Sporting a black and orange Pacific Law Academy T-shirt, Jordan Blevins walked into an assembly room in the Robert Cabral Agricultural Center filled with her colleagues, family, and friends.
They gathered on Monday to surprise her with the distinguished School Counselor of the Year award from the California Association of School Counselors.
"I don't have words," Blevins said through tears. "I love my job. Period. The fact that this is happening is mind-blowing, and I have no actual words for what's happening right now. Just thank you to all of you, Stockton counselors."
Blevins has worked as a school counselor for the Stockton Unified School District since 2018. Before joining Pacific Law Academy in 2023, she worked at Hazelton Elementary School for five years.
Blevins currently serves on the Board of Directors for the California Association of School Counselors, and teaches the education counseling master's program at University of La Verne.
Blevins is no stranger to accolades.
She received the Stockton Unified School District Counselor of the Year award in 2022, and was recently recognized as San Joaquin County's School Counselor of the Year in April.
"We're lucky to have Jordan representing Stockton Unified and all of our great work," Superintendent Michelle Rodriguez told the crowd. "When I came here a little over a year ago, we were talking about the exemplary work that all of you do here within the district, and I think we're fortunate because now that we have the state-level Counselor of the Year, they will look to us. They will look to us and not only know the fantastic work that Jordan does at PLA, but also the fantastic work that all of you do because she represents that."
Monroe Elementary School Principal Victor Zamora, who worked closely with Blevins during her early years at the district, said he was "speechless" to see all that she has achieved.
"She has always been amazing since the beginning of my first year when I started at Hazelton. She was always, especially during COVID, asking us, 'What do you need? What can I do to help you?'" Zamora said. "She's eager and always willing to learn, and share her knowledge."
Blevins' mother, Stacy Bauer, said that Blevins lost her father four years ago. Bauer said her husband's goal in life was to be a school counselor.
"He didn't do it because I went to school and he was making money, and you know how that goes, and he never went back to school for it, but he always wanted to do that," Bauer told her daughter. "Through you, he's looking at you and he sees it, and it's amazing what you're doing. He's probably a lot of the reason why you're doing it. I'm very proud of you."
Blevins will compete against other state winning counselors for a chance to be named the National School Counselor of the Year.
Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow .
This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton Unified counselor surprised with California School Counselor of the Year award
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