Pasadena Unified Honors Outstanding Staff and Faculty at Start-of-the-School-Year Kickoff Event

As Pasadena Unified ramps up for the start of school on Monday, August 15, hundreds of District faculty and staff met Thursday morning in the Pasadena High School auditorium to spark morale, discuss the district’s accomplishments and plans, and recognize exceptional employees who made a difference in and out of the classroom during the past academic school year.

“Each year, each day, our job is to build a better tomorrow for our students,” said PUSD Chief Academic Officer Shawn Bird to the gathered staff and faculty. “You’re all superheroes and each of you inspire children every single day whether you work in the cafeteria or are office staff, teachers or principals.”

The six distinguished employees who were recognized for their contributions and dedication to the PUSD and their line of work are:

Tim Sippel of John Muir High School named Principal of The Year; Laura Palmer of Sierra Madre Elementary named Teacher of The Year; Socorro Roja, Senior Community Advocate of the Families in Transition Program, named Classified Employee of the Year; Natasha Mahone named Volunteer of the Year; Raimer Rojas, a McKinley School teacher, and Angela Parris, Pasadena Educational Foundation Development Director, named Superintendent Award winners.

“I know that I speak for all of my colleagues in the district that it is an honor for each of us to serve and work with all of you—the teachers, the staff, the parents, the community— who are committed to ensure that every single student receives the best educational opportunities and is prepared to be a leader in our ever-changing world,” said Sippel.

“The students are the reason why we keep coming back here every year and they are what make this more than just a job,” said Palmer.