Congratulations to South Pasadena Unified School District’s (SPUSD) 2026 Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Velez Simon, who was named one of the top 16 teachers in Los Angeles County at the 45th Teacher of the Year ceremony held on Friday, September 25, 2026, at the Universal Hilton Hotel. With this recognition, Mrs. Simon qualified as a finalist for the Los Angeles County Teacher of the Year award.

This year’s competition brought together 72 teachers representing school districts throughout the county. Mrs. Simon was selected through a rigorous process that included essay and lesson plan submissions, evidence of innovative teaching practices, and interviews.

“Since 2021, Mrs. Simon has taught first and fourth grades at Arroyo Vista Elementary School,” said Principal Emily Blaney. “She is fiercely dedicated to nurturing the whole child and supporting our entire school community with creativity and empathy.”

Each year, SPUSD recognizes outstanding school site teachers of the year for their care, compassion, and ingenuity in their classrooms. Designed to focus public attention on teaching excellence and to honor exemplary dedication and professional commitment, the competition is the largest of its type in the country. 

In addition to Mrs. Simon, we would like to recognize all of the 2026 SPUSD Teachers of the Year, including:

Cecily Phalen-Bartolome, Marengo, 4th Grade
Janet Lim, Monterey Hills, Transitional Kindergarten
Ani Atoyan, South Pasadena Middle School, English
Dave Baughman, South Pasadena High School, Special Education

We are so proud of our outstanding teachers!

For more information, contact: South Pasadena Unified School District, Office of the Superintendent, [email protected].