PUSD Staff Welcome Back
Pasadena Unified Launches 2025-2026 School Year with “Rising Together” Kickoff and Awards Ceremony
The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) officially kicked off the 2025-2026 academic school year, seven months after the devastating Eaton Fire, on Aug.13 with its Launch Into Wellness: The Power of PUSD – Rising Together welcome back celebration. The day featured inspiring speakers, hands-on professional development, and a moving ceremony honoring exceptional employees and community partners.
For the first time, all employees participated in “Launch Into Wellness,” a one-day professional learning experience focused on literacy, math, college and career readiness, and student well-being.
2025 Awards
The 2025 PUSD Awards were presented to employees and partners whose contributions have made a lasting impact on PUSD.
![Principal of the Year – Maricela Brambila]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755110002/pusdus/pbskrpvowrixcdhsjmot/MarcelaBrabilla.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755110002/pusdus/pbskrpvowrixcdhsjmot/MarcelaBrabilla.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755110002/pusdus/pbskrpvowrixcdhsjmot/MarcelaBrabilla.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755110002/pusdus/pbskrpvowrixcdhsjmot/MarcelaBrabilla.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1755110002/pusdus/pbskrpvowrixcdhsjmot/MarcelaBrabilla.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1755110002/pusdus/pbskrpvowrixcdhsjmot/MarcelaBrabilla.jpg","width":2200}])
![Hero Award – First Responders and Emergency Partners]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755113291/pusdus/i2nctoqzlebj04ovp5wy/HeroAward.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755113291/pusdus/i2nctoqzlebj04ovp5wy/HeroAward.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755113291/pusdus/i2nctoqzlebj04ovp5wy/HeroAward.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755113291/pusdus/i2nctoqzlebj04ovp5wy/HeroAward.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1755113291/pusdus/i2nctoqzlebj04ovp5wy/HeroAward.png","width":1216}])
![Teacher of the Year - Martin Dorado]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755110002/pusdus/jqb9zfppnop31fxqlqnw/MartinDorado-2025TeacheroftheYear.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755110002/pusdus/jqb9zfppnop31fxqlqnw/MartinDorado-2025TeacheroftheYear.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755110002/pusdus/jqb9zfppnop31fxqlqnw/MartinDorado-2025TeacheroftheYear.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755110002/pusdus/jqb9zfppnop31fxqlqnw/MartinDorado-2025TeacheroftheYear.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1755110002/pusdus/jqb9zfppnop31fxqlqnw/MartinDorado-2025TeacheroftheYear.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1755110002/pusdus/jqb9zfppnop31fxqlqnw/MartinDorado-2025TeacheroftheYear.jpg","width":2200}])
![Classified Employee of the Year – Janet Kitani]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755118247/pusdus/lbo7pqfzin2hvxzkfbhc/JanetKitani.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755118247/pusdus/lbo7pqfzin2hvxzkfbhc/JanetKitani.png","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755118247/pusdus/lbo7pqfzin2hvxzkfbhc/JanetKitani.png","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755118247/pusdus/lbo7pqfzin2hvxzkfbhc/JanetKitani.png","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1755118247/pusdus/lbo7pqfzin2hvxzkfbhc/JanetKitani.png","width":1552}])
![Superintendent’s Award – Dr. José A. Gómez, Pasadena City College (PCC)]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755110002/pusdus/cpmgi0yjlauwlpscpubu/PCCPrezzie.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755110002/pusdus/cpmgi0yjlauwlpscpubu/PCCPrezzie.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755110002/pusdus/cpmgi0yjlauwlpscpubu/PCCPrezzie.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755110002/pusdus/cpmgi0yjlauwlpscpubu/PCCPrezzie.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1755110002/pusdus/cpmgi0yjlauwlpscpubu/PCCPrezzie.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1755110002/pusdus/cpmgi0yjlauwlpscpubu/PCCPrezzie.jpg","width":2200}])
![Superintendent’s Award - Communications Team]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755110001/pusdus/wx2kzrdkyauwt1gguyfo/HildaHorvathRamirez.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755110001/pusdus/wx2kzrdkyauwt1gguyfo/HildaHorvathRamirez.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755110001/pusdus/wx2kzrdkyauwt1gguyfo/HildaHorvathRamirez.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755110001/pusdus/wx2kzrdkyauwt1gguyfo/HildaHorvathRamirez.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1755110001/pusdus/wx2kzrdkyauwt1gguyfo/HildaHorvathRamirez.jpg","width":1333}])
![Superintendent’s Award – Pasadena Educational Foundation (PEF)]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1755110064/pusdus/zxawygtoaj0z6guodvbt/PEFTeam.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1755110064/pusdus/zxawygtoaj0z6guodvbt/PEFTeam.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1755110064/pusdus/zxawygtoaj0z6guodvbt/PEFTeam.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1755110064/pusdus/zxawygtoaj0z6guodvbt/PEFTeam.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1755110064/pusdus/zxawygtoaj0z6guodvbt/PEFTeam.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1755110064/pusdus/zxawygtoaj0z6guodvbt/PEFTeam.jpg","width":2200}])