Santa Barbara County Teacher of Year gets high marks
Santa Barbara County teachers took time out from grading papers to be honored.
They were the VIPs at “A Salute to Teachers” held at The Music Academy of the West.
Carpinteria High School teacher Mandi de Witte was named the 2019 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year.
“I fell in the love with the idea of teaching and I got to spend some time at Dos Pueblos High School in a chemistry, AVID, biology class there and I knew that is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, ” said de Witte.
Another top honor went to Aniela Hoffman of Arellanes Jr. High School in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. Hoffman was named the 2019 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year.
Distinguished Mentors honorees include Stephanie Goganis of the Santa Ynez Valley Special Education Consortium, Robin Ilac of Kermit McKenzie Intermediate School and Teri Jo Roberts of Santa Ynez High School.
Distinguished New Educators were also recognized. They include Katie Lynn Furden of Franklin Elementary School, Andy Osiadacz of Dos Pueblos High School and Jacob West of Leonara Fillmore School.
