Thursday, August 14, 2025

PUSD Marks New School Year with ‘Rising Together’ Celebration

By EDDIE RIVERA

More than 1.900 teachers, staff, and administrators focus on wellness and recovery

The Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) opened the 2025–26 school year Wednesday welcoming back 1,900 teachers, administrators, and classified employees with a morning of reflection, celebration, and resolve at Pasadena High School. Under the banner “2025 Welcome Back: The Power of Us: Rising Together,” the event served as both a rallying cry for educators and a tribute to the resilience of a community still grappling with the aftershocks of January’s Eaton Fire.

Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Blanco led the program, which blended stories of perseverance with public recognition of those who helped guide the district through one of its most difficult years. 

“Every role, every person in this room matters to the success of PUSD,” Blanco told the assembled staff, community leaders, and partners. “Tonight is about celebrating the strength we have found in one another — and finding the tools to keep moving forward.”

Merlyna Valentine, a nationally known educator and motivational speaker who lost her hands and lower legs after contracting a severe infection, delivered the keynote address. 

With humor and candor, she described the grueling recovery process, the challenge of accepting irreversible loss, and the decision to “focus on what you have, not what’s missing.” Her message — that resilience is built by choosing courage over fear—was heartfelt and emotional.

“I refuse to give up when given a choice,” Valentine said. “Within me was the capacity for courage and fear. I choose courage every day. That is what you have done, and I’m here to remind you: never give up.”

The morning was also a showcase for a series of Superintendent’s Awards recognizing individuals and organizations whose work embodied the “Rising Together” theme.

The first award went to the Pasadena Educational Foundation, led by Dr. Patrick Conyers, for mobilizing more than $1.5 million in direct relief within weeks of the fire — a total that has since grown to $3.2 million — for employees, families, and schools in need.

The PUSD Communications Team, headed by Hilda Ramirez, received the second award for its round-the-clock crisis messaging and the creation of a centralized information hub during the fire. The team’s updates, Blanco said, “didn’t just inform — they reminded our community they were seen, supported, and never alone.”

The third award honored Dr. José Gómez, president of Pasadena City College, for opening the PCC campus to host a “community connector” event just 10 days after the fire, giving students and families a space to gather, share meals, and begin healing.

Additional honors celebrated excellence within the district. Janet Katani, office manager at Hamilton Elementary School, was named Classified Employee of the Year for her behind-the-scenes role as “air traffic controller, problem solver, and keeper of the master calendar.” Martin Dorado, a Madison Elementary teacher and Pasadena native, was named Teacher of the Year for his commitment to connecting with students — often in their home language — and fostering a sense of community in the classroom. 

Marisela Brambila, principal of Willard Elementary, was named Principal of the Year for her leadership, vision, and decades-long connection to PUSD as both a student and educator.

A new Hero Award recognized the swift coordination of first responders and district leaders during the fire. Honorees included Pasadena City Manager Miguel Márquez (represented by Acting City Manager Matt Hawksworth), Fire Chief Chad Augustin, Police Chief Gene Harris (represented by Deputy Chief Art Chute), Altadena Sheriff Commander Jabari Williams, Sierra Madre Fire Chief Brent Bartlett, and PUSD Facilities Director Mike Dunning. Their quick action, Blanco said, “protected lives, calmed fear, and demonstrated leadership in its most essential form.”

For all the speeches and awards, the morning’s tone was as much about looking forward as honoring the past. Valentine’s keynote echoed throughout the program: the importance of perspective, the acceptance of what cannot be changed, and the daily choice to show up with purpose.

As Blanco closed the event, she reminded staff that the new school year offers “new opportunities but the same goal — to ensure that every single student experiences success every single day.” In the face of a community’s most difficult year imaginable, the message was clear—the power of PUSD lies in its ability to rise together.