Ms. Munoz
Ms. Andrea Munoz is currently the Academy of Health and Healthy Communities counselor and head counselor of Hoover High School.
She originally started school with the intention of becoming a lawyer. However, after getting involved in community service at a middle school, she discovered a passion for volunteering and working in educational environments. She did not want to be a teacher so she thought being a school counselor was the next best thing. Also, her high school teacher sucked, which she did not want any other high school students to experience what she did in her four years of high school.
Ms. Munoz has been a counselor for over 23 years. She began her career in August 2001 with her first counseling position being in an elementary school, which wasn’t her ideal choice, but it was a start. When the school eventually closed, she moved to Clark Middle School, which was a great fit as she had always hoped to work in City Heights. Her ultimate goal, however, was Hoover High School. After spending 10 years at Clark, she eventually transferred to Hoover.
She has always seen Hoover as a model for an exceptional school counseling team and feels that we continue to grow as Hoover advances over the years. As she puts it, “Every year there’s always room for growth, and we’re getting better.” Our greatest accomplishment, in her opinion, has been getting people to look at Hoover and realizing that Hoover is doing really well.
“I come to work for the students,” asserts Ms. Munoz.
She loves working with students, the families, helping them, providing options and guidance. She loves 12th grade, seeing her kids graduate every year or hearing from former students about how much better they are doing now. That’s kind of part of why she came to high school. In middle school, students would leave and she’d never know what happened to them, but now she can follow their progress more closely.
Ms. Montes
Ms. Beatriz Montes is the counselor of the Academy of Literature, Media, & Arts (ALMA) for Hoover High School.
Ms. Montes’s passion for working with students is something that has been there her whole life. Ever since middle school, she knew she wanted to work with kids, and she even tutored middle schoolers while she was in high school. Growing up she specifically wanted to be a teacher. Up until she got to college that was her dream, but she later realized during her time at UC Santa Barbara that teaching wasn’t for her. After experiencing what it was like to be a counselor, she realized that becoming a counselor was the perfect fit for her. This year, she became the new ALMA academy counselor and although it has been a big change, she has been really enjoying it.
“I love how passionate and supportive ALMA staff and students are,” she expressed.
During her free time, Ms Montes enjoys relaxing with her cat Leonardo Dicatrio, going on hikes, and trying new foods. Eventually, she wants to get a dog as well. She also loves spending time with her nephew Roy, who is 16-years-old. She was initially drawn to the ALMA academy because she has always loved performing arts, and she loves to see how enthusiastic students are about art, music, theater, and media. In middle school, she herself did everything from theater to choir, and more. Overall, her favorite part about being a counselor is being able to help and connect with all of the students in the ALMA academy.
Mr. Zavalla
Mr. Zavalla is the AOIT counselor at Hoover High School for the 2024-2025 school year.
Mr. Zavalla has been a counselor here at Hoover High School for 21 to 22 years total. Although this is his second time being here at Hoover. He first started at Hoover High School in 1997 for ten years then he transferred to Lincoln for six years, and now back at Hoover. Mr. Zavalla loves the community, City Heights, the students and because he feels familiar here in San Diego. His passion is working with students who don’t think that they have a path to a diploma and how they don’t see that it is possible in helping them get to that graduation stage. Mr. Zavalla’s goal here at Hoover is to graduate as many students as he can, and as many that will allow him to help them.
Cardinal Pride to Mr, Zavalla means representing Hoover the best way you know how, the best way you can even by just being in cheerleading, sports, clubs, marching band, mariachi, planning community events and so much more. Everybody will do it differently. In order to help students Mr. Zavalla talks to them, tries to help them see greater ways, and it’s like a game of chess where he helps them see two or three moves down, and what things can be like if they continue on the same path. His advice to everyone is to make good decisions that will benefit you and that can help other people.
”Focus on number one,” expressed Mr. Zavalla.
Did you know that Hoover chose Mr. Zavalla? When he had recently finished his Masters program, his professor called and said they were looking for a bilingual counselor and would be interested in applying. Mr Zavalla agreed, and then two weeks later he was working at Hoover.
Ms. Hollman
Ms. Patricia Hollman has been counseling for nine years and is the SABE counselor. She started counseling at a middle school, then San Diego High School, Mission Bay, and now Hoover High School.
The reason she started counseling was because her dad passed away and she didn’t have as much support. She felt there should be caring adults in young people’s lives. One of her dreams that she accomplished was graduating college with her twin sister, and getting her masters degree while her sister got a bachelors.
Ms. Hollman and her sister were the first in their family to graduate college. She also wanted to be a mom and she successfully has two daughters. She feels fulfilled when she is interacting with students and she finds being patient because they need a caring adult.
“Connecting with people is important, but sometimes things can get overwhelming,” remarked Hollman.
The best experience she had at Hoover is always seeing the seniors walk across the stage at graduation. She wants students to know that hard work pays off and to “Keep your hope alive as hard as it may be!”
“It’s always gratifying to see seniors meet their goal, but nice to see students persevering,” expressed Ms. Hollman.
Out of all these years of counseling, Ms Hollman has made some mistakes. She assumed a student’s situation and made certain assumptions. She recognized her mistake and apologized to the student and from that point forward she doesn’t assume. It takes a lot of courage to admit your wrong and move forward.
Ms. Romo
Mrs. Laura Romo-Ricardo is the Social Justice Academy (SJA) counselor at Hoover High School.
Mrs. Romo has been at Hoover for seven years. She is happily married and has a son. She expresses that she loves how students are respectful and how they can share their own stories while expressing themselves in their own way. Mrs. Romo likes how at Hoover, everyone has a voice and we can all have an open opinion and not feel judged. She always sees potential in students on campus and sees the way that students want a better future for themselves.
Mrs. Romo loves to be a counselor in this specific area because even though a lot of the students aren’t majoring in social justice, everyone can take something from this academy into their real-life skills. She expresses how lovely the students are and how everyone is like a big family, even the teachers are very nice and kind to her.
Mrs. Romo has three values at Hoover that define her: She believes that every student in this school is capable of whatever they put themselves up for, that having that stereotype of ‘’Oh you’re just a counselor’’ doesn’t stop her from the big things she can do, and she also believes in being transparent and always being honest with her students.
“Make it a great day,” advises Mrs. Romo.
Ms. Alvarez
Maria Alvarez has been here at Hoover High School for 23 years, working with transcripts, diplomas and more.
Ms. Alvarez has helped multiple students here at Hoover and even graduates from many other years. Her personal goal for this school year is to do a better job each day, and to meet important deadlines. Her busiest time of the year is the beginning of the school year and the end of the school year because of the students’ demands for transcripts and diplomas. With all the stress that she has to endure she goes to her gym class to try and relieve some of the stress.
But her journey wouldn’t be as you expect. She started off working at Sherman Elementary School which was similar to the Hoover community. She grew very fond of that school until her friend recommended her to work at Hoover High School and so she took a shot and had a conversation with the principal and landed the job. She enjoys spending time with her coworkers and connecting with families trying to get help.
She would absolutely love to go visit Turkey and Greece because she loves everything about them. She wants to explore the culture, show and meet new people.
“Si se puede,” expresses Maria Alvarez.
