SBTFCU Crystal Apple Educator Award
Each year, ten very special people from Santa Barbara County are chosen to receive a Santa Barbara Teachers Federal Credit Union Crystal Apple Educator Award. Nominated for this award by their peers, these hard-working educators are recognized for their dedication to students and education, their instructional and motivational skills, their ability to challenge and inspire students, and their effective interaction with students, staff, and the local community.
Nomination Process: Two or three school employees, colleagues, parents and/or students are required to nominate educators who have provided exceptional service to students and/or colleagues. Awards are presented at the Education Celebration held in spring. The award includes an honorarium provided by the Santa Barbara Teachers Federal Credit Union.
Eligibility: All nominees must be public school employees in Santa Barbara County,
Award Categories: A total of ten awards are given in each of the following categories:
• Elementary Teacher- Includes teachers in a TK-6th grade setting as appropriate to their school site
• Secondary Teacher- Includes teachers in a 6-12th grade setting as appropriate to their school site
• Classified employee- Includes non-certificated staff at a school site or district/county office
• Certificated Specialist- Includes counselors, school psychologist, certificated librarian, nurse, TOSAs etc., and must be certificated.
• Administrator- School site or district/county office
• ECE Educator- Includes staff who work in early care or preschool programs for a site, district, county office. Certificated instructors, paraprofessionals, licensed childcare providers, etc are eligible.
The nomination window for the Crystal Apple Educator Awards is now closed. Check back in the fall to nominate someone for the 2026-27 awards.
Meet the previous Santa Barbara Teachers Federal Credit Union Crystal Apple Educator Award winners HERE.
NOTE: CA Department of Education Classified School Employees of the Year Awards are a separate award program that SBCEO's Human Resources department promotes. Details can be found HERE.