Physical education teacher and junior varsity football coach Jason Fung returned to teaching at school on Feb. 5, after three months of administrative leave.
Fung was placed on administrative leave Nov. 4 after reportedly grabbing the leg of an opposing player in a football game against Sacred Heart Preparatory on Nov. 1.
In an interview with the Voice, Fung said he is excited to be back on campus and has a newfound appreciation for teaching.
“I’m very excited to kind of get back to what I love to do,” Fung said. “When you are away so long, you kind of come to a realization of what teaching is really about.”
According to Fung, he will not coach football for the 2026-2027 season.
Sophomore and junior varsity quarterback Ian Jiang said he is glad Fung is back to teaching, but is disappointed that he will not be part of the football coaching staff.
“I think it’s great that he’s able to come back, and we’re really upset that he won’t be coaching football next year,” Jiang said. “He was a pretty good coach. He was hard sometimes, but he made us better.”
Local community member Tom Leung created a petition to request Fung’s return as a PE teacher but not a coach, obtaining more than 300 signatures.
One signee of the petition and Paly parent, Lynn, said that Fung deserved to come back.
“Mr. Fung is an exemplary individual and a gifted teacher,” Lynn posted on the petition. “Paly is beyond fortunate to have him working with our children, including my three children.”
Fung’s wife, Christy Fung, said she was very grateful to the community for all the support the petition had created.
“Your support and grace has meant so much and we feel strongly that your letters made a huge difference,” she stated in an update on the petition’s success.
Long-term substitute Christopher Russell filled in for the veteran teacher, who had helped him start his career in the Palo Alto Unified School District.
“I knew him [Jason Fung] through colleagues in PAUSD,” Russell said. “He is actually the one who helped me substitute around PAUSD and now Paly in particular,” Russell said. “I’m happy for him because I really like him.”
Russell is now moving to work at Ellen Fletcher Middle School, where he will be a long-term substitute.
After returning, Fung said he missed the connections he built with students.
“You miss the bonds you create with kids,” he said. “You miss the teaching.”
Editor’s Note: The authors of this story are both students in Jason Fung’s physical education class at Palo Alto High School.
