Who We Are
Hoover's Counseling Department consists of dedicated educational professionals
With over 100 years of combined experience, we leverage our knowledge of data analysis, helping skills,
human development, mental health, consultation, personnel service, teaching, and advocacy
to positively impact the Hoover community as agents of empowerment and change.
Resource Counselor (Department Chair) & 504 Coordinator
I am excited to be at Hoover and strive to learn and grow professionally as a Middle School Counselor.
Educational/Professional Experience: I grew up in Michigan and went to Michigan State University where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish with a minor in Psychology. I taught secondary Spanish in North Carolina and Virginia before coming to MCPS in 2001 where I taught at Francis Scott Key Middle School and the Regional Institute for Children and Adolescents (RICA). I obtained a Master’s in School Counseling at Johns Hopkins University and started my counseling career at Northwest High School in 2011. I then went to Northwood High School where I served as a School Counselor for ESOL Students for 6 years. I came to Hoover in 2018 and became the Resource Counselor in 2020.
Professional Interests: Elementary-to-Middle School transition, time management skills, mindfulness activities, positive self-image, healthy friendships.
Personal interests: I enjoy spending time with my family which includes my husband, two college boys, and our dog, Lucy. Other interests include travelling, going to the beach, reading, gardening, watching Netflix, and going to the movies.
6th Grade Professional School Counselor
Greetings! I am very excited to continue my work supporting the academic, career/college, and social/emotional development of Hoover students.
Educational/Professional Experience: This is my 6th year at Hoover and my 6th year as a School Counselor. I grew up in Baltimore and attended Friends School. I studied Education and Music Composition at the University of Maryland and worked as a music teacher in MCPS for 5 years before returning to UMD to complete a Master's in School Counseling. At that time I also worked as an Accessibility & Disability Counselor on campus. After finishing my 2nd Master's in Clinical Psychological Science at UMD I obtained licensure in Maryland as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and certification as a National Certified Counselor (NCC) and National Certified School Counselor (NCSC), working with a private practice therapy group and a couples workshop program. I also dabble in music gigging and DJing.
Professional interests: Transformed school counseling models, adapting research-supported clinical interventions in school settings, choral conducting.
Personal interests: Racket sports, football, volleyball, attending concerts, Baltimore & UMD athletics, cuisine, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu & MMA, casual music-making, dancing, hiking, exploring, taking day trips and road trips
7th Grade Professional School Counselor
I am so excited to be on the Hoover School Counseling Team! This is my 30th year of school counseling in Montgomery County Public Schools. Previously, I worked at Luxmanor ES, Wood Acres ES, and Ritchie Park ES.
Educational/Professional Experience: I grew up in Bethesda, Maryland and attended Ashburton ES, Tilden MS, and Walter Johnson HS. It has been such a great experience to grow up attending school in MCPS and then joining the ranks of MCPS as a staff member for my professional career! I completed my Bachelor’s degree in psychology at James Madison University in 1992. From there, I went straight into a graduate program at the University of Maryland, where I earned a Master’s degree in counseling in 1994. I began my School Counseling career in 1994, splitting my time between Luxmanor ES and Wood Acres ES. After 26 years as an elementary school counselor, I am excited work at the middle school level and work with 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.
Professional Interests: As an elementary school counselor, I initiated and supervised the following school-wide programs: a character education program, a school service learning program, and an Ambassador program. I believe that it is essential for me as a Professional School Counselor to promote the growth of the total child which includes the academic, social-emotional health, physical health, and career development domains.
Personal Interests: Most important to me is my family. I have a husband of 25 years and 2 children. My daughter completed her Master's Degree at the University of Maryland and currently works for Deloitte. My son is a sophomore at the University of Maryland. I love to cook, play golf, travel, and I am an avid sports fan! I love to watch golf, football, hockey, soccer and basketball, both in person and on TV.
8th Grade Professional School Counselor
I am excited to be starting my 2nd year on the Hoover Counseling team! I'm looking forward to supporting and advocating for 8th graders as we launch them into high school.
Education/Professional Experience: After teaching in middle and high schools for more than 20 years, I transitioned from teacher to school counselor in May 2022. I graduated with a Masters in School Counseling from the University of Massachusetts in May 2022. Before that, I completed a Master’s in Education from Johns Hopkins University, a Post Graduate Certification in Education from the University of London, England, and a Bachelors of Arts in Sociology from Trent University in Canada. I grew up in Canada and have taught in schools in many different countries including Canada, England, and Pakistan.
Professional Interests: Support/Create a safe and inclusive environment for students; Focus on equity, inclusion and social and racial justice models; Empower students to develop skills such as self-efficacy, self-advocacy, resilience
Personal Interests: Spending time with and visiting family/friends here and in many parts of the world including Canada, England, Singapore, Dubai and Pakistan. I enjoy reading, watching HGTV, playing mahjong and board games, swimming, traveling, organizing and decorating, and taking slow walks with my toy poodle, Mango.
I am excited to be the school psychologist at Hoover MS supporting the students, families, and staff of this wonderful school.
Educational/Professional Experience: This is my 8th year at Hoover MS and my 22nd year as a school psychologist in MCPS. I attended University of Wisconsin-Madison for my undergraduate studies, and earned my graduate degree in School Psychology at James Madison University.
Professional interests: Striving to bring the full breadth of psychological services to a school setting to build the academic and emotional resilience of students.
Personal interests: Reading, gardening, swimming, and traveling.
I am thrilled to be the Pupil Personnel Worker (PPW) at Hoover MS, advancing student success through family engagement!
Educational/Professional Experience: This is my 16th year in MCPS and 21st year in education. I received my undergraduate degree from Loyola University in Baltimore and my graduate degree in Speech, Language and Hearing Science from the University of Colorado at Boulder. From my experience working in education, I've learned that the only true path to success is through integrating family, school and community. In April of 2018, I received my MD state certification in Pupil Personnel Services and I am excited to continue this chapter of my career at Hoover MS. I’m the author of Call Me Penny Pickleberry, a children’s picture book to help kids manage worries, and have had my work published on PBS.org/parents.
Professional interests: Family Engagement; Restorative Justice Practices; Community involvement and Social/emotional wellness.
Personal interests: Traveling, indoor-cycling, trying new and interesting foods, spending time with my husband, two daughters and dog Archie.
Ms. Ellen Karavangelos (Ms. K)
Counseling Secretary & Registrar
I love connecting with students and being the first person they see when they come to counseling!
Educational/Professional Experience: I enjoy working with the Staff, Students, Parents and the Hoover Community to create a safe and healthy place for the students to be successful. This is my 3rd year as the Counseling Secretary & Registrar at Herbert Hoover Middle School and was previously the Attendance Secretary/Registrar at Wayside Elementary School. I look forward to working with everyone to have a successful academic year. This is my 5th year working at Herbert Hoover Middle School and I have been with MCPS for 8 years.
Personal interests: I like spending time with my family and friends, doing crafts and reading.