Your counselors are here to support you!

You can connect with us in the following ways:

Email: Our emails are listed below and we will respond to you as soon as we are able, Monday-Friday, during the school day.

Phone: You can call our counseling secretary at 619-593-5389 for general questions. If you would like to speak directly to a counselor, our phone numbers are listed below.

In-Person Meetings: Students can stop by before school, after school or during lunch to see their counselor. Parents and guardians, please contact our counseling secretary to set up an appointment.

Ms. Alnas

School Counselor

Students: A-Bar

ralnas@guhsd.net

619-593-5350

Office Hours:

8:15 am - 2:55 pm

Mrs. Watt

School Counselor

Students: Bas-Ham

tarynwatt@guhsd.net

619-593-5343

Office Hours:

8:15 am - 2:55 pm

Mrs. Ruiz

School Counselor

Students: Han-Me

bethruiz@guhsd.net

619-593-5345

Office Hours:

8:15 am - 2:55 pm

Ms. Ziegenbein

School Counselor

Students: Mi-Sa

sziegenbein@guhsd.net

619-593-5349

Office Hours:

9:10 am - 3:50 pm

*Homeless/Foster Youth Liaison

Ms. Holechek

School Counselor

Students: Sc-Z

aholechek@guhsd.net

619-593-5348

Office Hours:

9:10 am - 3:50 pm

Mrs. Somo (S3 Counselor)

Mrs. Somo is our S3 (social emotional) counselor and is here to assist all students in supporting their mental health needs.

Email: hsomo@guhsd.net

Phone: 619-593-5338

Office Hours: 8:15am - 2:55pm

Please Note: Mrs. Somo is out on maternity leave for the fall of 2025. Mrs. Kristy Kissel is her current substitute. Her email is kkissel@guhsd.net. Her phone number is the same as Mrs. Somo. Thank you!

Counseling Secretary- Ms. Howard

Hours: 7:45am-4:15pm

Phone: 619-593-5389

Email: showard@guhsd.net

Guidance Information Specialists/Academic Advisors

Ms. Hoff

GIS/Academic Advisor

Students: A-J

thoff@guhsd.net

619-593-5341

7:45am-4:15pm

Mrs. Krantz

GIS/Academic Advisor

Students: K-Z

rrkrantz@guhsd.net

619-593-5346

7:45am-4:15pm

School Psychologists

School psychologists provide direct support and interventions to students, consult with teachers, families, and other school-employed mental health professionals (i.e., school counselors) to improve support strategies, work with school administrators to improve school-wide practices and policies, and collaborate with community providers to coordinate needed services.

Sherry Dean

School Psychologist (A-Q)

sdean@guhsd.net

619-593-5342

Michael Medrano

School Psychologist (R-Z)

mmedrano@guhsd.net

619-593-5374

The Role of a School Counselor

The Counseling Office at Valhalla is a very active and busy place. School counselors spend time meeting with students discussing academics, college and career plans, and assisting with social/emotional needs. School counselors also build student schedules, present college and career information, assist students with 4-year planning, serve as advisors for clubs, and organize large events such as Parent Nights, PSAT testing, Senior Awards Night, College & Career Signing Day, Freshmen Success Week, and MORE. All school counselors are P.P.S. credentialed and hold Masters degrees in Educational Counseling.

Contact Flow Chart

So that we can assist you promptly and effectively, please refer to this chart to contact the correct person to address your issue or concern. Phone numbers and email addresses for all staff and faculty are listed on the Staff Directory.