counselors, counseling

Mission Statement

The Notre Dame High School Counseling Department is part of a community based on Holy Cross values of achievement, service and respect. Counselors strive to meet the needs of students in the areas of academics, social adjustment and career development. The counselors work toward building student independence over the course of four years.

Our mission is to develop self-awareness, critical thinking and responsibility, as well as to encourage continued growth in these areas throughout life. We believe that this mission is a partnership between students, parents, counselors, teachers and administrators, and results in helping students reach their individual potential in academics, service and the social areas of their lives.

Counselors endeavor to act as positive role models to students and foster mutual respect in an environment of care and concern. This mission is accomplished through both individual and group meetings and presentations for students throughout the year, that are conducted by Notre Dame counselors as well as expert guest speakers. Special group sessions are also held for parents so that they will be current on the latest college admissions information as well as pertinent knowledge regarding changes in adolescent social environments.

Notre Dame counselors work to help students with learning differences. Although the Notre Dame campus is not equipped to present a full range of special services, the school is able to facilitate minor adjustments within the college preparatory program to assist students with certain disabilities.

Save the Dates

List of 4 events.

Mar

26

Case Studies Night
3/26/2019 6:15 PM
Providence High School
Mar

27

School-Day SAT Exam
3/27/2019
(For registered Juniors only)
Mar

28

Senior Parent FAQ Coffee Session
3/28/2019 8:00 AM
HCC Reading Room
Mar

28

NCAA Student-Athlete Meeting
3/28/2019 7:00 PM
Lecture Hall

Senior Counselors

List of 4 items.

Val Pantell

Counselor (A-C)
(818) 933-3645
pantell@ndhs.org
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Valerie Pantell has been at Notre Dame High School for eleven years. As a senior counselor, she guides students in the exploration, planning, and preparation for admission to college.

Ms. Pantell shares her love for learning and academic competition as co-facilitator of the Notre Dame Academic Decathlon team for the past 8 years. Ms. Pantell spent her early years at Notre Dame High School teaching Psychology and World History, but within two years, she followed her passion in counseling and became the Lead Freshman Counselor.

She also worked individually with students from freshman through junior years to support their personal, academic, and college choices. Her background includes an undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree from UCLA with a major in Psychology, and she earned a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Pepperdine University. Ms. Pantell’s early educational background was as a Junior High teacher at St. Mel Catholic Elementary School.

She holds membership to organizations that include NACAC, ASCA, and WACAC.
Joan Canzone

Senior Counselor (D-Ke)
(818) 933-3646
canzone@ndhs.org
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Joan is in her eighth year at Notre Dame High School after serving as Director of Guidance at a Northern California Catholic high school. She is a graduate of Hunter College in New York City where she earned a B.A. in Sociology and a minor in Psychology. She holds two M.S. degrees from Mercy College in New York, one in School Counseling and another in School Administration.

Prior to moving to California, she served as a principal within a New York City Archdiocesan school. Joan has been an adjunct professor and Assistant Director of Admissions at Mercy College. She was an adjunct professor at Westchester Community College in New York, as well as a New York City high school counselor. Ms. Canzone holds three permanent New York State education licenses and is in the process of receiving her California Pupil Personnel Services and Administration Credential. In addition to counseling Notre Dame seniors, Joan has also read and reviewed applications for UCLA, UCSB and UCSD Undergraduate Admissions.

Currently, she teaches Special Issues in College Counseling in the UCLA College Counseling Certificate program. Joan also works as a USC Bovard Scholars Admissions Coach.

Joan is an active member of several counseling organizations, including the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), Western Association of College Admissions Counselors (WACAC), American School Counselors Association (ASCA) and the California Association of School Counselors (CASC).
Jessica Lewis

Senior Counselor (Ki-Per)
(818) 933-3696
lewis@ndhs.org
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A Los Angles native with Caribbean roots, Jessica joined the Notre Dame Counseling Department in 2017 serving as the department assistant. She earned her B.S in Organizational Psychology from Saint Mary's College of CA. She previously served as a College Counselor for a local all-girls Catholic high school.

