[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?”
Stephanie Rosas: I am sure the answer goes back to setting up a classroom and playing teacher with my dolls and stuffed animals, but I discovered I wanted to be a special education teacher, specifically, while working in the extensive support needs (ESN) classroom as an instructional assistant 14 years ago.
The first life-changing connection I made was with a student who had a different home language than I speak, who was labeled “nonverbal” and one who struggled with controlling a variety of behaviors and impulses.
Developing a meaningful relationship with this student, watching his face light up when he saw me daily (and for years to come), despite all of the obstacles we faced, is what solidified for me that I was finally where I was meant to be.
Working with students with exceptionalities was my calling!
Noozhawk: How long have you been teaching?
SR: This is my fifth year as an extensive support needs teacher.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite subject or lesson plan to teach your students?
SR: I love any lesson or subject that allows me to target specific individualized education program (IEP) goals and create “aha!” moments for my students.
Noozhawk: What’s your classroom superpower — and how did you develop it?
SR: Classroom management and routines.
I spend a lot of time observing behaviors, and the things my students do not/can not necessarily “say,” which allows me to target why the behaviors are taking place and helps me meet their needs with a deeper, whole child approach.
Noozhawk: Share a student success story that stays with you (no names needed).
SR: In the special education setting, we are celebrating small victories all the time.
Overall, building meaningful relationships with my students and their families, and getting to see and share the growth over the school year, is what stays with me.
Every time I implement a new technique, tool or strategy and see positive results, we celebrate big!
Noozhawk: What’s one change you made this year — tool, routine or strategy — that moved the needle?
SR: I rearranged my classroom to allow for more open space in the free choice area where we target social skills each day, and shifted tables around, which allowed for smoother movement during center rotations. We immediately saw the benefits of this shift.
Noozhawk: What advice would you give your first-year teacher self?
SR: Learn as much as you can from other great teachers. Advocate for every classroom observations of other teachers in the same field, and pick and choose teaching styles, behavior management techniques, sensory tools, and classroom layouts that resonate with you and then work to implement them in your classroom.
Lean on those who have been doing this far longer than you!
Noozhawk: Who are your mentors?
SR: My mentor during the teacher internship program was Meridith Nguyen. Meredith introduced me to the entire special education team at Alice Shaw Elementary School who immediately became an invaluable support system for me, one that quickly became a second family and my lifeline on difficult days.
Noozhawk: Who are the people in your life and work environment who support you every day?
SR: I have been blessed with incredible co-workers at each school site I have worked at.
Jessica Parker, a fellow ESN teacher at Battles School with me, keeps me focused on what really matters.
My husband is my biggest supporter outside of work and has made it possible for me to give my classroom, and students, the time and effort necessary to make it a productive and successful school year.
My mom keeps me grounded and reminds me to rely on my faith when times are hard and out of my control.
Noozhawk: What is your favorite quote?
SR: “On the hard days, remember, you are someone’s reason to come to school.”
Noozhawk: How does it feel to be honored as part of A Salute to Teachers?
SR: A Salute to Teachers is so much more than a one-night event. The preparation leading up to it is an entire experience on its own.
We have been showered with praise and lifted up with such encouraging words along the way. The incredible honor that it is to receive this award has been felt through every step of the process.
It has given me an opportunity to reflect on my teaching practices and has renewed in me my “why” for wanting to be an educator in the first place.
I am so grateful to everyone who has played a part in making this event possible, and to my mentor and administrators who nominated me for the award.
