May 27, 1999

 

Gravitz named 2000 Santa Barbara County Distinguished Educator

Leslie Ann Gravitz, a fourth grade teacher at Main Elementary School in Carpinteria, was named one of two 2000 Santa Barbara County Distinguished Educators by County Superintendent of Schools William J. Cirone. The announcement was made at a press conference June 1. Distinguished Educators comprise a category formed to acknowledge outstanding teachers in the Teacher of the Year awards program. The other Distinguished Educator for the year 2000 was Sarah Carter, of Tunnell School in Santa Maria-Bonita.

"Leslie Gravitz exemplifies what is best in our profession," said Superintendent Cirone. "We created the Distinguished Educator award as a means of paying tribute to the successes and the dedication the truly outstanding teachers display every day."

The award was created as an outgrowth of the annual county Teacher of the Year award. This year, the selection committee comprising teachers and representatives from PTAs and school boards, expressed strong feelings that the application and credentials of Carter and Gravitz were clearly Teacher-of-the-Year caliber.

The committee members could only select one teacher to represent the county for the State Teacher of the Year award; but members felt strongly they should also acknowledge the excellence of these finalists.

"This is our way of publicly announcing how very grateful and proud we are of Ms. Gravitz's efforts and successes," said Mr. Cirone.

Sandy Robertson, an English teacher at Santa Barbara Junior High School, was selected as the County Teacher of the Year.

Gravitz received her B.A. and secondary teaching credential from the University of Maryland and her M.A. in reading and elementary teaching credential from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She received her resource specialist credential from California Lutheran University and her administrative services certificate of eligibility from Azusa Pacific University. She has taught for 30 years, 23 in her current position. She has also presented numerous workshops to help train other teachers. She has supervised student teachers and received two mentorships to train teachers. She is currently the Fourth Grade Responsibility Leader for the district, helping teachers understand and implement the new state standards. She heads the school's Student Study Team and Retention Committee and was instrumental in establishing the school's peer mediation program as part of a school Violence Reduction Grant.

She was named a Santa Barbara Teacher of Excellence in 1990 and received the Carpinteria Educator Community Service Award in 1995. She received the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden's award of merit for outstanding teaching in the plant sciences in 1997. She was a South Coast Writing fellow and a science fellow and has received several Community as Classroom Grants.

Wrote former student and current parent Christina Organista: "I can tell you that she was the only happy memory I have of elementary school. Her area of teaching specialty comes from her knack for understanding where the student is presently. This she does through encouragement and gentle support. My own experience with Mrs. Gravitz allowed me to overcome my earlier diagnosis. She teaches the children to believe in themselves, positively reinforces them, and sets clear limits to help to make good choices. "

Wrote parent committee chairperson Chris Pfannenstiel: "Leslie has a warm, charismatic personality that makes children, parents, and community members feel welcomed. She has dedicated herself to bringing out the best in each of our children and serves as an example of kindness, compassion, and strength for them... She teaches [students] to believe in their ability to be excellent students, to challenge themselves, and to be responsible learners."

Wrote principal Jim Campos: "Leslie's work with students and their families is legendary…Her students demonstrate growth annually, often significantly, especially among the academically needy. She has the highest ratio of reclassification of LEP students to regular education students at the school…Perhaps her greatest strength as an educator is her ability to search and find the right project, right book, right adult mentor for each individual student. She is relentless in her pursuit of excellence for each one of them."