Distinguished Mentor & New Educator Award Winners

 Coordinated in partnership between the:

SBCEO Teachers Network and the SBCEO Teacher Induction Program

The Distinguished New Educator and Distinguished Mentor Awards are among the highest honors a teacher can receive in Santa Barbara County. The awards recognize exceptional instruction, leadership, and potential. Administrators, colleagues, or others are invited to nominate teachers for these awards. Winners are recognized at A Salute to Teachers our annual recognition event held in partnership with founding sponsor Cox Communications.

2022-23 Winners:

Distinguished New Educators:
Crystal Guzman- El Camino Jr. High School, Santa Maria-Bonita School District 
Kendall Stevens- La Cumbre Jr. High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District 
Elsy Mora Zambrano- La Colina Jr. High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District

Distinguished Mentors:
Cara Leach- Foothill School, Goleta Union School District
Christina Roessler- Peabody Charter School
Alyssa Spanier- Solvang School, Solvang School District

2021-22 Winners:

Distinguished New Educators:
Samantha Ayala-La Honda STEAM Academy, Lompoc Unified School District
TJ Berry- Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District
Christina Peña Eckert-Carpinteria Middle School, Carpinteria Unified School District

Distinguished Mentors:
Lorena Armstrong-Mary Buren Elementary, Guadalupe Union School District
Riccardo Magni-Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District
Melissa Woods- Dos Pueblos High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District

2020-21 Winners:

Distinguished New Educators:
Anthony James Bruemmer- Santa Ynez School, College School District
Melanie Thatcher- Miguelito School, Lompoc Unified School District
Michael Wallace- El Camino Junior High School, Santa Maria-Bonita School District

Distinguished Mentors:
Marith Parton- Carpinteria Middle School, Carpinteria Unified School District
Marilyn Tilley- Battles School, Santa Maria-Bonita School District
Amy Willis- Los Olivos School, Los Olivos School District

 2019-20 Winners: 

Distinguished New Educators:
Katie Lynn Furden- Franklin Elementary School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Andy Osiadacz- Dos Pueblos High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Jacob West- Fillmore Elementary School, Lompoc Unified School District

Distinguished Mentors:
Stephanie Gogonis- Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Santa Ynez Valley Special Education Consortium
Robin Ilac- Kermit McKenzie Junior High School, Guadalupe Union School District
Toni Joi Roberts- Santa Ynez School, College School District

 2017-18 Winners: 

Distinguished New Educators:
Megan Heffernan- Peabody Charter School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Amy Porter- Carpinteria Family School, Carpinteria Unified School District
Manjot Singh- La Colina Junior High, Santa Barbara Unified School District

Distinguished Mentors:
Kevin Baldizon- Kermit McKenzie Junior High School, Guadalupe Union School District
Ashley Cornelius- Santa Barbara High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Terri Cox- Cuyama Valley High School, Cuyama Unified School District

  2016-17 Winners: 

Distinguished New Educators:
Genevieve Bishop- Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District
Christopher Hanna- Ellwood School, Goleta Union School District
Erin Van De Roovart- Kermit McKenzie Junior High School, Guadalupe Union School District

Distinguished Mentors:
Clanci Chiu- Carpinteria Unified School District, TOSA, Santa Barbara County Education Office
Francisco Diaz Real- Lompoc High School, Lompoc Unified School District
Janis Spracher- Monte Vista School, Hope School District

 2015-16 Winners: 

Distinguished New Educators:
Katie Booser- Franklin Elementary School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Katie Curry- Santa Barbara Junior High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Jesse Sanford- Mary Buren Elementary School, Guadalupe Union School District

Distinguished Mentors:
Barbara Barr- Roosevelt Elementary School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Maggie Mason- Dos Pueblos High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Sarah Castañeda- Lenora Fillmore School, Lompoc Unified School District

 2014-15 Winners:  

Distinguished New Educators:

Cheryl Lastra- Solvang School, Solvang School District
Tyler Wilkes- Hollister School, Goleta Union School District
Jessica Zambrano- Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Maria Joint Union High School

Distinguished Mentors:

Megan Cotich- La Colina Junior High School, Santa Barbara Unified School District
Michelle Poquette- Cabrillo High School, Lompoc Unified School District
Amanda Sweigart- Ellwood School, Goleta Union School District