Prior to counseling, Jessica spent close to 10 years in supplemental education as a Senior Director with SCORE! Educational Centers, followed by advisory roles for test prep organizations. She comes with a wealth of knowledge not just in college advising, but SAT/ACT testing as well. She is a member of the Western Association of College Admission Counseling (WACAC) and National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
Mae Greenwald

Senior Counselor (Pet-Z)
(818) 933-3642
greenwald@ndhs.org
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Mae has been with Notre Dame High School since the fall of 2007. Her past positions here include Director of Counseling, a member of Academic Council, and AP Coordinator. She has always worked with seniors, counseling them with college choice and financial aid options. Mae earned her M.S. degree in Educational Psychology with a specialization in Career Counseling from California State University, Northridge after earning her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

Mae has taught Special Issues in College Counseling for the UCLA College Counseling Certificate program and prior to that assignment, taught two graduate courses in Career Counseling and School Counseling at California State University, Northridge. She spent two admission seasons evaluating applications for UCLA. Mae regularly presents topics on career counseling and college counseling for career access programs such as the Fulfillment Fund, CSUN graduate programs, and Las Virgenes high schools and Oak Park High School College Knowledge event every fall.

Junior Counselors

List of 4 items.

Steve Mejia

Counselor (A-Esk)
(818) 933-3647
mejia@ndhs.org
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Steve is a San Fernando Valley native who grew up in Chatsworth and has always had a great respect for the Notre Dame community. He served in the United States Air Force for ten years as a Supply/Logistics Staff Sergeant and was stationed at various locations stateside, as well as in Europe and Asia. He also deployed with multiple tours to Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait before returning to civilian life. Steve earned his Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a Master's degree in Counseling with a specialization in School Counseling, and obtained his Pupil Personnel Services credential all from California State University, Northridge. Steve has served as a school counselor for middle school students helping them prepare for the adjustment to high school and has also worked at Los Angeles Valley College where he assisted first-year college students in course selection and preparation for transferring to four-year colleges. Steve holds membership in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the California Association of School Counselors (CASC).
Bill Kearns

Counselor (Esl-Lan)
(818) 933-3644
kearns@ndhs.org
Read More
Bill is in his sixth year at Notre Dame High School. Bill has been in high school education for thirty years as a teacher, counselor, and coach. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Whittier College then went on to earn an M.A. in Education from California State University, Northridge. He earned his College Counseling Certificate from University of California at San Diego and earned his M.A. in School Counseling with a PPS through Concordia University, Irvine.

Bill is also an adviser for the National Honor Society, and responsible for guidance programming and counseling students in grades 9 -11 for post-secondary opportunities.

Bill is a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), as well as the National Association of College Admissions Counselor (NACAC) and the Western Association of College Admissions Counselors (WACAC).
Jessica Lopez

Counselor (Lao-Roc)
(818) 933-3695
lopez@ndhs.org
Read More
Jessica Lopez earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and International Business from Cal State University Northridge. Some of her corporate experience includes working for Universal Music Group, Live Nation and Warner Music Group. Her passion for education eventually led her to pursue her master’s degree in Education Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. She joined the Notre Dame Counseling Department last year as a substitute counselor working with individual students and leading a grief support group for students during Ms. Dickman and Ms. Abdaem’s maternity leaves, but prior to that she counseled middle and high school students for the Los Angeles Unified School District. At the post-secondary level, she was a Career Guidance Counseling Assistant for Pierce College, where she helped high school students with the college application process. Ms. Lopez's counseling experience includes academic and personal counseling services to diverse student populations including but not limited to: students with Individual Education Plan (IEP), English language learners, at-risk, first-generation college students, and students of low socio-economic status.

She has tremendous experience building rapport with students, parents, and staff at all levels, and is an active member of several counseling organizations, including the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), California Association of School Counselors (CASC) and American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
Martine Abdaem

Director of Counseling & Counselor (Rod-Z)
(818) 933-3643
abdaem@ndhs.org
Read More
Martine Abdaem is in her seventh year at Notre Dame High School. She is the Director of Counseling and counsels freshmen and sophomores with last names R-Z and juniors with last names Rod-Z. Martine has worked in school counseling for the past fifteen years, previously working at Saint Monica Catholic High School in Santa Monica and interning in the Burbank Unified School District. She holds her M.S. degree in Counseling, with a specialization in School Counseling and a Pupil Personnel Credential from California State University, Northridge, and a B.A. degree in Psychology from UCLA. Martine also has teaching experience, having taught psychology, study skills, and freshman English courses while working at Saint Monica.

Martine brings enormous experience to Notre Dame in areas such as Naviance, coordination of PSAT and AP exams for all students, group counseling, as well as counseling skills for all grade levels in the areas of academic, college, career, and personal counseling.

Martine is an active member of several counseling organizations, including the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

9th & 10th Grade Counselors

List of 4 items.

