The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) recognized 18 educators during a May 28 ceremony in Los Olivos.

The event celebrated their completion of the Reading and Literacy Added Authorization (RLAA) program, an advanced professional learning opportunity funded by a grant from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) and administered by SBCEO.

RLAA Recognition Ceremony honored these teachers from five local districts and charter schools and the Santa Ynez Valley Special Education Consortium. (Courtesy photo)
RLAA Recognition Ceremony honors teachers from five local districts and charter schools and the Santa Ynez Valley Special Education Consortium. (Courtesy photo)

Held at St. Mark’s-In-The-Valley in Los Olivos, the RLAA Recognition Ceremony honored teachers from five local districts and charter schools and the Santa Ynez Valley Special Education Consortium.

The teachers had completed rigorous research-based coursework through the accredited UC San Diego program, earning the added authorization on their California teaching credentials. For a full list of honorees, click here.

With the 18 new RLAA finishers in 2025, and some 50 more participants expected to sign up in the next two cohorts, the program is rapidly growing a network of literacy leaders across the region.

The initiative benefits classroom instruction and creates pathways for teachers to become literacy coaches, mentors and trainers, further scaling expertise within local schools.

“Literacy is foundational to educational and lifelong success, and these educators have gone above and beyond to deepen their ability to support their students,” said Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido.

“We are proud to celebrate their accomplishments and are inspired by the profound impact they are having on their students’ literacy journeys,” she said.
 
SBCEO is currently accepting participants for the second RLAA cohort, set to start in September with educators from schools and districts across Santa Barbara County.

Interested teachers and administrators should email SBCEO’s Noelle Barthel, director, school and district support, nbarthel@sbceo.org, or call 805-964-4710 ext. 5065 for more information.

Registration for the next cohort closes on Sept. 1.

As the network of literacy leaders expands, current graduates will offer mentorship and support to new participants.

The RLAA program is part of a broader effort by SBCEO to invest in research-based professional learning and close achievement gaps through high-quality instruction.