[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?

Gregory Wolf: I have been in love with history ever since I visited the Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania while in the fourth grade.

Through the years, I increasingly discovered that my love of history could only be matched, if not exceeded, by my passion for sharing my interests with others.

It is an absolute thrill when I am able to play some small role in sparking the engaged interest and curiosity of another in some fascinating historical person, event or phenomenon.

Perhaps more significant is the fact that I have a strong sense of empathy and a desire for service leadership. By young adulthood I had decided that I wanted to participate in a career that adds meaning to the lives of others in some way.

I had many inspirational teachers during my years as a student who in turn inspired me to pursue a career in education in which I could support, mentor and inspire young minds.

Taken together, my love of history, passion for sharing/collaborating with others, and my intrinsic drive to contribute to society by supporting and mentoring others are the three main factors that brought me to the teaching profession.

Noozhawk: How long have you been teaching?

GW: This is my 11th year in the classroom.

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

GW: My favorite lesson to teach is the annual 13 colonies simulation I facilitate every fall with my dual enrollment U.S. history students.

To learn about the development of the early English colonies in North America, the unique characteristics of the three colonial regions, and the implementation of the headright system to encourage the growth of the indentured servant labor pool, students are tasked with preparing colonial booths representing the 13 colonies.

Other classes come to visit our “colonial faire” on the “docks of London,” playing the role of potential indentured servants looking for a colony to indenture themselves to.

Each group makes their case to the visiting students as to why their colony would be the best choice based on defining characteristics. The visiting students then have a chance to mingle and visit the booths for more information.

My students dress in costumes, bring food and props related to their assigned colony, and offer up a variety of creative presentations ranging from songs to rap battles to infomercials.

In the process, students are engaged in learning content while utilizing creativity and higher-order thinking to develop arguments. Everything is centered on student voice and choice and experiential learning.

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

GW: Despite my love of the content, my favorite part of being a teacher is connecting with students, forming positive and supportive relationships with them, and advocating for them as they navigate life during high school. 

Noozhawk: What are the challenges of your job?

GW: There are many challenges in the teaching profession. Each individual student is unique and brings a multitude of needs into the classroom.

Students are also always changing and evolving from year to year, so it takes an immense amount of time and energy to support their individual needs while also constantly learning and adjusting in order to offer them the most engaging and meaningful learning experiences possible.

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

GW: This school year I am continuing to experiment with project-based learning (which I dove into fully for the first time last year), and I am excited to see where my students and I can take the learning as we continue to explore new approaches to learning in the social studies classroom together.

Noozhawk: Who are your mentors?

GW: I have had numerous mentors who have provided invaluable guidance and support in my practice. In particular, Dare Holdren (my cooperating teacher while I student-taught at San Marcos High School), Julie Estabrook (UC Santa Barbara teacher education program), Chris Mullin (current colleague), and Michael Niehoff (former principal of Santa Ynez High School).

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

GW: The most important source of support in my life is my wife, Aryn, a fellow educator who inspires me every day to love all kids unconditionally.

I am also fortunate to work with a highly collaborative department that supports each other every day.

My students play a vital role in supporting me every day, as we also function as a collaborative team.

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

GW: To be recognized in this way is very special, and quite overwhelming (in a good way).

I am humbled by the experience and appreciate the opportunity to speak on behalf of this noble profession, the thousands upon thousands of teachers who selflessly serve kids every day, and the students themselves, whose needs should always be placed at the forefront of everything we do in public education.

I consider this honor to be validation of my efforts to put the kids at the center of everything, and I look forward to continuing to advocate for and serve them to the best of my ability.