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Pladevega is still PSS’ Counselor of the Year
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Posted on Feb 04 2020
Jillian Pladevega, third from the right, is awarded her second consecutive Counselor of the Year award yesterday at the Koblerville Elementary School. (KIMBERLY A. BAUTISTA)
Hopwood Middle School counselor Jillian Alice C. Pladevega has been named the Public School System’s Counselor of the Year for the second consecutive year.
Pladevega was named the 2019-2020 Counselor of the Year during the counselor’s month proclamation signing yesterday at the Koblerville Elementary School. She was recognized for her outstanding performance as a middle school counselor.
Pladevega said she was astounded but honored to receive the award for the second year in a row and she feels every school counselor should be recognized for their outstanding work at their respective schools.
“I am so shocked but I am so blessed. I am so humbled that they would consider my application. I think every year everyone should turn in an application but there is so little of us, everyone should be recognized. It doesn’t matter the title; just knowing you’re being appreciated is a lot,” she said.
Pladevega credits her getting the recognition to the recommendation letters she had from teachers, parents, and her students.
“I guess when it came down to it, [my application] went through because of the recommendation letters from parents, teachers, students, and admin. It’s a lot of work so I’m just as surprised but very honored,” she said.
Pladevega has been a counselor for HMS since 2013. Before taking up her counseling position, Pladevega was working as a Head Start teacher.
Pladevega has been a school counselor for seven years now and aims to put in more work as a middle school counselor because it’s inspiring to work with students.
“I don’t have kids of my own but it’s really nice to have a taste of how it would be like to have my own kids. …They say we mold them but they also mold me and who I am,” she said.
HMS has four counselors, one designated for each grade level and its alternative program called LMA. Pladevega counsels over 20 students under the LMA program.
“Id like to thank everyone that was involved, [especially] all the students. If the students weren’t here, I wouldn’t have a job and I wouldn’t be who I am,” she said.
