Gabriella Zlaket

School Counselor, Arlington High School
Riverside Unified School District

Gabriella S. Zlaket boasts 20 years of counseling experience at Arlington High School. Her leadership spans various educational organizations, driving initiatives like the Riverside USD School Counseling Plan, ensuring comprehensive student support. Beyond administrative roles, she revitalizes student organizations, secures STEM partnerships, and champions inclusivity, leaving a lasting impact on her community. Colleagues praise her multifaceted involvement and unwavering dedication to student success, affirming her as a beacon of excellence in educational leadership.

Gabriella's Message

As living proof of the transformative power of education and kinship, I am grateful to have been selected to represent Riverside USD as the 2024 Riverside County School Counselor of the Year. The life-changing support my own school counselor, Mrs. Kay Daugherty, gifted me during my years at Arlington High School inspired me to pursue a life of service in support of students. Mrs. Daugherty, and her team of school counselors, led the way in providing robust access to the information, resources and supports I needed to pursue my dream of being the first in my family to attend a university. 

I am indebted to the many caring educators across the years who proactively encouraged me with words of kindness and by providing opportunities to follow my dreams and fulfill the potential they saw in me. 

This honor could not have been possible without the teamwork, servant leadership and unyielding commitment to student success of the Arlington High School Guidance and School Counseling Team. This exemplary team employs a comprehensive school counseling program in the academic, college/career and socio-emotional domains and provides guaranteed guidance for each student. The team guides each student towards fulfilling the standard school success metrics, but is driven by the incredible potential each student possesses that will lead to a wonderful quality of life. 

Additionally, I am appreciative of the consistent and proactive school counseling supports provided by the RCOE College and Career Readiness, the student-centered focus of Riverside USD district and site leadership, and for the collaboration with colleagues and community partnerships that have ensured that student needs are advocated for and met. 

I am blessed to walk alongside this path of life with my husband, children and family and thank them for selflessly sharing me with my kids at school. The foundation for this award was fomented by the love, encouragement and sacrifices my parents made in support of my educational aspirations and by God’s providence, for which I am thankful.