By CUSD Insider staff
The Orange County Department of Education recently honored Cleo Victa, a school counselor based at Viejo Elementary School in Mission Viejo, with its School Counselor of the Year award.
The award recognizes contributions to positive school climates and student success in the areas of academics, social-emotional skills, and college and career development. This recognition, now in its fourth year, coincided with National School Counseling Week. Victa will receive the award at the 2023 Orange County School Counselor Symposium.
Victa was hired as one of the original seven counselors for the district. She has worked in CUSD for 24 years and has served Viejo Elementary for eight years.
After getting her bachelor’s degree in social ecology from UC Irvine, she helped victims of violent crimes in Orange County through a nonprofit. That position, that she held for more than 15 years, connected her with counselors who urged her to make a career shift into counseling.
Victa returned to school and got her master’s degree in counseling psychology from Pepperdine University. She had a private practice and also worked in Santa Ana schools before getting her pupil personnel services credential from California State University, Long Beach and joining Capistrano Unified School District.
Victa said she was shocked to receive the award, of which just only four were given this year.
“I was really so surprised that I didn’t know what to think, what to say, what to feel,” she said. “I was surprised because there are a lot of very knowledgeable, talented counselors out there. It was really nice to get this honor. I was both humbled and thrilled.”
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Victa’s everyday duties include: providing one-on-one counseling, presenting classroom lessons on topics such as managing anxiety, solving problems, staying calm when frustrated, and social-emotional skills. She also works in small-group sessions (particularly with students who have lost close friends or family members), and conducts social skills support groups for students who are struggling due to the loss of time interacting with others.
All this has certainly kept her busy. “This year alone, I have completed 120 guided lessons, kindergarten through fifth grade,” Victa said.
She said her chosen career is certainly a rewarding one.
“This job, it’s the best,” Victa said. “I can’t think of doing any other job other than this one. At the end of every day, I know that I’ve made a difference in the lives of the children I support. When a student is having some sort of issue, they can come into my office and know that it’s a safe place. They are free to share their feelings, concerns, and feel like they’re understood and valued.”
This isn’t the first time Victa has been recognized. In 2019, at the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) Conference, she was one of the first counselors of a California elementary school to get RAMP (Recognized ASCA Model Program) designation. This two-year effort awards those who deliver counseling using a comprehensive, data-informed model.
Photo by Steven Georges/CUSD Insider
Victa said her success also involves being with a great team.
“I wouldn’t be able to do my job well without the support of my site administrators, district administrators, colleagues, staff and parents,” she said. “I want to make sure that they all know that I am thankful for their support throughout my years at CUSD.”
Jesús Becerra, principal at Viejo Elementary, called it “an absolute pleasure” to work with Victa.
“She puts at the forefront of her daily endeavors the social-emotional well-being of our students, staff and school community,” Becerra said. “Ms. Victa has made a positive difference at Viejo Elementary and I am very grateful for all she does to provide our school the positive support that keeps us moving in the right direction. She is one of a kind.”
More stories from CUSD Insider:
Four CUSD schools nationally recognized for counseling efforts
Capistrano Unified counseling programs receive national recognition
Capistrano Unified Counseling Programs Receive National Recognition
CUSD salutes counselors during National School Counseling Week
Capo Valley High counselor recognized as High School Counselor of the Year