meet your counselors

Ms. Cabalar

Ms. Cabalar has a bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Tourism and Event Management. After working in the hospitality industry for a few years, she realized her true passion is working with individuals in a more personal setting to help explore different career paths and life choices. This led her to continue her education and earn a Master's degree in Education and PPSC credential from San Jose State University. Ms. Cabalar has experience working in K-12 but eventually joined the Silver Creek Counseling Team in 2016. Since then, she has enjoyed being apart of this great community and loves interacting and getting to know her students.

Mrs. Chapman

Mrs. Chapman received her bachelor's in English and teaching credential from San Jose State University. She taught English and AVID, and it was through her AVID experience that her passion to become a counselor was formed; she earned her Masters in Education, along with her Pupil Personnel Services Credential, from San Jose State University. Mrs. Chapman is very excited to be part of the Silver Creek community and looks forward to helping students find their paths into adulthood and higher education. She feels very strongly about the impact each person has on another's life, so she reminds her students and the community, "See the light in others and treat them as if that is all you see." --Wayne Dryer 

Ms. Navarro

Ms. Navarro earned her Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Gender and Women’s Studies from UC Berkeley. After serving as a college adviser for UC Berkeley, she attended San José State University where she earned her Master’s in Counselor Education with a Pupil Personnel Services Credential. She has worked in various school districts as a counselor and at UC Berkeley in a pre-college access program. She is excited to join Silver Creek High School and to support students and families in pursuing a postsecondary path. 

Mrs. Nguyen (Head Counselor)

Mrs. Nguyen has a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana. She taught math and Vietnamese before returning to San Jose State University to pursue a master’s degree in Counseling Education. Mrs. Nguyen is excited to be a part of the counseling team at Silver Creek High School. She borrows the words of Thomas Edison to remind her students: “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.”

Ms. Rabago

Ms. Rabago has a bachelor's in psychology from St. Mary’s College of California and a master's in school counseling. Ms. Rabago is excited to join the counseling team at Silver Creek High School. Given the large number of students on each counselor’s caseload, Ms. Rabago hopes to make your encounters with the department positive experiences. As the world changes, she encourages students to come and explore career, college, and military options!

Mrs. Lizaola 

Mrs. Lizaola received her bachelor's degree in K-12th Education and masters in counseling with Pupil Personnel Services Credential from San Jose State University. She has worked in multiple levels of education, including as an academic counselor for 10 years. In her most recent experience as a Career Counselor, she enjoyed guiding students with post-high school career plans. Mrs Lizaola is excited to join the Silver Creek community and to support students with their personal, academic, and post-high school career goals.