Our mission as counselors is to provide services for students to meet their academic, career, and social/emotional needs. We also aim to create a nurturing and safe environment by creating inclusive spaces and advocating for diversity. This is accomplished through collaboration with parents/guardians, staff, and community members to ensure the success and achievement of all our students.

6th Grade School Counselor
Mr. Damion Strong
Mr. Strong was raised in Lakeland, Florida. His educational pursuit led him to Tallahassee, Florida where he attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, FAMU and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree in Counseling. He has been a Counselor for 16 years and enjoys motivating and influencing students to believe in themselves, seek greatness and to always remember, “failure is NOT an option”.
Email Mr. Strong

7th Grade School Counselor
Mrs. Claudia Black
Mrs. Black is originally from Colombia and now calls Florida home. She received her Master of Guidance and Counseling from Nova University. 
She enjoys working with students to help them transition into a new country, new culture, new language, and new school environment. At the same time, she works on their personal and social skills, home and life situations, and to help them become successful and productive students. Mrs. Black has two adult children and lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and dog Ollie.
Email Mrs. Black

8th Grade School Counselor
Ms. Herele Oakley
Ms. Oakley serves as a Professional School Counselor with twenty-plus years of experience guiding kindergarten to high school students. She earned her Master's in Guidance and Counseling from St. Thomas University in Miami, FL, and is certified in Educational Leadership from Nova University, Davie, FL. In 2012, the Florida School Counseling Association named Ms. Oakley the School Counselor of the Year. In 2015, Ms.Oakley was honored at the national level as an American School Counseling Association School Counselor of the Year Semi-finalist. Ms. Oakley believes in a comprehensive school counseling program (Following the ASCA National Model) that addresses all students' academic, social/emotional, and career development needed to achieve learning and lifelong success. She cultivates a supportive, safe, equitable school environment in which students are treated with respect and demonstrate inclusion and acceptance. Ms.Oakley strives to support students, parents, and teachers to ensure student success. In her spare time, Ms.Oakley enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys a little competition on the tennis courts.
Email Ms. Oakley

ESOL School Counselor
Ms. Gelsie Francisco
I'm excited to get to know all of you and to guide you through your middle school journey. Some of you might remember me from last year when I was the ESOL coordinator. This year marks my 22nd year in Florida. I spent 10 years teaching 7th-grade language arts reading, followed by 9 years teaching International Baccalaureate English at the high school level. Now, I'm starting a new chapter as an ESOL School Counselor. I earned my Education degree and teaching certification in Cuba, where I was born and raised, and I'm completing my School Counseling degree at Florida Atlantic University (FAU). My education and experience have shaped me into the teacher and school counselor I am today. I look forward to sharing my knowledge—and maybe some stories—with you, and I hope you'll share with me too. Though we all come from different backgrounds, we're in this together, and we'll face this new year together.
Email Ms. Francisco

ESOL School Counselor
Ms. Erika Rivera-Valentin

She is very excited to get to know her students and, most importantly, guide them through their middle school journey. Some students might recognize her from their elementary school years. This year marks her 13th year in Florida, after spending 12 years as an elementary school teacher. Now, she is embarking on a new adventure as an ESOL counselor. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, she earned her degree in elementary education and teacher certification there. Currently, she is pursuing a school counseling degree from Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Her education and years of experience have shaped her into the teacher and counselor she is today.
She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and working closely with students to help them transition into a new country, culture, language, and school environment. While doing so, she also aims to support their personal and social development, addressing home life situations and guiding them toward becoming successful, productive students. Even though each person has different backgrounds and experiences, they are all in this together, and she believes they will navigate the new year as a team.
Email Ms. Rivera Valentín

Parent Teacher Conferences (PTCs)

PTCs may be requested by parent(s)/guardian(s) teachers and administrators. A Parent Teacher Conference may be requested through the grade level school counselor. PTCs will be scheduled from 8:45-9:15 a.m. Monday-Friday.

School Counseling Services

We offer support for students by:

• Assisting in their educational, career, personal, and social development
• Helping to resolve problems which interfere with learning 
• Facilitating educational and career planning 
• Increasing knowledge of self and others 
• Supporting with specific needs 
• Providing crisis intervention and prevention

We offer support for parents/families by:

• Facilitating a home/school partnership in fostering school success. 
• Providing support for parents regarding their child’s educational development. 
• Sharing information with parents to help clarify and/or solve student and/or school-related problems.
• Protecting the privacy of information shared by parents and students.
• Assisting parents in refining parenting skills. 
• Coordinating and referring to school/community services regarding specific needs of students.

Schedule Changes

Can I change my schedule?
Schedule changes must be approved by Administration