After seven years of dedicated service, Trustee Aaruni Thakur has announced he will step down from his role representing Trustee Area One at the end of September 2025. Reflecting on his tenure, Thakur expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve his community, stating, “It has been the greatest honor of my life and most exciting professional endeavor.”

Thakur’s deep ties to the Fullerton School District began early in his academic journey. He started kindergarten at Orangethorpe Elementary, progressed to Nicolas Jr. High, and graduated from Sunny Hills High School, where he met his wife, Pamela. His family is also rooted in the district, with their older son, Kailash, attending Fisler and Raymond Elementary, while younger son Akash was part of the inaugural class of the Spanish Dual Language Academy. Both sons later moved on to Ladera Vista Junior High School of the Arts and currently attend Troy High School.

In a heartfelt letter to the community, Thakur credited much of his personal success to the education he received within the Fullerton School District. “My teachers taught me to work hard and dream big,” he wrote, acknowledging influential figures like Mr. Bock, Mrs. Cogdill, and Mrs. Hollenbeck. Inspired by his formative years, Thakur returned to Fullerton after completing his education at UCLA and law school in San Diego, committed to giving back to the community that shaped him.

During his tenure, Thakur highlighted significant achievements in the district, including the incorporation of mental health, nutrition, and student safety as board goals. He praised the district’s swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed schools to reopen sooner than many others, thereby minimizing learning loss.

Thakur also expressed gratitude to Fullerton voters for the passage of Measure N, a bond measure aimed at building and repairing school facilities, and acknowledged the contributions of fellow trustees Ruthi Hanchett, Vanesa Estrella, and James Cho, along with Trustee Beverly Berryman.

In his letter, Thakur thanked his parents for choosing Fullerton and extended special appreciation to his wife, Pamela, for her unwavering support.

“I am, and always will be, a proud Fullertonian,” he concluded, assuring the community that he and his family would remain actively engaged in local initiatives post-tenure. “Thanks to every dedicated administrator, classified staff member, teacher, and all who serve our FSD family, I know our district’s best days are still ahead of us.”

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