‘I’m feeling absolutely humbled.’ Livingston counselor wins top national education award
Livingston Middle School Counselor Alma Lopez was honored in a ceremony on Wednesday with a national education award — the 2022 School Counselor of the Year.
The longtime educator, who has worked for the school district for 15 years, was recognized earlier this year as the top counselor in the state by the California Association of School Counselors (CASC). She was one of five finalists for the national award, according to a Merced County Office of Education news release.
“I’m feeling absolutely humbled and amazed at the opportunity to represent the school counseling profession,” Lopez said during a ceremony Wednesday morning, attended by students, staff and her family. “I feel very honored and proud to have developed a comprehensive school counseling program here in Livingston in this small community.”
A representative of the CASC said all 50 states submitted a nominee to the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and Lopez was chosen as this year’s national winner.
“An independent selection committee interviews them, they have to submit a lengthy application, and Miss Alma will be the first woman to represent — actually, any school counselor — to represent California as the winner of that national award,” said Amanda Fitzgerald, the assistant deputy executive director of the ASCA. “She’ll represent the profession for the next 12 months.”
The award was presented to Lopez in a ceremony at Livingston Middle School,
Of the work Lopez did to earn this award, establishing counselors at each elementary school was chief among them.
Livingston Union Elementary School District is the first in Merced County to have counselors serving the school district’s youngest students.
Lopez said the comprehensive counseling program she developed can be replicated throughout the state.
“I want everyone to know the importance and the value of school counselors in the building,” Lopez said. “We’re here to help students as they learn, develop academic achievement, their social-emotional development and their college and career readiness.”
School officials praised Lopez’s dedication to students and her award-winning work.
“Alma is passionate about supporting our students to succeed in middle school,” said Livingston Middle School Principal Jorge Arteaga.
“As she plans and organizes support services, Alma always thinks about equity and access to ensure our neediest students get the support they need to be successful.”
This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 5:00 AM.