Varsha Jayadevan is FUSD’s 2025 Educator/Teacher of the Year
Fremont Unified proudly named Varsha Jayadevan (on left) its 2025 Educator/Teacher of the Year. The announcement came at the March 26th District’s Board of Education meeting. Jayadevan (Ms. Jay as the students call her) was selected from an impressive group of nominees from all FUSD schools.
Superintendent Zack Larsen acknowledged at the beginning of the ceremony, "We are incredibly proud to recognize and celebrate our outstanding Educator of the Year, honoring their exceptional contributions, excellence, and positive impact on our students and the entire school community."
Congratulations to the many Educators of the Year that were present at the meeting
Click here to watch a video celebrating all of our 2025 Teacher of the Year nominees.
Ms. Jay is a Special Education teacher at William Hopkins Middle School, and has been a teacher in FUSD for over nine years. Her whole-child instruction style teaches students to self advocate and self reflect - skills that set them up for success in and out of the classroom.
Each FUSD school nominated an educator for Educator of the Year consideration. After a committee scored each nomination on a rubric that measures instructional excellence, contributions to the District, and teacher leadership, the highest-scoring nominees were selected as finalists and participated in an interview process.
Jessica Tommasini, ELD teacher at Centerville Middle and Maher Tamana, Counselor at Mission Valley Elementary were the other two exceptional finalists.
Both Robin Sehrt, Director of Certificated Personnel and Larry Sweeney, President of the Board of Education commented on the deep relevance of being selected by one’s peers.
"Great teachers rise to the challenge - learning new skills, embracing innovation, and adapting with grace and resilience." Elie Wasser, President of Fremont Schools Management Association and Director of Assessment & Accountability remarked during the recognition. He continued, "They are lifelong learners themselves, modeling the very mindset they seek to instill in their students."
As an example of her collaborative spirit, Ms. Jay and Hopkins counselors collected student voices and shared what the students “wished” teachers would know about neural divergence during an informative staff meeting. In addition, they worked with students to create informational slides that celebrate individuals on the neural divergence spectrum who have made various contributions in the world.
Ms. Jay also mentors new teachers in the department especially with understanding necessary processes and paperwork. She exudes the same consideration, warmth and patience with her students.
Principal Nancy Kuei declares “Ms. Jay’s humility, community-oriented, and solution-focused approach makes her a gem for Hopkins and FUSD.”
Varsha Jayadevan will represent FUSD in consideration for Educator (Teacher) of the Year recognition in Alameda County, and then possibly at the state level.
