Pasadena Teacher of the Year Among Roughly 160 Educators Facing Layoff, School Board Told

The Pasadena Unified School District’s current Teacher of the Year told the Board of Education on Thursday that he is among approximately 160 educators issued Reduction in Force notices this budget cycle, a disclosure that crystallized a night of escalating community emotions over proposed school consolidations, teacher layoffs and a zero Cost of Living Adjustment offer in ongoing contract negotiations with United Teachers of Pasadena.

Martin Dorado, a fifth-grade teacher at Madison Elementary School and a member of United Teachers of Pasadena, said he has taught in Pasadena Unified School District since 2016. Addressing trustees during public comment, Dorado said the district’s repeated invocation of “sustainability” rings hollow inside classrooms facing 36 students and biennial layoff cycles.

“Whenever the budget is referenced, the conversation is always centered around sustainability, but what does sustainability look like inside a classroom? 36 students in a room, teachers doing the jobs of three or more people, or perhaps teachers facing … Layoffs every other year,” Dorado told the board. “Is this the stability that we’re referencing? Does that sound sustainable for public education?”

He then disclosed his own status: he’s on the layoff list.

“Yes, I am this year’s Pasadena Unified Teacher of the Year, and yes, I am one of those teachers facing a layoff this year,” Dorado said. “But what’s baffling to me is not that you’re laying me off the teacher of the year, but that you’re laying off teachers with 36 students in the classroom.”

The 160 figure

The count of 160 Reduction in Force notices was cited by Katherine Mickelson, a nine-year district teacher who said she has been on the layoff list for six of those years. Michelson tied the notices directly to the zero Cost of Living Adjustment offer United Teachers of Pasadena says the district is holding firm on after eight bargaining sessions.

“Only 33% of our students are proficient in math, only 45% in reading. And your response to that crisis is a zero COLA and 160 RIF notices,” Mickelson said. “That is not a budgetary strategy. That is a betrayal of every child in this district.”

Mickelson said the district ranks 717th out of 1,543 California districts and dropped again this year. “Yet after eight bargaining sessions, there is zero improvement on salary and zero improvement on class size. Meanwhile, 95 central office positions go unexamined and $30 million in contracts go unscrutinized,” she told trustees.

Union pushes alternative savings

A representative of United Teachers of Pasadena, speaking during the labor partner comment period, told the board the district is laying off roughly 100 more teachers than necessary — a figure the representative said may now be closer to 80 — and argued that savings exist elsewhere in the budget.

“In three years, if you actually followed through with laying off those hundred extra teachers and the savings that have already happened this year from other things, we would have a hundred million dollars in reserves built up on the backs of our teachers, staff, and lost student experiences,” the union representative said. “Remember that you’ve laid off art, music, and PE teachers who are currently not planned to be brought back.”

The representative identified two specific pools of potential savings. “There are 95 central admin positions. That’s double what we need. Right sizing central office would save $10 million yearly because each of those positions cost at least $200,000,” the representative told the board. The labor speaker added that 20% of the unrestricted and non-fire budget is going to outside contractors, amounting to $30 million: “If you cut that in half, which is more normal for a district our size, you would save $15 million a year. That’s 25 already right there that we have not examined.”

The representative also warned of enrollment consequences. “We lose people that our students know and love, and when we lose them, families leave as well,” the speaker said.

Union leader strikes conciliatory note

A second labor representative adopted a more measured tone, describing continuing meetings between union teams and district Human Resources leadership under Superintendent Dr. Blanco and Human Resources chief Dr. Sergio Canal.

“Teams met again with HR today to review the list and to discuss some alternatives,” he told the board. “Although many of my members feel it is a done deal, I’ve explained that we will continue to work with the district to explore every possible avenue or opportunity so we can come to an agreement that will meet both parties’ needs.”

“Neither side wanted these cuts to happen. Everyone knows the negative impact it will have on the district. Again, I am confident we will come to a mutual agreement before June 30, before my members are scheduled to be separated from the district.”

Campus-level impact

The layoffs landed with particular force at specific campuses.

Emily Rosario, a parent at Altadena and Elliot Arts Magnets who identified herself as a neuroscientist, told the board the Reduction in Force would cut “nearly one third of Elliot’s teaching staff, along with our librarian coaches and other site staff.” She noted that Elliot is in the final year of its arts magnet grant.

“A year that is for sustainability planning, not dismantling,” Rosario said. “After four years of training these educators in integrated arts instruction, laying these teachers off raises serious concerns about the program continuity, grant deliverables, and non-compliance.”

Sarah Rager, an Eaton Fire survivor and former Pasadena Unified School District student who now teaches in the district, told trustees she left a job “in seniority” at another district two years ago when she was offered a position at Altadena Arts, only to be handed a temporary contract during onboarding two weeks later. She said the temporary contract has since been used to transfer her between school sites, including to Allendale and then Madison.

“We are slated to lose the best of the best. Our teachers, our custodial staff, our community support staff,” Rager said. “These are the people who keep our schools running.”

Consolidation backdrop

The layoffs unfolded against a contentious school consolidation process still working its way through a Superintendent’s School Consolidation Advisory Committee. Student Board Member Rivera, relaying the assessment of two student representatives on that committee, told the board members “generally agree that closing schools will not save as much money as we hope,” citing an estimated $600,000 in savings if elementary schools were consolidated.

Dozens of public speakers pleaded with trustees to spare schools including Don Benito, Blair, Madison, Marshall, San Rafael, Altadena and Elliot. Because of the volume of cards submitted, speakers were limited to one minute each.

One Don Benito parent told trustees: “A student should not have to worry whether their school will be open again next year or not. … A student should not have to stand up and bravely and eloquently argue in front of you that their school should exist so that they have a right to learn.”

A representative of parents at Thurgood Marshall Secondary School noted that 59% of Marshall students are classified as low income and warned: “Closures impact low income and minority students. You have a legal and moral obligation to fairly serve this marginalized community.”

What happens next

No action on the Reduction in Force list itself was taken at the April 23 meeting. Separation of affected employees is scheduled for June 30, 2026, according to the uinion. Labor negotiations between the district and United Teachers of Pasadena are continuing.

The Board of Education’s next scheduled decision point relevant to school consolidation was referenced during debate as a potential June 25 vote, with a public hearing on June 11.