Murrieta Valley Unified School District’s Felipe Zanartu is the School Counselor of the Year, Temecula Valley Unified School District’s Dr. Kimberly Velez is the Certificated Administrator of the Year, and Lake Elsinore Unified School District’s Jennifer Camargo is the Site Support Employee of the Year
MURRIETA/TEMECULA/LAKE ELSINORE – A staff meeting, a Zoom meeting, and an all-school assembly with more than 1,000 people, were what appeared on the calendar of three Riverside County educators on the morning of Friday, Jan. 17. Shortly after each activity got underway, each gathering was joyfully interrupted by the announcement of three newly named 2025 Riverside County Educators of the Year.
With students, colleagues, and family members in attendance, Felipe Zanartu, Dr. Kimberly Velez, and Jennifer Camargo were surprised in three different locations on Friday, January 17, by Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, with the news that they had been selected as top educators in the county.
“All of our 2025 Educators of the Year exemplify what it takes to serve the needs of students and families in our public schools,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, “Ensuring the success of students inside the classroom and on their journey to become healthy, productive citizens in their community requires a team approach. From school counselors and classified staff members to teachers and administrators, we are excited to honor that collaboration and commitment with every surprise visit and award.”
Three additional surprise visits are planned throughout January and early February. Palm Springs Unified School District Executive Assistant Erika Barragan was named as the 2025 Confidential Employee of the Year on Thursday, January 16. All honorees will be recognized at the 2025 Celebrating Educators Luncheon set for May 13, at the Riverside Convention Center.
Felipe Zanartu – 2025 Riverside County School Counselor of the Year
In his role as a school counselor at Cole Canyon Elementary School in Murrieta for the last six years, Felipe Zanartu is far more than an outstanding support for the success of all students. He also trains new counselors and facilitates professional development locally, statewide, and nationally to grow exemplary model counseling programs. His work has elevated the profession within his district to the extent that counselors were added to support each elementary school in the district.
Felipe is a member of the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) and the California Association for School Counselors. He believes that exemplary school counselors are those who prioritize measurable outcomes, equity, and student-centered growth. In just the last five years, Felipe has guided 18 schools to achieve Recognized ASCA Model Program (RAMP) recognition in Riverside County, California, and across the country. He is a frequent presenter at the National School Counselor Leadership Conference and serves as a RAMP reviewer for schools that are aligning their counseling focus with best practices and national standards.
One of Felipe’s innovative creations is the House Challenge Program. This initiative encourages kindness, respect, good citizenship, teamwork, and sportsmanship through structured play via intramural sports competitions. For students who might not otherwise participate in competitive extra-curricular sports programs, this program builds confidence, social skills, and connections with their peers while teachers, staff, parents, and community members support them as coaches and referees. One parent described the program as “saving my child’s 5th grade year.”
Felipe earned a Master’s degree in School Counseling from San Diego State University, and his Preliminary Administrative Services Credential from the Riverside County Office of Education’s School of Education.
“Today I have a very special announcement because it is important that in this county, we honor, celebrate, and acknowledge our great educators and team members that work with all of you students,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez, to the more than 1,000 students and educators gathered at an outdoor assembly on the campus of Cole Canyon Elementary School. “Mr Zanartu works for many of you. He’s visible. He’s on the playground. He’s in the classroom. He’s working with your teachers, and he’s working with the team—all because he cares for every single one of you. Just like all of your teachers, and all of your staff members here in your educational family, Mr. Zanartu always goes above and beyond the call of duty.”
This was incredibly unexpected,” said Felipe Zanartu immediately following the surprise announcement. “My biggest thing is for all of you here is to really have fun. Make school the best experience it can be. I know if you have fun, and you love school, and make really good friends, and good relationships, you’re going to be successful. I’m just really hoping that I can be one step in helping your life be successful. Thank you so much.”
Dr. Kimberly Velez – 2025 Riverside County Certificated Administrator of the Year
In her 30 years in education, Dr. Kimberly Velez has served as a teacher, special education teacher, assistant principal, principal, special education director, executive director of student services, assistant superintendent, and interim superintendent.
