Meet Our Wellness Team
Meet the amazing Borel Middle School wellness team! Students can reach out to their counselors for questions, guidance, and support.
School psychologists may provide support and consultation to teachers and parents of students experiencing learning and/or behavior problems. Students with an Individual Education Program who exhibit the need for a higher level of care may be recommended to receive Educationally-Related Mental Health Services. Restorative practices is a field within the social sciences that studies how to strengthen relationships between individuals as well as social connections within communities. (IIRP) Please contact the SMFC Student Services Department for additional information or support at (650) 312-7341.
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Ms. Wharton grew up in Southern California and has been living in the Bay Area ever since she attended graduate school for her master's degree in counseling. Ms. Wharton has been working at Borel since August of 2006, and loves being a part of the Borel Community, particularly helping students adjust to the middle school years. Outside of school, Ms. Wharton enjoys long walks, cardio classes at the gym, yoga, and spending time with friends and family. | cwharton@smfc.k12.ca.us |
 Rachel Hernandez-Medrano (H-O) |
Ms. Hernandez-Medrano grew up in the Central Valley in a small agricultural town named Arvin - it's about 30 minutes southeast of Bakersfield! Ms. Hernandez-Medrano attended Bakersfield College where she transferred to Los Angeles City College where she earned an AA in Behavioral and Social Sciences and an AA in Psychology in 2018, then attended CSU Dominguez Hills where she earned a BA in Psychology in 2021. Ms. Hernandez-Medrano attended the University of Southern California where she earned a Master's in Education in School Counseling in 2024. Ms. Hernandez-Medrano has worked with students her entire working life as a paraprofessional and now as a School Counselor, and is thrilled to be a member of the Borel Community. Ms. Hernandez-Medrano enjoys live music, comedy shows, the outdoors and baseball during her free time and enjoys her job and the education field very much. | rhernandezmedrano@smfc.k12.ca.us |
 Christian Potter (P-Z) |
Mr. Potter grew up in Villa Park, California and attended UCLA where he majored in History and National University where he studied for his MS in School Counseling. He has worked at Borel for the past 4 years. He loves helping students navigate their classes and guiding them through difficult times. When he is not at school, Mr. Potter is at the gym lifting weights, spending time with his friends and family, or going for outdoor walks. | cpotter@smfc.k12.ca.us |
| Kimilou Gilchrist (TOSA) | Ms. Gilchrist grew up in Yokohama, Japan and Foster City, California. English was her second language. She majored in liberal studies with an emphasis in sociology. She feels very fortunate to be working in the school district in which she attended school as a child. Ms. Gilchrist has taught in elementary school before working with middle schoolers in the alternative education classroom and tobacco use prevention teacher for our middle schools. She has been a “Bobcat” for two years as the Teacher on Special Assignment in Student Services. She enjoys being on the water paddle boarding or being on an outrigger canoe. | kgilchrist@smfc.k12.ca.us |
| Joel Schmitt (TOSA for Restorative Practice) | jschmitt@smfc.k12.ca.us | |
| Illiana Parsons-Barillas | Ms. Parsons-Barillas is our mental health clinician for the Borel complex. She meets with referred students for 1:1 counseling at Borel on Fridays. Additionally, she helps to lead a lunch club and groups at Borel. She is bilingual and part of our ELAC team. |