Krista Beard, a fifth-grade teacher at La Patera Elementary School has been named Goleta Union School District’s (GUSD) 2022 Teacher of the Year. Beard, a longtime teacher in the district, is also an active participant in the Goleta community.
Earlier in her career, Beard chose to live in Old Town Goleta because that is where many of her students lived. “I wanted to live, work, and serve in the same community,” she said.
While teaching at El Camino Elementary School, Beard saw a need for afterschool homework help in her neighborhood and started a homework club in her backyard in partnership with two local churches. Volunteers from the two churches were matched with one or two students to help with homework and serve as mentors.
The homework club met once a week; mentors and students would have snacks and play games, then receive homework assistance. In addition, students and mentors would go on field trips to sporting events or to tour local businesses such as Raytheon and Las Cumbres Observatory.
“The mentors helped me to learn what it’s like to live in a community of people who care for you. Those are lessons I’ll never forget. To this day, Ms. Beard still encourages me when I see her- she’s always asking if I need help with anything,” said a former participant in the homework club.
Beard established the English Language Advisory Committee (ELAC) at Hollister Elementary School, where previous attempts at starting ELAC had struggled. She initiated, then partnered with parents in starting an ELAC, leading alongside them, teaching how to lead, then gradually handing the leadership over to the parents as their confidence grew.
Beard is recognized by her colleagues for her professionalism, dedication, and high aspirations for her students.
“Krista Beard, GUSD’s Teacher of the Year, embodies what it means to live a great story. Because of her dedicated service and unwavering belief in the promise of all of her students, she is influencing change to last a lifetime,” said GUSD Superintendent Diana Roybal.