Meet the Counselors

  • 6th Grade School Counselor
    Mr. Damion Strong

    Mr. Strong was raised in Lakeland, Florida. His educational pursuit led him to Tallahassee, Florida where he attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, FAMU and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and a Master of Education degree in Counseling. He has been a Counselor for 16 years and enjoys motivating and influencing students to believe in themselves, seek greatness and to always remember, “failure is NOT an option”.
    Email Mr. Strong


    7th Grade School Counselor
    Mrs. Claudia Black

    Mrs. Black is originally from Colombia and now calls Florida home. She received her Master of Guidance and Counseling from Nova University and has been a school counselor for the past 10 years. She enjoys working with students to help them transition into a new country, new culture, new language, and new school environment. At the same time, she works on their personal and social skills, home and life situations, and to help them become successful and productive students. Mrs. Black has two adult children and lives in Palm Beach Gardens with her husband and dog Ollie.
    Email Mrs. Black


    8th Grade School Counselor
    Ms. Herele Oakley

    Ms. Oakley serves as a Professional School Counselor with twenty-plus years of experience guiding kindergarten to high school students. She earned her Master's in Guidance and Counseling from St. Thomas University in Miami, FL, and is certified in Educational Leadership from Nova University, Davie, FL.
    In 2012, the Florida School Counseling Association named Ms. Oakley the School Counselor of the Year.
    In 2015, Ms.Oakley was honored at the national level as an American School Counseling Association School Counselor of the Year Semi-finalist.
    Ms. Oakley believes in a comprehensive school counseling program (Following the ASCA National Model) that addresses all students' academic, social/emotional, and career development needed to achieve learning and lifelong success. She cultivates a supportive, safe, equitable school environment in which students are treated with respect and demonstrate inclusion and acceptance.
    Ms.Oakley strives to support students, parents, and teachers to ensure student success. In her spare time, Ms.Oakley enjoys spending time with her family and enjoys a little competition on the tennis courts.
    Email Ms. Oakley


    ESOL School Counselor
    Mrs. Nayda Odigie

    Mrs. Odigie was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She came to the United States at age 16 and was an ESOL student herself. Mrs. Odigie has been working for the Palm Beach County Schools for ten years and as the ESOL/bilingual school counselor for the past five years. She earned her Master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University and is pursuing a specialist degree also at FAU. Mrs. Odigie enjoys helping her students and their families navigate the social emotional changes of a new academic system, a new country and social environment.
    Email Mrs. Odigie


    ESOL School Counselor
    TBD