Livingston counselor on short list for national School Counselor of the Year award
A Livingston Union Elementary School District (LUSD) counselor is being recognized nationally with a place on the short list of American School Counselor Association’s (ASCA) 2022 School Counselor of the Year awards finalists.
Alma Lopez, a LUSD counselor of 15 years, is one of five candidates considered for the award, a Merced County Office of Education news release announced.
“Ms. Lopez has been instrumental in establishing the ASCA national model-counseling program at all schools,” said LUSD Superintendent Andres Zamora in the release.
“She is an exemplary model of a school counselor who is passionate in helping students succeed academically and socially,” Zamora said. “Her advocacy efforts of building positive school cultures has enhanced the relationships between students and staff. We are very proud of her work and selection as a finalist.”
The award honors school counseling professionals across the nation who have devoted their careers to advocating for the nation’s students both inside and outside of school.
Lopez is the only finalist representing California. Other candidates hail from Missouri, Georgia, Wisconsin and Texas.
Finalists are selected based on skills in leadership, advocacy and the contributions they make for student success, the release said.
“I am excited and honored to have been selected as a 2022 finalist for the National School Counselor of the Year,” said Lopez, who earned her Master’s of Science in School Counseling from California State University, Fresno before starting her 15 year career at LUSD.
“I am privileged to work in a district that has fully supported efforts to build a comprehensive school counseling program where all students have access to a data-driven, developmentally appropriate counseling program,” she said. “In fact, all schools in our District have been nationally recognized.”
The winner will be announced later in fall, followed by a series of virtual events celebrating the award recipient and finalists during National School Counseling Week in February. An in-person celebration is planned in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 3 as well.
This story was originally published November 10, 2021 at 5:00 AM.
