Santa Barbara County Education Office

05/29/2026

Inspire the next generation of innovators through hands-on, inquiry-based learning in an exciting collaboration between Vandenberg Space Force Base, SBCEO and Northern Santa Barbara County Schools.

We’re hiring Aerospace and STEAM Instructors to develop curriculum and inspire students to explore aerospace, engineering, technology, and future career pathways through engaging classroom and virtual reality-supported lessons.

Now hiring:
Instructor, Aerospace and STEAM (5th Grade)
Instructor, Aerospace and STEAM (7th or 8th Grade)

Competitive pay, excellent benefits, and strong support.

Apply at www.sbceo.org/hr under “Teaching Opportunities (Certificated).”

Explore more careers in education at www.sbceo.org/jointhejourney.

Human Resources - Santa Barbara County Education Office

05/29/2026

Introducing the 2027 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year, Selyn Harwin, a drama teacher at Pioneer Valley High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District 🎭

Nominators highlighted Harwin’s ability to inspire students to envision future opportunities through the arts, ensuring every student has a place — whether on stage or behind the scenes — to grow their creativity and technical skills.

In partnership with the Santa Barbara Bowl, SBCEO annually honors an exceptional educator whose dedication to the performing arts inspires students and strengthens public education.

Please join us in congratulating Selyn Harwin on this well-deserved honor.

05/27/2026

More than 330 young mathletes brought their problem-solving skills to the 41st annual Math Super Bowl on Thursday! Representing more than 30 schools, students in grades 4–6 put their analytical thinking to the test tackling timed exams and hands-on team engineering challenges.

Washington Elementary School earned the top overall school score this year, scoring 765 out of a possible 900 points!

Read more at sbceo.org/news

Santa Barbara Unified School District | Peabody Charter School, Santa Barbara |

05/27/2026

Check out the May 2026 edition of Superintendent Salcido's countywide community newsletter. Each month, she shares about the many areas of focus and importance for schools throughout Santa Barbara County. Read it through the link below.

Read the May edition

05/25/2026

All SBCEO offices will be closed today, Monday, May 25, 2026 in honor of Memorial Day.

05/22/2026

More than 100 exceptional educators from schools and districts across Santa Barbara County were honored at SBCEO’s 2026 Education Celebration for the impact they make in classrooms and school communities every day.

Thank you to our generous partners and sponsors whose support helped make this year’s celebration, educator grants, and awards possible.

View the full list of honorees and award recipients at www.sbceo.org/edcelebration.

Read more at sbceo.org/news

Lompoc Unified School District | Santa Barbara Unified School District | Santa Maria-Bonita School District | Montecito Union School District | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District | Adelante Charter School of Santa Barbara

05/18/2026

🌟Celebrating Classified School Employees Week!

As we kick off Classified School Employees Week, SBCEO would like to take a moment to express our gratitude to all classified school employees who play key roles in creating a school environment that contributes to the success of each child by promoting student achievement, safety, and health.

During a brief ceremony held during the May meeting of the County Board of Education, Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido shared: “To our Classified Employees of the Year, please know how deeply appreciated you are. Every day, you serve as problem-solvers, trusted helpers, caring listeners, and steady sources of support for students, staff, and families alike. Quite simply, our schools would not function without you.”

Join us in expressing gratitude for the hard work and dedication of our local classified school employees.

Read more about this year’s Santa Barbara County Classified School Employees of the Year at sbceo.org/news

Santa Maria Joint Union High School District | Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District | Orcutt Union School District

05/15/2026

SBCEO’s Spanish-language Batalla de los Libros made its exciting in-person debut on May 14, bringing together more than 30 multilingual 4th–7th grade students from across Santa Barbara County.

After months of preparation, students tested their knowledge in trivia battles covering 16 books in Spanish—all leading up to an intense “Batalla final”!

1st place went to team “Los Multi-Leadores” with students representing:
- Adams Elementary (Santa Barbara Unified School District)
- McKinley Elementary (Santa Barbara Unified School District)
- Roberto and Dr. Francisco Jiménez Elementary (Santa Maria-Bonita School District)
- Solvang School (Solvang School)

Read more at www.sbceo.org/news

05/15/2026

Vista Del Mar Union School District is searching for its next Superintendent/Principal.

Located along the Gaviota Coast, Vista del Mar is one of Santa Barbara County’s smallest, rural public school districts, serving a close-knit TK-8 school community with a strong focus on relationships, individualized learning, environmental education, and student support.

SBCEO is proud to support school districts throughout Santa Barbara County, including assisting with leadership recruitment efforts like this one for our small and rural districts.

This is a unique opportunity for an educational leader who values community connection, collaboration, and student-centered learning in a small school setting.

Learn more about this leadership opportunity and apply here: edjoin.org/sbceo

05/14/2026

Introducing the 2027 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year!

Alejandra Navarro, a first-grade teacher at El Camino Elementary School in the Goleta Union School District, was announced today as the 2027 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.

Navarro is one of the founding teachers behind the district’s first Dual Language Immersion (DLI) program, which teaches students in two languages — English and Spanish — with the goal of helping all students become bilingual, biliterate, and culturally aware. The DLI model brings together students with different home-language backgrounds in the same classroom.

At the announcement ceremony held during the County Board of Education meeting, Navarro said, “I am deeply honored and deeply humbled by this award.”

Reflecting on the growth and success of the DLI program since its founding seven years ago, Navarro shared: “Every challenge, every long day, and every moment of hard work has been worth it when I look out at a classroom full of students who are not only bilingual, but who truly understand that being bilingual is a superpower , one that will open doors for them to new cultures, perspectives, and opportunities.”

As Santa Barbara County’s recipient, Alejandra Navarro now becomes eligible for consideration for the California Teacher of the Year award.

Read more www.sbceo.org/news