When the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Trustees holds its first meeting later this month, members will be without their heart, their champion of equity.

Wendy Sims-Moten, who served for eight years, won’t be there, having decided not to seek another term.

“I decided I needed some space to reflect and see and do and take some time,” Sims-Moten said.

Sims-Moten oversaw the District during the COVID-19 pandemic, controversies surrounding a new superintendent, and a potential teachers strike, along with efforts to improve test scores for underperforming students, increase equity, and more responsibly use technology.

“We want to make sure that our system is equitable for all of our children,” Sims-Moten said. “We want them to have access, no matter what they bring to the table they have access to a good education.”

Sims-Moten, born in Texas, is also the executive director of First Five of Santa Barbara County. Her professional and personal calling has been to prepare students for success from an early age. School readiness, she said, is a predictor of how people will act as adults.

“How do we balance the world that they are living in and the mental health challenges that come along with that,” Sims-Moten said. “The earlier we start to look at that, the better off we are going to be.”

Sims-Moten served three years as chair so she was often the focus of public criticism of the entire board. She has sat in the eye of the storm during multiple controversies, including introduction of an ethnic studies program, acts of racism against Black and Latino students, debates of gender, books, curriculum, and perennial questions about how the school district is spending its money.

She defended superintendent Hilda Maldonado from public criticism and was frequently criticized by members of the public when teachers were seeking higher wages. Sims-Moten said she has tried to be respectful to everyone, but also defensive of her positions.

Most people, she said, are upset when they feel a sense of change or a loss of power. She said she tries to be aware and understanding of that. Through it all, she maintained her focus on equity for all students.

“Schools are now being asked to do things they were not designed to do,” Sims-Moten said. “There’s a lot of support for families. That is a community issue. We need the community to say ‘what other things do we need to do?'”

Sims-Moten was recognized by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for her work on the board at a Dec. 17 meeting. She received a loud standing ovation from members of the audience, dozens of who attended for her presentation.

“I can’t think of anyone who lives and breathes for our children more,” said Second District Supervisor Laura Capps. “It’s her day job. It’s her night job. She’s a mama.”

Capps said she appreciates how no matter the issue, Sims-Moten always figures out a way to make children the focus.

“You make us stop and think and bring us all together about what’s best for our youngest members of our community, and that’s just a testament,” Capps said. “This isn’t just something you do. This is something you live.”

She said Sims-Moten gave her heart and soul to a school system at a really challenging time.

Third District Santa Barbara County Supervisor Joan Hartmann said Sims-Moten was the “trusted adviser” after the death of George Floyd.

“The county was wrestling with how to go forward, and you were the trusted adviser who really helped us shape our DEI statement, and it’s tough,” Hartmann said. “You may talk about being positive and respectful, but you are also very firm. And you’re trusted. We needed that.”

Fifth District Supervisor Bob Nelson said he spent a couple hours going over the DEI statement with Sims-Moten. Nelson said they come from opposite political sides but they went over the statement word-for-word.

“Just talking that through was a great experience, and I am looking forward to further conversations with Wendy and others in the community and hopefully that’s a great example that can be set for others,” Nelson said.

Sims-Moten at the county meeting said the education of children is the most important thing adults can do. The more children can learn about conflict resolution at a young age the better they will be as adults, Sims-Moten said.

“Everything, the way we treat and care and nurture our children, we are the sum of that as adults,” she said.

Sims-Moten acknowledged that some Tuesday night board meetings were difficult but that everything that happened during those meetings was to benefit the kids.

“It was all for the fact of how do we educate and create a learning environment for our students so that they feel safe, they feel seen and they feel heard and that we are inspiring them to be better citizens,” Sims-Moten said.

She said people feel “lost” from the way things used to be.

“We have to acknowledge that there is loss, and you may be feeling like you are losing something, but as we do this it’s going to be a better system for all,” Sims-Moten said.