Counselor Spotlight

By: Karibel Bolanos & Kaylie Miranda

A spotlight of the Hayward Twin Oaks front counseling team.

Ms. Gisselle

Ms. Gisselle Santella is our academic counselor, and she works on scheduling, helps students who are struggling, and supports seniors with choosing and applying to colleges. She really enjoys her job, especially connecting with students, and she says she doesn’t have a least favorite part. One of the craziest things she has done is work full time here while also going to college to earn her master’s degree and credentials. She likes watching popular shows and movies like Stranger Things, The Summer I Turned Pretty, and especially Twilight. She also enjoys music, especially Harry Styles and used to be a big One Direction fan. She loves trying new foods, going to restaurants, eating ramen, and shopping.

Ms. Breana

Ms. Breana Jimenez is a mental health counselor who loves her job because she enjoys talking to people and helping them with their problems. Her favorite part of her work is getting to talk with students, and her least favorite part is having to write all the notes she needs to do. One of the craziest things she has experienced at school was catching a cat that was on campus, and that cat is now her pet named Penny. Another crazy thing was when the school flooded. Some of her interests are reading, painting, and cooking, and she has a real talent for art. She’s especially good at painting, and the best thing she ever painted was a picture of a woman looking out of a window that she created back in 4th grade, which she still thinks might be the best thing she has ever made.

Ms. Ana 

Ms. Ana Hernandez is a mental health counselor who really likes her job, and her favorite part is getting to talk to students and being a support for them. One challenge for her is working with students who are very quiet and shy. The craziest thing she has encountered was when there were a bunch of lockdowns all in one day. Her interests include being outdoors, especially in the summer, and she loves summer activities. She also enjoys watching Grey’s Anatomy. Some of her talents are cooking and scrapbooking, and she loves being in the kitchen. One of her favorite things to make is soups and stews.