Gabriella S. Zlaket, now serving in her 20^th year at her own alma mater, Arlington High School, is named 2024 Riverside County School Counselor of the Year

RIVERSIDE – It would be difficult to identify a better way to celebrate National School Counseling Week than being named the 2024 Riverside County School Counselor of the Year. That was the reality today for Arlington High School counselor, Gabriella S. Zlaket. Surrounded by her family, colleagues, and school and district staff, Mrs. Zlaket was surprised with the news that she had been named the first 2024 Riverside County Educator of the Year by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez.

Six additional surprise visits are planned throughout February. All honorees will be recognized at the 2024 Celebrating Educators Luncheon set for May 7, at the Riverside Convention Center.

Gabriella S. Zlaket grew up as the daughter of a farmworker and immigrant family. She graduated from Arlington High School in the Riverside Unified School District before attending the University of California, Berkeley, and Harvard University. Since 2003, she has served as a school counselor at her alma mater, where she is an advocate for the counseling position and provides personalized support to prepare students for success in school and life. She employs a data-driven approach to identify gaps in student services and works to create programs and systems to ensure graduation and college/career readiness for all students—including in her role as the lead counselor for English Learners. Gabriella is described as someone with “a heart and soul about students and empowering them to achieve their goals and dreams.”

“Gabriella is a tireless advocate for student empowerment and success. From engineering district wide counseling plans to advising national educational initiatives, Gabriella’s leadership and expertise have really reshaped the landscape of supporting students across Arlington High School, and across the district,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. “Mrs. Zlaket has bridged gaps and elevated student achievement. Her unwavering commitment to student success, combined with her passion for advocacy and innovation, has left a huge impact on the community, on the students, on the staff.”

“I came to this school (as a student). My life was changed by so many educators who took my hand and guided me and believed in me. And all that I’m doing, and all that my fantastic team and colleagues and school family are doing, is just paying it forward. We are investing in our future because our kids are our future,” said Gabriella S. Zlaket, moments after being surprised with the news that she is the 2024 Riverside County School Counselor of the Year. “Every day we show up for our students and we love them, we care for them, and we advocate for them. That is what every single school counselor does here. This is not my award, this is our team’s award, and our district’s award. And it’s an award for every school counselor supporting students nationwide.”

The full list of categories and honorees for the 2024 Riverside County Educators of the Year:

• Riverside County School Counselor of the Year

  Gabriella S. Zlaket, School Counselor
  Arlington High School, Riverside Unified School District

• Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year
  

  Michelle Forcina, Secretary III
  Canyon Springs High School, Moreno Valley Unified School District
  Press Release 2/9/2024:
  2024 Riverside County Classified Employee of the Year Named in Surprise Visit in Moreno Valley Unified School District

• Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year
  

  Michael Sattley, Director of Facilities Services
  Hemet Unified School District
  Press Release 2/13/2024:
  Director of Facilities Services in Hemet USD Named 2024 Riverside County Classified Administrator of the Year

• Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year – TBD in February 2024
• Riverside County Site Support Employee of the Year – TBD in February 2024
• Riverside County Principal of the Year – TBD in February 2024
• Riverside County Confidential Employee of the Year – TBD in February 2024

The Riverside County Educators of the Year are selected from the more than 36,000 educational employees in the county. The rigorous application process starts with nominations by teachers, classified employees, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where an outside selection committee selects the honorees before the county superintendent announcement.

Along with the 2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year named previously, all 2024 Riverside County Educators of the Year will be honored at the Celebrating Educators Luncheon, set for Tuesday, May 7, at the Riverside Convention Center.

Clarification: The 2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year were named in mid-2023 to align with the 2023 California State Teacher of the Year competition. The 2025 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be announced in May/June of 2024 and will via for the 2025 California State Teacher of the Year award that will be named in the fall of 2024 by the California Department of Education and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond.

2024 Riverside County Teachers of the Year (named in mid-2023)