because I enjoy helping students make good decisions for their future.”

--- Michele Swanson, Orangeview Junior High School (15 years)

“I love working with kids and enjoy being able to help students with the challenges they face every day, both academically and emotionally.”

--- Monica Kim, Lexington Junior High School (8 years)

“I became a counselor to have a positive impact on students.”

---Van Parker, Savanna High School (9 years)

“Coming from a teaching and a marriage/family therapist background, I believe that counseling is a good combination of my personal and professional skills and goals. In addition, I truly enjoy the level of connection I have with my students as a school counselor.”

--- Seddighheh (Cindy) Lenjavi, Lexington Junior High School (8 ½ years)

“I am a counselor because I want to help adolescents maximize their potential.”

--- Joe Casas, Savanna High School (8 years)

“I am a counselor because I really enjoy working with students.”

--- Jill Briquelet, Oxford Academy (13 years)

“My high school guidance counselor helped me through an unusual situation, and I knew then that that was what I wanted to do. I love to help students and their families to set and reach positive goals.”

--- Amanda Bean, Dale Junior High School (7 years)

“I wanted the opportunity to work with students and make a positive difference in their lives.”

--- Stacy Giem, Lexington Junior High School (9 years)

“I enjoy working with children. I want to help them be successful in school and in life.”

--- Anh Nguyen, Brookhurst Junior High School (5 years)

“I am a counselor because I love working with adolescents and being a part of creating their future.”

--- April Hancock, Oxford Academy (8 years)

“I have always enjoyed working with children. I feel that (meeting) their academic and social-emotional needs are important for them to be successful as young adults and later in life as adults.”

--- Sandra Allen, Brookhurst Junior High School (19 years)

“I want to support underrepresented minorities in successfully attaining a higher education.”

--- Sylvia Chavez, Ball Junior High School (4 years)

“I enjoy working with students and assisting them with understanding and dealing with current challenges, and helping them prepare for future challenges.”

--- Eric Stapley, Western High School (24-plus years)

“I love working with kids and helping them and achieve goals. When a student realizes they actually ‘can’ do something, it gives me a great sense of accomplishment.”

---Michael Seltzer, Western High School (14 years)

“I became a counselor because I love to create possibilities for students!”

--- Penny Hatzis, Savanna High School (8 years)

“I became a counselor to be a resource for today’s youth.”

--- Mary Jo Pennington, Loara High School (5 years)

“I felt that I would have a better opportunity to help students become better students and help them focus on life plans.”

--- Joe Gallo, Katella High School (26 years)

“I became a counselor to help students realize their goals and dreams.”

--- Lauren Klatzker, Anaheim High School (5 years)

“I became a counselor to make a difference in students’ lives.”

--- Cristina Pittman, Anaheim High School (11 years)

“I believe in the process of supporting the academic achievement of our students so they are prepared for life beyond school.”

--- Gracie M. Montes, Anaheim High School (33 years)

“I enjoy working with young people!”

--- Tricia Montelongo, Anaheim High School (21 years)

“I believe I can provide essential services to meet the needs of my students.”

--- Hazel Cook, South Junior High School (31 years)

“I became a counselor to provide a positive impact and support to students who may not have access to other support systems in their lives.”

--- Roberta Soberanis, Community Day School (8 years)

“I love working with the students. It is very rewarding to help a young person find their own path, whether it be college, trade school, or something else that they have chosen.”

--- Stacie Muir, Alternative Education (9 years)

“I love working with people, young people especially. I think it is very meaningful to be a part of a human being becoming a productive and valuable member of society.”

--- Christina Gray, Gilbert South High School (25-plus years)

“I love working with young people – helping them to recognize their potential and encouraging them to work for success.”

--- Carol Payne, Gilbert East High School (14 years)

“I enjoy working with students, helping them see what is positive in their lives.”

--- Adrienne Gibson Cross, Gilbert West High School (15 years)

“I enjoy working with people and assisting them in reaching their goals.”

--- Etyole Johnson, Adult Education (10 years)

“I became a counselor to help young adults reach their potential.”

--- Henry Schwartz, Ball Junior High School (7 years)

I enjoy trying to make a difference, and I enjoy working with young people.”

--- Sandra Rofey, Western High School (20 years)

“I am a counselor because I love working with students and helping them prepare for their future.”

--- Monica Armendariz, Sycamore Junior High School (1½ years)

“I believe that in order to change the word, you have to start with children. If we give them the knowledge and skills they deserve, we can grow as a community.”

--- Brandi Taege, Magnolia High School (10 years)

“I became a counselor to support students and families with needs in academic, personal/social and career issues.”

--- Eugenia Traudt, Loara High School (9 years)

“Counseling is a rewarding profession. I feel that through my personal experiences, I can help others reach their goals. I want to make a difference and I feel that I can do that everyday, at least one child at a time.”

--- Claudia Ruiz, Savanna High School (14 years)

“I enjoy working with teens and their parents.”

--- Ken Gompert, Cypress High School (11 years)

“I like ‘putting on different hats’ everyday. I enjoy the challenges.”

--- Janet Low, Anaheim High School (15 years)

“I enjoy working with students, helping guide them toward their goals, and helping them overcome obstacles along the way.”

--- Pamela Morse, Kennedy High School (9 years)

“I chose to be a counselor to advocate and guide students in making positive choices in their lives, choices that will enable them to be successful and supported.”

--- Helen Yee, Kennedy High School (3 years)

“My high school counselor inspired me to become a counselor! She was instrumental in encouraging me to take challenging courses, and guided me in applying to colleges. She called admissions officers and really provided the extra support that I needed, especially since my parents were first generation in the United States and did not understand the school system.”

--- Helen Chung, Kennedy High School (11 years)

“I am a counselor because previous educators inspired me to work in education. I enjoy being able to advise students and work collaboratively with educators, students and parents to see the success of students.”

--- Vaishali Bennett, Kennedy High School (14 years)

“I am a counselor because I enjoy working with students to help them work towards their goals.”

--- Brian Bannon, Kennedy High School (18 years)