Welcome Cloonan Bulldogs!

Mrs. Ballantoni (She/Her)
Teams B, D & F
​Mrs. Cleary (She/Her)
Teams A, C & E
"We are no longer 'guidance counselors' only focused on graduation and course selection for students. We are professional school counselors who focus on the academic success, college and career readiness, and social-emotional development of all students.”
 - Mindy Willard, ASCA 2013 School Counselor of the Year

    Contact Mrs. Ballantoni

    Contact Mrs. Cleary
5 Random facts about Mrs. Ballantoni:
  1. This is my 3rd year at Cloonan! Before working at Cloonan, I worked at Dolan for 6 years
  2. I love all things coffee (except pumpkin coffee!)
  3. My husband is a music teacher and my sister is an art teacher
  4. This summer I traveled to 5 different countries with 180 American Music Abroad high school aged students from 6 states
  5. I received my Undergraduate and Master's degrees at Western Connecticut State University
5 Random facts about Mrs. Cleary:
  1. This is my 18th year at Cloonan
  2. I have 3 French Bulldogs
  3. My husband is an attorney
  4. I live on Long Island
  5. I have a Bachelor in Psychology & Sociology and a Master's in Secondary Ed: Social Studies & School Counseling
Want to donate to us? Click the button below to view our Amazon wish list. Items on this list will be used in our offices and in GSA activities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you call my parents after you meet with me?  
No, our sessions are confidential unless: 
  • You or someone else is being hurt 
  • You want to hurt yourself or someone else 
  • You give me permission to share

How to schedule an appointment with your school counselor:
Stop by our office during homeroom, lunch, transition/locker time or ask for a pass from your classroom teacher. If we can't meet with you right away, we will give you a pass to come back at a later time.  You can also fill out one of our "I Came To See You" forms attached to our office doors. Make sure to put your first and last name and slide it under the door for your privacy!

My counselor is busy but I need to talk to someone right away. What do I do?
You can ask for a pass to see any counselor, Ms. Evans (social worker), Ms. Tyson (school psychologist), Ms. Spiegel (school psychologist), or your teacher can send us an email telling us to find you when we're free.  Students have access to all support staff not just their assigned counselor.

Is a school counselor the same thing as an outside therapist?
No. School Counselors work directly with the entire school population to deal with peer issues, academic support, crisis management, problems solving skills and many other topics on a short-term basis.  An outside therapist will provide more intensive, individualized, and ongoing therapy.  In short, a school counselor can provide individual short-term support for a student but anything beyond 6 sessions should be referred to an outside provider.

Can I have lunch with you?  
Sure! Just make sure you check in during homeroom or email us to see if we're available. We will give you, and a friend if you'd like, a lunch pass.

I don't like my teacher, can you switch my classes?
No, consider this a learning opportunity.  You can still learn and grow from a teacher that you might not get along with.  This is your chance to practice working with someone different than you.  We are always happy to meet with you and the teacher to facilitate a mediation if you'd like.
Picture
Taken from the "Missouri Comprehensive Guidance Program: Linking School Success with Life Success"