Founder

VANESSA TILFORD is a High School Counselor as well as the Founder of Co-Creators Academy, passionate about empowering and educating teenagers and their families as they prepare for one of the most important and pivotal chapters of their lives. Vanessa grew up within the San Gabriel Valley and currently works for the school district which she attended as a student. After graduating from high school, Vanessa attended Citrus College as a stepping stone to reaching her goal of transferring to the University of Southern California. After two and a half years of dedication and perseverance, Vanessa was admitted to USC where she studied Sociology and graduated with her Bachelor’s Degree in 2008. Post-graduation, Vanessa entered the world of Corporate America which she soon found was not the path that she was intended for. After some soul searching and experience in a few service-related career fields, Vanessa decided to pursue counseling our youth. She attended Azusa Pacific University where she received her Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling and a PPS Credential.

Vanessa’s first counseling position began in South Central Los Angeles working with first-generation, college-bound students. One of Vanessa’s primary responsibilities within this position was ensuring that at least eighty percent of each graduating class would be eligible and admitted into four-year universities. Vanessa took this responsibility seriously as she worked to educate, inspire, and motivate students who would be the first in their families to pursue higher education. After five years of working in the inner city, Vanessa moved back to her hometown where she still works to empower and educate teens to develop and reach their full potential as they move toward high school graduation and goals after high school.

With over 13 years of experience within the public school system, Vanessa has worked with thousands of students and families as their trusted advisor, resource, and confidant. As the growing need for academic and mental health support rises, Vanessa decided to start Co-Creators Academy. Her purpose behind starting the Academy is to be proactive when it comes to supporting students during their high school journey, building confidence, developing realistic future goals, and ensuring a positive mindset along the way. 

Founder

Dana Musallet came to the United States at the age of 7, as a refugee in 1990 during the Persian Gulf war. When she came to the US, she did not know a word of English and was placed in a full immersion public school in the 2nd grade. Dana’s passion for the helping field as well as the educational field began when she was very young, but especially when she became a peer counselor in the 8th grade. She realized that she loved seeing the impact she had on her peers and being able to help someone else in need.Upon graduating from John A. Rowland High School in 2001, Dana went on to Cal Poly Pomona and earned her Bachelor’s in Behavioral Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. She graduated with her Bachelor’s in 2005, and took some time being a stay at home mom, as well as working part time with Area Board 10, to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families get the services they need. In early 2009, Dana decided she would like to further her education and was accepted into the Master’s in Psychology (emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy) program at Cal Poly Pomona and completed this program in 2011. She then went on to work for McKinley Children’s center in San Dimas earning her licensing hours, predominantly working with foster youth and children in need of mental health services.

In 2013, Dana ventured out into the higher education field and became an academic counselor at a local private college. This is where she realized her love for education and the helping field both. In 2015, Dana took on a new position with Children and Family Services in San Bernardino County. She spent almost 7 years there, with responsibilities such as child abuse investigations, case management and adoptions. In 2018, Dana became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. During her time at CFS, she realized she would love to be back working at a school setting. In 2019 she began her second Master’s program and in May of 2020, Dana earned her Master’s in education and a PPS Credential from AlliantInternational University.

Dana has worked with private practice clients providing mental health services and most recently, in August of 2021, she was hired as one of the Mental Health Therapists at Bonita High School.