
Senator Anthony J. Portantino receives Legislator of Year award the California Association of School Counselors. [Courtesy]
Senator Anthony J. Portantino, who represents Pasadena and the 25th District in the California Senate, has been recognized by the California Association of School Counselors (CASC) with the Legislator of the Year Award.
The CASC said the award is in recognition of the state senator’s advocacy of mental health policies and his significant contributions to enhancing educational programs for California’s children.
In a statement, Portantino said he is grateful for the honor.
“I am proud to be in a position to support the resources necessary for our children’s well-being and join counselors in their mission to ensure student success,” Portantino said.
The California Association of School Counselors, incorporated in 2000, has over 3,000 members throughout the state, including school counselors, counselor educators, graduate
students and supporters of school counseling. The organization says it’s dedicated to advancing the school counseling profession’s excellence and integrity, as well as bolstering the influence of school counselors across California.
The CASC equips school counselors with the knowledge, skills, connections, and resources needed to promote equitable access to high-quality education for all California students.
Dr. Loretta Whitson, Executive Director of the California Association of School Counselors, expressed her appreciation for Senator Portantino’s steadfast support for the school counseling profession and his commitment to improving the lives of students in California. She remarked,
“This award is a testament to Senator Portantino’s dedication to ensuring that every student has access to quality school counseling services, and we are thrilled to recognize him as Legislator of the Year,” Dr. Loretta Whitson, Executive Director of the California Association of School Counselors, said.
She added Portantino has steadfastly supported the school counseling profession and is committed to improving the lives of students in California.
This year, Portantino has also been recognized with the Legislative Hero of Hope Award by City of Hope, and received a Distinction in Higher Education Legacy recognition from the Campaign for College Opportunity, a California organization whose primary advocacy is to ensure that all eligible and motivated students in the state have an opportunity to go to college and succeed.
In January, Portantino announced he is running for California’s 30th Congressional District to replace Congressman Adam Schiff, who is vacating the seat as a candidate in the 2024 United States Senate election.