[Noozhawk’s note: One in a series on the teachers who will be honored Nov. 7 at A Salute to Teachers, presented by the Santa Barbara County Education Office.]
Eight public school educators will be recognized Nov. 7 at the 13th annual Salute to Teachers, an event hosted by the Santa Barbara County Education Office at the Music Academy of the West in Montecito.
Alejandra Navarro — an El Camino Elementary School first-grade Dual Language Immersion teacher in the Goleta Union School District — is the 2027 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
Selyn Barrette Harwin — a drama teacher at Pioneer Valley High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District — will be recognized as the 2027 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.
The 2027 distinguished mentors to be recognized are Cold Spring School kindergarten teacher Becki Naranjo-Gonzales in the Cold Spring School District in Montecito, Lompoc Valley Middle School teacher Savannah Schindele in the Lompoc Unified School District, and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School teacher Billy Silvola in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School School District.
The 2027 distinguished new educators to be honored are Pioneer Valley High teacher Laurie Geronimo and Fairlawn School second-grade teacher Wendy Marin and Battles School kindergarten teacher Stephanie Rosas, both in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District.
In addition to the Santa Barbara County Education Office, Salute to Teachers is sponsored by Noozhawk, Chevron, Driscoll’s, Melfred Borzall, Ramsey Asphalt Construction and the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Noozhawk Q&A
Noozhawk: What was the moment you knew, “I want to be a teacher?”
Savannah Schindele: My path to teaching was a bit untraditional. As an English major, I was frequently asked if I planned to become a teacher, to which my response was “Absolutely not.”
Fast forward to 2019. I had been waitressing for five years after receiving my degree and I decided I needed a change. I wanted to feel that I was making a difference.
After doing a bit of research and sharing my thoughts with family and friends I realized that my lifelong love of literature connected to a love of sharing literature with others and equipping them with the communication skills to empower themselves and their community.
I decided to take the plunge and apply to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo’s teaching credential program. Seven years later I’m still in the classroom and I can’t imagine doing anything else.
Noozhawk: How long have you been teaching?
SS: This is my seventh year.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite subject or lesson plan to teach your students?
SS: I love teaching The Outsiders! It’s been 50 years since the novel’s publication and students still resonate with the characters and their experiences.
Every year I get to watch students who may have been reluctant readers prior to the unit connect to the writing and tell me “This is actually a really good book!”
Noozhawk: What’s your classroom superpower — and how did you develop it?
SS: Honestly, I think I’m still honing my classroom superpower!
If I had to choose something, it would probably be my ability to balance genuine care for my students with keeping it real.
We often underestimate young people and their perceptiveness, but they know exactly when you’re not being genuine.
I always say that I lead with love but tell it like it is.
Noozhawk: Share a student success story that stays with you (no names needed).
SS: A student who comes to mind is one who I taught my second year of teaching.
As everyone in education knows, the transition back to in-person teaching post-COVID-19 was difficult, to say the least. This particular student had a bit of a rough time initially as we settled back in to our “old” routines.
However, he blossomed in my class and consistently arrived with a smile on his face and a positive attitude.
I encouraged him to try Honors English his freshman year, and every year after that he visited during back to school night.
He’s in college now, but it was so lovely to watch someone overcome the hurdles created by the pandemic and truly thrive!
Noozhawk: What’s one change you made this year — tool, routine or strategy — that moved the needle?
SS: I’ve been giving students more time for independent reading this year and they seem to really be enjoying it! Students can select books at any level, on any topic, and in any language they’re comfortable with.
In the past, we did not have much class time dedicated to independent reading; however, seeing students engage with books they have chosen to read has been so rewarding!
I truly believe that the way to build confident readers is by first letting them find joy in it and I look forward to encouraging that.
Noozhawk: What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?
SS: “This too shall pass.” First-year me had a front row seat on the struggle bus, and I wish I had been able to tell myself that it won’t necessarily get easier but it will get so much better!
Noozhawk: Who are your mentors?
SS: While I was student teaching, I was paired with a passionate teacher, Blaire Brinkman. She was kind, student-centered, fun and demonstrated exemplary professionalism. She was exactly what I wanted to be as a teacher.
As a teacher candidate going through TIP (teacher internship program) myself, my mentor Lisa Carbaugh, was calm, steadfast and supportive in a way that I desperately needed as a new educator and as a young professional navigating the complexities of our “new normal” through COVID and post-COVID.
Today, I am constantly learning more and more about educating through my experiences with my colleagues, and I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by so many passionate and knowledgeable educators.
Noozhawk: Who are the people in your life and work environment who support you every day?
SS: The English department at Lompoc Valley Middle School is the best! We connect over our shared experiences in the classroom — all the messy, stressful, heartbreaking, silly and beautiful parts of it.
We have a group chat in which we share our wins but also our losses. They’re the people whose classroom I can wander into with a joke, a happy moment or a disappointment.
I am also so grateful for my other teacher colleagues, administrators, office staff, counselors and student support staff on campus; they have a wealth of knowledge and experience that I truly value.
I am so proud of the work that we do, and absolutely believe that we are making a difference in the lives of students.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite quote?
SS: Oh boy … It’s seriously hippie-dippie. One of my favorite movies is Harold and Maude.
In the film, the title characters are walking through a nursery. Maude explains that she’d like to be a sunflower because they’re “tall and simple.” When Harold tells her he’d rather be a plain daisy, she responds with “I feel that much of the world’s sorrow comes from people who are this (points to a unique, individual daisy), yet allow themselves to be treated as that (gestures to a field of daisies).”
I hope we can all celebrate our unique traits rather than drown in conformity. Our differences are what make us incredible!
Noozhawk: How does it feel to be honored as part of A Salute to Teachers?
SS: This whole experience has been so surreal. I am more than a bit uncomfortable having any kind of spotlight on me, but I am just so grateful to even be considered, let alone a recipient.
I love what I do and know that teachers make a difference. I just hope that I can shine some of that light on my fellow educators and represent our school well!
