OUSD Celebrates 2025-26 Teachers of the Year from Esperanza Elementary School, Roosevelt Middle School, and Oakland International High School

The OUSD Board of Education and Superintendent Denise Saddler with two of three 2025-26 Teachers of the Year, Krista Toumi (front left) and Maria De La Fuente-Moreno (front center), next to OEA 1st Vice President, Carrie Anderson.

Oakland Unified School District is filled with staff members who do amazing work every day. And several times a year, the District recognizes some of these remarkable people. At the last Board of Education meeting, the Board honored the 2025-26 Teachers of the Year.

Early in the meeting, OUSD’s Chief of Talent, Tara Gard, introduced two of the three teachers present for the meeting. One Teacher of the Year, Aly Kronick, a reading and literacy teacher at Oakland International High School, is currently on sabbatical and out of the area.

Gard first introduced Maria De La Fuente-Moreno, a third-grade dual-immersion teacher at Esperanza Elementary, and read the Board resolution honoring her. It includes the passage, “Beyond her skill as an educator, she is known for kindness, thoughtfulness, and a deep commitment to understanding her students’ needs and for creating an environment where students feel deeply seen, supported, and challenged.”

After hearing the full resolution and receiving a standing ovation, De La Fuente-Moreno shared what it means to receive the honor, deflecting much of her own success onto those around her.

Gard then introduced Krista Toumi, a sixth-grade science teacher at Roosevelt Middle School. Toumi’s Board resolution reads, in part, “Colleagues say she is magical in her ability to connect with students and make them feel safe to learn. It is said Krista makes real-world connections for students, allows them to experiment and fail in safe ways that encourage their love and curiosity for science.”

After receiving a standing ovation of her own, Toumi said teaching is one of two things in life that she was meant to do.

While Aly Kronick from Oakland International High School is on sabbatical, it’s important to note that her resolution reads, in part, “Ms. Kronick has built much of her career on appreciating the power of students to drive their own thinking and learning. She is moved by her students’ motivation and holds herself to high expectations, determined to provide each with a learning environment that honors and allows them to feel success as multilingual learners.”

Oakland International High School Teacher of the Year, Aly Kronick, with Golden State Warriors Legend Adonal Foyle.

“To spend this time acknowledging our Teachers of the Year is very critical. They also are highlighting the skills, the approach, the leadership in the profession around what we expect, what we would like to see as evidence of good teaching in all of our classrooms,” said Superintendent Dr. Denise Saddler. “The empathy that they discussed, the respect for students, their ability to work and partner with organizations is something that is valued. So, I want to stand with the Board and community and acknowledge these incredible teachers.” 

“Every teacher should be honored. I think it’s incredible, it’s your moment, enjoy it,” said Board President Jennifer Brouhard. “I also feel the call to action for us is to support the many teachers that are in the classrooms, as well, to support the classified staff who support the schools, who, without this classified staff, our schools would not function.”

The Board voted unanimously to pass the resolution honoring the Teachers of the Year. Here is a deeper look at all three of the 2025-26 OUSD Teachers of the Year.

The Teachers of the Year will be honored next week at the Alameda County Office of Education Teacher of the Year event, and they’re in the running to win County Teacher of the Year, as well.