[Noozhawk’s note: One in a series on the teachers who will be honored Nov. 2 at A Salute to Teachers, presented by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office.]
Eight public school educators will be recognized Nov. 2 at the 11th annual Salute to Teachers, an event hosted by Cox Communications and the Santa Barbara County Education Office at the Music Academy in Montecito.
Laura Branch — a Righetti High School science teacher in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District — is the 2025 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
Rich Lashua, a performing arts and theater teacher at Santa Barbara Junior High School in the Santa Barbara Unified School District, will be recognized as the 2025 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.
The 2025 distinguished mentors to be recognized are kindergarten teacher Socorro Chávez of Isla Vista School in the Goleta Union School District, first-grade teacher Eugenia Pappas of Santa Ynez Valley Charter School in the College School District, and English language arts and concurrent enrollment instructor Jordan Willis of Orcutt Academy High School in the Orcutt Union School District.
The 2025 distinguished new educators to be honored are Ryan Blasena, an extensive support needs special education teacher at Hope School in the Hope Elementary School District; Noe Gomez, a dual-enrollment chemistry teacher at Carpinteria High School in the Carpinteria Unified School District; and Oscar Velasco, an ethnic and gender studies teacher at Santa Maria High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.
In addition to Cox, Salute to Teachers is sponsored by Noozhawk, Fielding Graduate University, Melfred Borzall, Rusty’s Pizza and the Santa Barbara Bowl.
Noozhawk Q&A
Noozhawk: Why did you decide to become a teacher?
Socorro Chávez: I had the amazing opportunity to work for a program called the California Mini-Corps in college. This program sent university students who were perhaps interested in working in education into elementary school classrooms to help migrant students.
After my first first day working in the classroom, I realized that I wanted to become a teacher. The students were so energetic and excited to be learning new things.
Knowing that I had helped the students learn was an amazing feeling! That feeling solidified that teaching was the career that I would be choosing for my future.
It is the best career on the planet! 🙂
Noozhawk: How long have you been teaching?
SC: This is my 35th year!
Noozhawk: What is your favorite subject or lesson plan to teach your students?
SC: I really enjoy teaching lessons from our Social Emotional Program. We work on identifying our feelings, strategies to help us when our feelings become overwhelming, and positive ways to communicate with each other.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite part of being a teacher?
SC: I have the privilege and honor of being a part of the life journey of my students. They become a part of my forever family even after they leave my classroom.
Noozhawk: What are the challenges of your job?
SC: One challenge is meeting the needs of the students when they have very diverse learning styles and experiences.
Another challenge is finding developmentally appropriate assessments to measure student growth.
Noozhawk: What are you most looking forward to this school year?
SC: Every year I look forward to being a facilitator of learning as my students discover, explore and learn new things. I look forward to watching my students grow and seeing their progress during the school year.
Noozhawk: Who are your mentors?
SC: I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had MANY mentors throughout my teaching career.
One of my first mentors was Azalia Peña. She was my advocate and supporter when I decided to become a teacher. She introduced me to educators who later became my mentors as well.
I would not have been able to reach my goal of becoming an educator without her guidance.
Noozhawk: Who are the people in your life and work environment who support you every day?
SC: My husband has always been my biggest supporter and advocate in all that I choose to do. He is truly amazing!
I am blessed to have colleagues who have become my lifelong friends. We support each other at school and in everything we do in our daily lives.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite quote?
SC: One of my favorite quotes has always been, “Stand up for what is right even if you stand alone.”
Noozhawk: How does it feel to be honored as part of A Salute to Teachers?
SC: I feel very honored, humbled and blessed to be honored as part of A Salute to Teachers.
