School District Welcomes Back Employees – Pasadena Now (2024)

A principal, a teacher, a substitute services technician, an executive secretary, and two parent volunteers were honored Tuesday morning as the Pasadena Unified School District welcomed back its employee family at its annual employee Back-to-School event.

Following a performance by the Pasadena High School drumline and cheer squad, employees were greeted by PUSD Board President Kimberly Kenne, who introduced members of the PUSD Board, as well as a host of members of the PUSD community.

Introducing this year’s theme, “The Power of Us,” Kenne said, “Our leadership team had many discussions and we realized that we have the talent and capacity within the walls of PUSD, to achieve greatness and actualize our district’s mission and vision.

“The ‘Power of Us’ is at the heart of PUSD,” she continued. “It’s about a shared commitment and collaboration to provide a high quality equitable education for every student. It’s important that every student that we meet every day feels valued, included, and supported and connected to the PUSD family. We acknowledge that not every child is where we want them to be and we have a call to action for social justice in all we do at PUSD.

“We will continue to accelerate their growth and make sure that they have the services they need until they’re exactly where they all need to be,” Kenne added.

“Our collective strengths, our knowledge and expertise, and passion and commitment to every student, will power our momentum,” PUSD Superintendent Elizabeth Blanco then told the hundreds of school employees who packed the Pasadena High School auditorium, as she laid out the district’s priorities and goals for the 2024-2025 school year.

“Together, we will meet the challenges ahead, celebrate our achievements, and make this a year of growth and achievement,” she added.

Keynote speaker and PUSD alum Dr. Jerell Hill, Dean and Assessment Coordinator in the School of Education at Pacific Oaks, told the assembled employees to close their eyes, and imagine fighting on behalf of one particular student.

“See their face, feel their hopes and dreams swell in your heart,” he said.

“That’s who you’re here for,” he continued.

“That’s who this work is really for,” he said. “Hold them in your heart and take five seconds and just kind of sit with that with me just for a minute here. Who is that student you’re going to fight for? There are people in this room who fought for me day in and day out. If they didn’t fight for me, I sure would not be standing in front of you today.”

Following Dr. Hill, Robyn Wehrly, a special education teacher at Octavia E. Butler Magnet Dual Language STEAM Middle School was then announced as this year’s “Teacher of the Year.”

She was greeted by dozens of Butler faculty and staff members in the audience, holding up a cutout of her face, which they held over their own faces gleefully.

“A lot of people told me I should be “Teacher of the Year,’” she joked upon receiving her award.

Wehrly graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in psychology and English. After working in residential care, she obtained her master’s degree in special education from George Washington University. She has taught math and science at Octavia E. Butler Magnet for the last five years.

Dr. Elisa Pérez, principal of Madison Elementary School, was chosen as the District’s “Principal of the Year.”

Dr. Pérez has served as principal of Madison Elementary School for three years. A fluent Spanish speaker, Dr. Perez was the first in her family to graduate from college, eventually earning a doctorate in Educational Leadership from UCLA, an Administrative Services Credential from Cal Poly Pomona, a Master of Education from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Spanish Literature from Georgetown University.

Yvonne Garcia, Substitute Services Technician in PUSD’s Human Resources Department, was selected as “Classified Employee of the Year.” Ms. Garcia has helped recruit and support more than 150 substitute – or guest – teachers committed to USD, replacing the former system of using agencies to hire temporary teachers.

Garcia also implemented new systems and procedures to ensure experienced guest teachers, and assisted with the recruitment and retention of long-term substitute teachers. Garcia is a parent of PUSD students, a member of the PTA, as well as a school volunteer.

Nia Harris Bailey, Vice Chair of the PUSD African American Parent Council (AAPC) past President and current Community Liaison of the John Muir High School PTSA, and member of the Black Student and Family Task Force, was selected as PUSD “Volunteer of the year.” A wife and mother of four, the well-loved volunteer has worked at a nonprofit foundation for the past 16 years, helping clients with investment and planned giving needs.

Meanwhile, Warren Skidmore, PUSD parent and astrophysicist, was chosen as “Parent/Volunteer of the Year.”

Skidmore, an Instrumentation System Scientist with the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) International Observatory, has organized the district’s annual Science Fest, and has been an active member of the PTA and the Community Advisory Committee. Skidmore also demonstrated telescopes during the solar eclipse earlier this year, so students could view the eclipse safely.

Emilia Sanchez, a district executive secretary, was awarded the Superintendent’s Award. Sanchez retired this year after more than 36 years of service to PUSD.

Most recently she was the Administrative Services Manager, where she coordinated support for the offices of the Superintendent and Board of Education, including preparing agendas for public meetings.

Sanchez worked in the Superintendent’s office for 24 years, mentoring and training generations of clerical staff, who now serve schools and district offices as office managers, administrative assistants, and executive secretaries.

PUSD students will return to classes Monday, August 19.