[Noozhawk’s note: One in a series on the teachers who will be honored Nov. 5 at A Salute to Teachers, presented by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office.]
Eight public school educators will be recognized Nov. 5 at A Salute to Teachers, an event hosted by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office at the Music Academy of the West in Montecito.
Joanna Hendrix — a Santa Barbara County Education Office preschool, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten deaf education teacher at Ralph Dunlap School in the Orcutt Union School District — has been named the 2023 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year and is a finalist for 2023 California Teacher of the Year.
Jennifer Peterson of Cabrillo High School in the Lompoc Unified School District will be recognized as the 2023 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.
The 2023 distinguished mentors to be recognized are Cara Leach of Foothill School in the Goleta Union School District, Christina Roessler of Peabody Charter School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, and Alyssa Spanier of Solvang School in the Solvang School District.
The 2023 distinguished new educators to be honored are Crystal Guzman of El Camino Junior High School in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, Kendall Stevens of La Cumbre Junior High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, and Elsy Mora Zambrano of La Colina Junior High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
The ninth annual presentation will be livestreamed at 5 p.m. Nov. 5 at https://tinyurl.com/sbceosalute2022.
In addition to Cox, Salute to Teachers is sponsored by Noozhawk, Fielding Graduate University, Melfred Borzall, Montecito Bank & Trust, Santa Barbara Bowl and the Santa Barbara City College Foundation.
Noozhawk Q&A
Noozhawk: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
Christina Roessler: About 20-plus years ago, I was determined to change the world. Feeling passionate about helping others and ensuring a brighter, better future for our planet has always been a driving force for me. So I became a teacher, and have learned that it is simultaneously one of the most important and difficult jobs on the planet!
Noozhawk: What is your favorite subject or lesson plan to teach your students?
CR: One hallmark of a great educator is not just helping people realize and fulfill their own potential, but to also encompass a deeper sense of purpose in order to improve the quality of life for others and the health of our planet.
My favorite things to teach to students are things that make them come alive with enthusiasm and curiosity, like hands-on or environmental science and art. I also love teaching them about other inspiring people and how they have made a positive difference in the world.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite part of being a teacher?
CR: Being a first-grade teacher means I get LOTS of love and appreciation, which is absolutely one of the best parts!
Kids love it when you take the time to play, dance, laugh and be a little silly with them, so I try to mix that in, along with lessons that really teach them to tune into and understand their feelings and emotions. Imagine what a better world it would be if we taught children about mindfulness and how we can manage negative emotions in constructive and peaceful ways!
Noozhawk: What are the challenges of your job?
CR: One of the biggest challenges is grappling with the inequities that exist within the school system, and helping students rise above the myriad of challenges they face. Teachers are often expected to do far more than they can manage, with a limited amount of resources.
But ultimately I stick with it because by being a dedicated teacher, I exponentially increase my ability to be an instrument of positive change in the world. A good teacher’s influence is immeasurable, and the ramifications of a loving and inspiring teacher are like ripples in a pond, radiating outward.
Noozhawk: Who are your mentors?
CR: My biggest mentors have been the incredibly hardworking teachers and administrators who I have had the honor to work with for the past couple of decades. The miracles that are being worked on a daily basis, every day in schools all around the world, are amazing. Especially for the past two years … persevering in teaching was already a challenge, but persevering and shining through THESE past two years has been nothing short of a superhero feat!
Noozhawk: How does it feel to be honored as part of the Salute to Teachers?
CR: What I feel is gratitude. I am proud to stand among such honorable people, and to continue to illuminate the world, even in the darkest of times.