[Noozhawk’s note: One in a series on the teachers who will be honored Nov. 4 at A Salute to Teachers, presented by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office.]

Eight public school educators will be recognized Nov. 4 at A Salute to Teachers, an event hosted by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office at the Music Academy in Montecito.

Gregory Wolf — a Santa Ynez Valley Union High School social science teacher in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District — is the 2024 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. On Oct. 16, he was named the 2024 California Teacher of the Year, the highest state recognition a teacher can earn.

Elesa Carlson, the drama director and an art teacher at Righetti High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, will be recognized as the 2024 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.

The 2024 distinguished mentors to be recognized are Victoria Aguirre of Hollister School in the Goleta Union School District, Natalie Durbin of Liberty School in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, and Tiffany Gonzales of Peabody Charter School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

The 2024 distinguished new educators to be honored are Ryan Helsel of Goleta Valley Junior High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, Sammi Lambert of San Marcos High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, and Julio Molina of Delta High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.

The 10th annual presentation will be livestreamed at 5 p.m. Nov. 4 at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orwewJn9SQE.

In addition to Cox, Salute to Teachers is sponsored by Noozhawk, Fielding Graduate University, Melfred Borzall, Rusty’s Pizza, Santa Barbara Bowl and the Santa Barbara City College Foundation.

Noozhawk Q&A

Noozhawk: Why did you decide to become a teacher?

Elesa Carlson: After years of freelancing as an artist, I decided to return to school once my youngest started school.

Working with youth has been a constant, but my first experience substitute teaching came late and sparked a passion that led to my new career in teaching.

Noozhawk: How long have you been teaching?

EC: This is my seventh year teaching visual arts and my fifth year adding performing arts to the mix.

When Dixie Arthur retired as Righetti High School’s drama director, I jumped at the chance to combine both my passions into my career.

Noozhawk: What is your favorite subject or lesson plan to teach your students?

EC: Improv activities are the biggest hit among even the most skeptical students, creating belly laughs and big smiles for all involved. I love playing along, watching the creativity pouring out and witnessing the joy of learning.

It’s a true win to demonstrate healthy risk-taking and being vulnerable in a safe space. I recommend it for adults, too!

Noozhawk: What is your favorite part of being a teacher?

EC: My favorite part of teaching is reaching the students who struggle most to find their voice, their fit, their passion or their community.

I hope for every student to feel seen and valued, and the arts offer that pathway for many students to discover themselves.

Noozhawk: What are the challenges of your job?

EC: The biggest challenge is convincing less-engaged students to take a chance to try something new and unknown. When students choose healthy risks of putting themselves out there, there’s the potential of discovering they actually really like it.

Noozhawk: What are you most looking forward to this school year?

EC: This year I have hand-picked our finest student artists to train in scenic art; I’ve dreamed of this since my start with the drama program. Their efforts will be showcased in our spring musical and I cannot wait.

Noozhawk: Who are your mentors?

EC: As a lifelong learner, I have many mentors. Shawnah Van Gronigen and Michael Shaw remain key mentors for my life as drama program director.

My mentor list grows longer for visual arts, including Autumn Jennings, LeeAnne McNulty, Melissa Johnson, Merrie Goldin, Eric Farnsworth and George Karamitsos.

Noozhawk: Who are the people in your life and work environment who support you every day?

EC: I am grateful to my supportive colleagues and my wonderful family. As a collaborator at heart, my peer supports extend beyond my department, site and even district.

My visual and performing arts department are my friends and collaborators: Ricardo Gabaldon, Jacob Gustafson, Melissa Johnson, Matt Ringer and Charlie Kim.

My go-to people are Heidi Andree, Sam Van Patten and Geri Coats at Righetti; Chelsea Greene, Stephanie Fikri and Eric Farnsworth at Santa Maria High; Michael Shaw at Orcutt Academy High School; Amy Otremba at St. Joseph High School; Nick Goodman at Santa Ynez High; Selyn Harwin and Chris Silva at Pioneer Valley High School; and April Smith, who’s everywhere.

This experience has introduced me to new friends in my “Drama Mama” circle, Jen Peterson and Sarah Barthel, who generously invited me in.

My friends outside of school are too many to list, but keep me sane and help me feel less like a transplant in California.

My extended family support me from afar, and my two daughters and hubby are in the trenches with me daily. I couldn’t do any of this without Dave, MJ and Rachel Carlson.

Noozhawk: How does it feel to be honored as part of the Salute to Teachers?

EC: There are so many exceptional performing art teachers in our county, making this recognition feel surreal. We all put in tremendous hours, sweat and tears for the love of our art and students.

Thank you to Santa Barbara County Education Office for recognizing performing art teachers in such a remarkable way, rolling out the red carpet at every step.