Pasadena Educational Foundation Honors Pasadena Unified Teachers with $325,000 in Grants at Annual Celebration
PASADENA, CA — More than 200 educators, district leaders, and community partners gathered Wednesday, December 10, at the Brookside Golf Club for the Pasadena Educational Foundation’s (PEF) annual Teacher Grants Celebration, an evening recognizing teacher-led ideas shaping learning across Pasadena Unified.
This year, 250 educators were honored for 201projects, along with 12 School-wide Grants, and additional grants benefiting PUSD Children’s Centers, Mental Health Services, Twilight Adult School, the Student Wellness Department, and Health Programs. Thanks to support from the College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, The Walt Disney Company, Catching Hope Foundation, Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, LA2050, Ares Management, The Helen and Will Webster Foundation, and community members who donate to this program, a total of $325,000 in grants will support classrooms and student learning throughout PUSD.
With this support, PEF was able to fund every application submitted this year, ensuring innovative ideas can move forward at schools across Altadena, Pasadena, and Sierra Madre.
As schools and the community continue recovery following the Eaton Fire, the grants highlight the essential role educators play in strengthening learning environments and student support. Projects funded for the 2025–26 school year span a wide range of learning experiences, including literacy and student publishing, hands-on explorations of science and history, visual and performing arts, engineering and robotics, wellness and sensory supports, outdoor learning, and environmental stewardship. Several grants also respond directly to the ongoing impact of the Eaton Fire, from restoring outdoor spaces to supporting students whose educational experiences were disrupted.
PEF Executive Director Patrick Conyers reflected on the evening, saying, “Each year, this event reminds us of the resourcefulness and dedication that define Pasadena Unified educators. This has been an extraordinary year for our community, and as schools continue recovery efforts following the Eaton Fire, these grants help bring renewed energy and possibility into classrooms. We are grateful to the donors and community partners who make this support possible, and to the educators whose ideas continue to move our schools forward.”
During the celebration, PEF also presented three special awards recognizing leadership and creativity. The Calvin Hunt Arts Award was presented to Courtney Scrabek and Micol Issa, of John Muir High School, for Painting with Light: The Grief Underneath. The Jarratt Brunson Memorial Award for Literacy was given to Helena Alves and Angela Chavez, of Madison Elementary School, for Students Treasure Becoming Publishers. The Kathy Onoye Principal’s Leadership Award was presented to Dr. Elisa Pérez, Annette Aghadjanians, Guillermo Romero, and Cynthia Muñoz, also of Madison Elementary School, for Goals to Growth – Book Vending Machine Incentive Program.
For over 50 years, the Pasadena Educational Foundation’s Teacher Grants have supported educators’ ideas that strengthen learning, creativity, and student engagement. A full list of the 2025–26 PEF Teacher Grants, along with photos and video from the celebration, is available at pased.org/teachers.