Steve Mejia

Counselor (A-C)
(818) 933-3647
mejia@ndhs.org
Read More
Steve is a San Fernando Valley native who grew up in Chatsworth and has always had a great respect for the Notre Dame community. He served in the United States Air Force for ten years as a Supply/Logistics Staff Sergeant and was stationed at various locations stateside, as well as in Europe and Asia. He also deployed with multiple tours to Iraq, Qatar, and Kuwait before returning to civilian life. Steve earned his Bachelor's degree in Psychology, a Master's degree in Counseling with a specialization in School Counseling, and obtained his Pupil Personnel Services credential all from California State University, Northridge. Steve has served as a school counselor for middle school students helping them prepare for the adjustment to high school and has also worked at Los Angeles Valley College where he assisted first-year college students in course selection and preparation for transferring to four-year colleges. Steve holds membership in the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the California Association of School Counselors (CASC).
Bill Kearns

Counselor (D-K)
(818) 933-3644
kearns@ndhs.org
Read More
Bill is in his sixth year at Notre Dame High School. Bill has been in high school education for thirty years as a teacher, counselor, and coach. He earned his B.A. in Psychology from Whittier College then went on to earn an M.A. in Education from California State University, Northridge. He earned his College Counseling Certificate from University of California at San Diego and earned his M.A. in School Counseling with a PPS through Concordia University, Irvine.

Bill is also an adviser for the National Honor Society, and responsible for guidance programming and counseling students in grades 9 -11 for post-secondary opportunities.

Bill is a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), as well as the National Association of College Admissions Counselor (NACAC) and the Western Association of College Admissions Counselors (WACAC).
Jessica Lopez

Counselor (L-Q)
(818) 933-3695
lopez@ndhs.org
Read More
Jessica Lopez earned her undergraduate degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and International Business from Cal State University Northridge. Some of her corporate experience includes working for Universal Music Group, Live Nation and Warner Music Group. Her passion for education eventually led her to pursue her master’s degree in Education Counseling with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. She joined the Notre Dame Counseling Department last year as a substitute counselor working with individual students and leading a grief support group for students during Ms. Dickman and Ms. Abdaem’s maternity leaves, but prior to that she counseled middle and high school students for the Los Angeles Unified School District. At the post-secondary level, she was a Career Guidance Counseling Assistant for Pierce College, where she helped high school students with the college application process. Ms. Lopez's counseling experience includes academic and personal counseling services to diverse student populations including but not limited to: students with Individual Education Plan (IEP), English language learners, at-risk, first-generation college students, and students of low socio-economic status.

She has tremendous experience building rapport with students, parents, and staff at all levels, and is an active member of several counseling organizations, including the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), California Association of School Counselors (CASC) and American School Counselor Association (ASCA).
Martine Abdaem

Director of Counseling & Counselor (R-Z)
(818) 933-3643
abdaem@ndhs.org
Read More
Martine Abdaem is in her seventh year at Notre Dame High School. She is the Director of Counseling and counsels freshmen and sophomores with last names R-Z and juniors with last names Rod-Z. Martine has worked in school counseling for the past fifteen years, previously working at Saint Monica Catholic High School in Santa Monica and interning in the Burbank Unified School District. She holds her M.S. degree in Counseling, with a specialization in School Counseling and a Pupil Personnel Credential from California State University, Northridge, and a B.A. degree in Psychology from UCLA. Martine also has teaching experience, having taught psychology, study skills, and freshman English courses while working at Saint Monica.

Martine brings enormous experience to Notre Dame in areas such as Naviance, coordination of PSAT and AP exams for all students, group counseling, as well as counseling skills for all grade levels in the areas of academic, college, career, and personal counseling.

Martine is an active member of several counseling organizations, including the Western Association for College Admission Counseling (WACAC), National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and American School Counselor Association (ASCA).

Administrative Assistant

List of 1 items.

Zoaya Fatima

Counseling Administrative Assistant
(818) 933-3675
fatima@ndhs.org
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Fully integrated with Naviance, Zoaya is also responsible for handling our College Rep Visits to Notre Dame.

About ND

Admissions

Academics

Arts

Athletics

Student Life

Giving

Faith & Service

Counseling

Mission Statement

Save the Dates

List of 4 events.

Case Studies Night

School-Day SAT Exam

Senior Parent FAQ Coffee Session

NCAA Student-Athlete Meeting

Directory

Senior Counselors

List of 4 items.

Val Pantell

Joan Canzone

Jessica Lewis

Mae Greenwald

Junior Counselors

List of 4 items.

Steve Mejia

Bill Kearns

Jessica Lopez

Martine Abdaem

9th & 10th Grade Counselors

List of 4 items.

Steve Mejia

Bill Kearns

Jessica Lopez

Martine Abdaem

Administrative Assistant

List of 1 items.

Zoaya Fatima

Athletic Liaison

List of 1 items.

Dustin Snyder

A College Preparatory School of Excellence