Position: School Psychologist

What led you to your current position? After working as an MHC, I knew I wanted to support students in the school setting and advocate for the most vulnerable students with specific needs. After shadowing my cousin who is also a school psychologist, I knew this role was perfect for me!

What inspires you to do this work? The relationships I create with students and families through the psychoeducation and advocacy I provide inspires me to do this work.

What is a recent highlight you’ve experienced in the work or an important lesson you’ve learned in this role? A recent highlight I've experienced in my work is being invited by a student to his school soccer game after improving his behavior and finally earning a spot on the team! Go Cobras!

Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. My favorite quote that I have adopted as my life motto is "Everything negative -- pressure, challenges -- is all an opportunity for me to rise."- Kobe Bryant

Beep Beep Beep calling all our BIPOC folks! Have you gone to trainings or conferences craving more focus on centering our lived experiences?  Well look no further, Reclaiming Identity for Collective Liberation may be the answer for you. This conference was intentionally created by Dr. Sandra Leon-Villa, from Las Vegas, Nevada. It was designed with us in mind, our healing, our stories, and our communities. Past workshops included:

• Integrating a Holistic and Culturally-Sensitive Approach to Improve Health and Wellness
• Therapy in the Borderlands: Strength-based and Feminist approaches
• Combating the Erasure of Asian Americans as an Act of Decolonization
• Death of the “Blank Slate”: Acknowledging our Lived Experiences and Spirit when in the Therapeutic Space
• The Pain We Carry: Healing the Soul Wounds of Legacy Burdens

 just to name a few!
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One of our clinicians has shared that she has been fortunate to attend this conference for the last three years, and I says it has been nothing short of “life-changing”. She reports feeling seen, not just as a professional, but as a whole person bringing gifts to this field. She has shared that she felt heard, safe, and deeply connected. There’s a unique kind of healing that happens when in a space where your story is not the exception, but the norm. One of the most meaningful experiences during the conference is the opportunity to participate in an indigenous ritual from the host country (oh, did we mention it’s in a different country every year?) which ground us in cultural reverence and collective healing. Our clinician has built connections and relationships with others in the mental health field which has afforded her an opportunity to grow her knowledge and experiences. If you are looking for space where the speakers look like you, the stories resonate with you, and the community uplifts you, we invite you to explore Reclaiming Identity for Collective Liberation. It might just be what you’ve been waiting for.

Blog By: Mosaic and Pathways Team

Blog by: Devina Brooks, Director of School Partnerships

​At Longfellow Middle School, we're thrilled to spotlight an innovative initiative at one of our partner schools. Under the leadership of therapist Jennifer Valdivia, we've launched "Mental Health Mondays" to foster a supportive environment for students. This was Jennifer’s idea she brought forward to me in supervision after seeing a need for a larger school impact on destigmatizing mental health. We took her idea to the principal who loved it and held a meeting with us and the rest of her administration team to work out the logistics to launch it this 2025-2026 school year. Jennifer felt empowered to share her idea and came prepared with her own thoughts and plans for implementation. Each month holds a theme that she has scoped and sequenced with a lead counselor at Longfellow.

​Together they set-up the table, bring in resources and engage students during lunch once a month. Her idea aims to destigmatize mental health by offering all the students access to resources, educational materials, and calming tools like fidgets to take away to help students manage anxiety in the classroom. Jennifer's monthly Mental Health Monday sessions have been met with enthusiasm and positive feedback from students and staff alike. We're excited to continue this journey and look forward to seeing the lasting impact on the school community and extending this idea to our other school sites. 

Blog By: Eidit Choochage, Director of School Partnerships

What led you to your current position? I began my journey with Seneca as a Mental Health Counselor at a CEC while completing my master’s program. As I approached my internship year, my supervisor, Julie Kim at the time, supported me in finding an internship placement at New School in San Francisco. After completing my hours and obtaining my associate number, I transitioned into my current clinician role. Prior to joining Seneca, I worked as an ABA therapist for three years, which deepened my commitment to supporting children and families.

What inspires you to do this work? Middle school was a major transitional period in my life. My Mom faced many challenges navigating a new environment, especially since she primarily spoke Spanish, and there was little support available. I remember feeling safe with one of my teachers, but beyond academics, I didn’t have anyone to talk to. Later, in college, I met a counselor who profoundly impacted my journey. His guidance helped me stay in school and transfer to a four-year university. That experience showed me the power of meaningful support, and it’s what drives my passion for school-based mental health work today.

What is a recent highlight or lesson you’ve learned in this role? A recent highlight has been launching Mental Health Mondays; an idea I developed last year that came to life this school year. It’s been inspiring to see how well it’s been received by students and staff. I love that it promotes mental wellness across the entire school community, creating space for conversations and care that reach beyond individual sessions.
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Share your life motto or something unique about yourself. My life motto is: “Everything happens for you, not to you.” Embracing this perspective has allowed me to grow through challenges and view each experience as an opportunity for learning and transformation.

​Nestled on the beautiful, close-knit campus of Redwood High School in Castro Valley, our Counseling Enriched Classroom (CEC) is making a real difference for students who are working hard on credit recovery and re-engaging in their education.
 
This special classroom is led by a dynamic and dedicated team:
 

• Yvonne Rogers, a familiar face to the Seneca community, is now entering her second year as a district teacher at Redwood.
• Evelyn, a Mental Health Counselor (MHC) in her fourth year with Seneca, brings consistency and experience to the classroom.
• Vivek, in his second year with Seneca, joins as an MHC bringing fresh energy and creativity to the team.

Krystal, a seasoned Seneca clinician and supervisor, is stepping into a new role as the classroom’s therapist, supporting students’ social-emotional needs

​Though newly established as a unit, this team has already found creative ways to connect with students and families. Attendance has historically been a challenge in this program, but this year the Redwood CEC has started off strong—engaging both students who are present in the classroom and those who need extra encouragement to participate.

The team is drawing on WRAP-style supports to meet students where they are. This means you might see them coordinating with families to host a “pop-up” at a student’s home to encourage attendance, or even arranging transportation for students who have struggled to get to school. They’re also keeping things fun and motivating with classroom incentives—like last year’s much-anticipated reward: earning a classroom pet (yes, a snake!).

More than just a classroom, the Redwood CEC is a space of tranquility, tough love, and fun. It’s a place where students who once avoided school are rediscovering their path, making progress toward graduation, and finding community along the way.

This work is possible thanks to the strong partnership with Redwood’s site principal, Mr. Kahn, as well as the broader district community. With their collaboration and support, the Redwood CEC team continues to explore creative, meaningful ways to help students thrive both inside and outside of the classroom.
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The Redwood High School CEC is more than a credit recovery program—it’s a launching pad for students to re-engage, grow, and succeed.

Blog by: Anthone Jackson, Director of School Partnerships

Blog by: Jenny Ventura, Senior Director of Education Innovation