Meet the Counselors

Ms. Jiménez

(last names A-L)

Hello! My name is Alejandra Jiménez, but almost everyone in my life just calls me Alex. I am the counselor for students with last names A-L. I was born and raised in inland Southern California but consider the Bay Area to be my home. I attended UC Berkeley on a full-ride scholarship and graduated in 2021 with a degree in comparative literature and creative writing. Right after I graduated, I taught 7th and 8th grade English Language Arts for a year at a middle school in south Monterey County. As a teacher I discovered my passion for working with students and decided to pursue school counseling instead. I worked as a Bilingual Community Liaison at an alternative education site on the Monterey Peninsula for two years while I completed my Master’s Degree in Education and school counseling credential at Alliant International University. I love to read and write fiction and hike on the Central Coast. I’m so excited to work with you!

jimenez_alejandra@cusdk8.org

Ms. Close

(last names M-Z)

My name is Michelle Close, and I am the counselor for KMS students with last names M-Z. I am super excited to be at KMS. I have been a teacher and a counselor for the last 32 years but I am the ‘new” counselor at KMS.  Fun facts about me: I have lived and worked all over the world including living on four continents. I have travelled to 38 countries and I speak Spanish. I have two adult children who are attending college to be a nurse and a doctor. My husband is a high school teacher. I love to help my students find their passions, identify their strengths, celebrate their successes, as well as learn how to manage and deal with challenges. I love to dance, walk, cook, bake, hike, bike, and go to the beach daily.  I also love to read and do 500-1000 piece puzzles. 

Thank you, Tunisia Tak, Xie Xie Ni, Köszönöm, Toda Raba, Salamat, Gracias, Mercí, Gamsa Haeyo, Ashruruk, Dhanyavaadhamulu, Arigato

Can’t wait to meet you!

close_michelle@cusdk8.org