The summer season brings a shifting of gears - hopefully some rest and relaxation - and time to reconnect with neighbors, friends, family and community. It also brings a chance for students to receive extra support or dedicate time to a key subject in summer school.

I extend my most heartfelt congratulations to graduating high school seniors, our amazing Class of 2023!

Fentanyl poisoning remains a serious concern across our county, state, and nation. Tragically, we continue to hear of fentanyl-related accidental overdoses and in some cases, deaths, within our youth population.

It sure has been a stormy couple of months for our state and county! While we welcome the rain, the extreme conditions caused many schools and school districts to close their campuses as atmospheric river storms hit our region.

In addition to teachers and instructional support staff, schools across Santa Barbara County are seeking professionals in information technology, accounting, human resources, maintenance, and other fields including counseling and psychology.

One of our goals for 2023 was to launch a new webinar series called Education Spotlight, created to provide information and resources on youth-focused topics for families and community members in Santa Barbara County.  Our first webinar took place on January 19, 2023: a panel presentation on the fentanyl and opioid epidemic and specific data on the impacts within our count.

As we head into 2023, I reflect on the year behind us, and all the moments of celebration, learning, leadership, dedication, accomplishment and pure grit displayed throughout our schools. 

November brings with it a time to remember and appreciate Veterans, participate and learn from parent-teacher conferences in schools, and for many of us, gather in community with friends, loved ones, and family.

The weather is cooling, leaves are falling, and our classrooms and schools are brimming with exciting events and activities.

The 2022-2023 school year is in full swing, thanks to teachers, students, families, school leaders, and support staff standing strong and working together. 

Greetings, Santa Barbara County community members. It is my honor to serve as your Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools, and to bring you the first edition of our Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) newsletter.

Born and raised in the United States, I have never pledged allegiance to any other flag but ours. This country is my home.

Nací y me crie en los Estados Unidos, nunca he jurado lealtad a ninguna otra bandera que no sea la nuestra. Este país es mi patria.

Thousands of students in Santa Barbara County have not been on a campus since March 2020, and too many families are weary with concern for their children’s well-being. All youth deserve equitable opportunities to thrive; they need routines that involve peers, interaction, play, and belonging.

2020: A year of downs, ups, backwards and sideways, to say the least. The year was full of reality that seemed unimaginable at this time last year. Far too many friends, family members, and neighbors lost jobs and closed businesses, and a staggering number of individuals lost their lives.

On November 4, the day after this extraordinary election season culminates, our children will be watching us.

Today marks an important, positive milestone for Santa Barbara County. Through our community’s collective efforts, we have moved from the purple tier to the red tier as identified by California’s Blueprint for a Safer Economy. (English and Spanish)

The long-awaited answer about what schools will look like in the fall was delivered on July 17 when Governor Newsom announced all public and private schools in counties on the state’s monitoring list, which includes Santa Barbara County, must open via distance learning.