In her current role as Assistant Superintendent of Educational Support Services for Temecula Valley Unified School District, she describes herself as a servant leader and transformational leader where she builds the expectation that excellence is not an occasional achievement, but an everyday standard.
Her focus on creating a culture of reflection and adaptation has led to the district’s increased focus on traditionally underserved populations. Among her achievements are the development of the Aspiring Principals Academy, Strategic Plan Steering Committee, the Superintendent’s Council, and a merging of educational and support services teams that ultimately benefit all students.
Dr. Velez earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees from the University of Arizona. She is a resident of Temecula.
“Dr. Velez is an exemplary educator with extraordinary resiliency who always keeps students at the forefront of everything she does,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez. She is a visionary leader who truly believes in the cause of supporting all students—regardless of the circumstances or the situation.”
“I’m 100% speechless right now, and I don’t want to cry, but as I look around this room, I’ve worked with some people for two years, and some for 25 years,” said Dr. Kimberly Velez to a room full of colleagues immediately after the surprise visit. “It’s the work that all of you do in every department that helps me shine in my role. This district has come together as a unified staff to support the needs and kids in this district.”
Jennifer Camargo – 2025 Riverside County School Site Support Employee of the Year
Every day, Jennifer Camargo uses social-emotional learning (SEL) tools in her role as a Social-Emotional Learning Support Provider in Lake Elsinore Unified School District to ensure that every child receives the resources and environment they need to thrive emotionally and academically.
Serving at two schools (William Collier Elementary School and Wildomar Elementary School), Jennifer’s responsibilities include collaborating with teachers, administrators, playground staff, and all educators to implement SEL strategies and provide professional development sessions to ensure every child deserves to feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential.
Specifically, Jennifer empowers students to incorporate the valuable tools of empathy and active listening with strategies for self-regulation and managing stress or frustration—skills that may address immediate challenges but also lay the foundation for lifelong emotional intelligence. Since 2020, Jennifer has also served as a facilitator for the Parent Project, a 10-week parenting class that provides tools, insights, and support to strengthen skills and enhance family relationships.
Colleagues describe how “her patience, empathy, and persistence have enabled countless students to thrive, even in the face of adversity” and that “beyond her technical expertise, she is known for her problem-solving, thoughtfulness, positivity, and dedication to the mission of education.”
Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice administration and a master’s in education. She is a resident of Menifee.
“Today we are here to celebrate and honor our amazing educators—people who are doing an outstanding job working with our students, supporting them, loving them, showing compassion, and especially working with social-emotional learning as Ms. Camargo does and has done coordinating, leading, and impacting students across the district,” said Riverside County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Edwin Gomez at the surprise visit. “Jennifer’s work is grounded in her commitment to create learning environments that foster excellent emotional intelligence, resilience, and a supportive community for all students.”
“I love my job, I love my team and all the opportunities that being in it has provided to me. Thank you. Thank you,” said Jennifer Camargo immediately following the surprise announcement.
The Riverside County Educators of the Year are selected from the more than 36,000 educational employees in the county. The rigorous application process starts with nominations by teachers, classified employees, and school district administrators throughout the county. Applications are then submitted to the Riverside County Office of Education, where an outside selection committee selects the honorees before the county superintendent’s announcement.
Along with the 2025 Riverside County Teachers of the Year named previously, all 2025 Riverside County Educators of the Year will be honored at the Celebrating Educators Luncheon, set for Tuesday, May 13, at the Riverside Convention Center.
Clarification: The 2025 Riverside County Teachers of the Year were named in mid-2024 to align with the 2025 California State Teacher of the Year competition. The 2026 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be announced in May/June of 2025 and will vie for the 2026 California State Teacher of the Year award that will be named in the fall of 2025 by the California Department of Education and State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond. The 2026 Riverside County Teachers of the Year will be honored at the 2026 Celebrating Educators Event in May 2026.
Submitted by Riverside County Office of Education.
