Counselors

PRUDENCE KENT – 10th Grade and 11 th / 12 th Grade ( L – Z )

Ms. Kent has been a high school counselor at Hercules since 2002. She received her Master of Arts in from California State University -East Bay, and is a member of the California Association of School Counselors. Before coming to Hercules MHS, she worked as a counselor at Newark Middle School in Newark, CA. Ms. Kent reads incoming freshment applications for UC Berkeley and knows what makes a great essay. In her free time she loves to be outdoors, and enjoys activities such as biking and walking. What she loves the best about her students is the diversity.

Ms. Kent's advice to students is, "Do not wait until senior year to take your education seriously! The better you do in high school, the more options you have. After high school. I want students to to be prepared to do exactly what they want."

ALAINA KRYSTEK –9th Grade, and 11 th / 12 th Grade ( A – K )

Ms. Alaina Krystek began working at Hercules in 2007. Before counseling high school students, she was a middle school counselor here. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at California State University at Long Beach in English, and her Master of Arts degree in Counseling is from Chapman University. Prior to working in the SF Bay Area, she taught English in Japan. She is a member of the California Association of School Counselors. When she has free time, she enjoys traveling, reading, writing and playing sports, especially basketball.

Ms. Krystek’s advice to students is, “Never, ever give up, even when you think the odds are against you."

MICHAEL CONSTANTIN – 8th Grade

Mr. Constantin has been a middle school counselor at Hercules since 2008. Before coming to Hercules, he worked in Castro Valley andYokohama, Japan. His other jobs included health teacher and pizza delivery boy. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from University of California at Davis; his teaching credential at San Francisco State University, and his Master of Arts in School Counseling from Chapman University. On the weekends, he enjoys playing basketball and golf, and going to the movies. He is a member of the Northern California Golf Association. He was raised in the East Bay.

Mr. Constantin's advice to middle school students is, "What you do now sets the tone for your future actions."

TRALEE JOHNSON – 7th Grade

Ms. Johnson has been a middle school counselor at Hercules since 2008, and before that was a mathematics teacher for over 10 years. She received her Bachelor of Arts from University of California, Los Angles; her teaching credential from San Francisco State University, her Master of Arts in Counseling from John F. Kennedy University, and her School Counselor’s credential from Saint Mary's College in Moraga. She also is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a part-time counseling practice in Berkeley. She is a member of the California Association of School Counselors and the American Counseling Association. When she is not working, she enjoys reading non-fiction, building websites, practicing hatha yoga and meditating.

Ms. Johnson’s advice to her students is, “Just remember: Whether you decide you can do it, or decide you cannot do it; either way, remember that you are the one who made the decision!”

DANNY WHITAKER – 6^th Grade

Mr. Whitaker has been a middle school counselor at Hercules since 2008, as was a teacher here in 2007. He moved to California fromIndiana after he received his Bachelor of Arts in General Studies at Indiana University, South Bend. His Master of Arts is in Counseling from Chapman University. He enjoys HMHS because of the variety of students' backgrounds, stories, and its overall diversity. He used to work as a retail manager for an upscale clothing store for young adults and was a personal fitness trainer. He completed his first marathon in 2007 and is training for a 2009 triathlon. He is not a fan of horror flicks, but likes all other types of movies. He listens to classic rock and alternative music in his spare time, and enjoys traveling and hanging out with family and friends.

Mr. Whitaker says, “School is important. Education is a road leading you to your future dreams."