Introducing Santa Barbara County’s 2025 Distinguished Educator Awardees

Six distinguished educators recognized by the Santa Barbara County Education Office for outstanding teaching, mentorship, and innovation

The Santa Barbara County Education Office (SBCEO) is pleased to announce six of our county’s most talented and inspirational educators as 2025 “Distinguished Mentors” or “Distinguished New Educators.” The awardees were nominated by their peers, and selected by a countywide panel of educators, administrators, business, and community partners.

The selected educators will be honored at the 11th annual A Salute to Teachers gala in November hosted by SBCEO and founding sponsor, Cox Communications, with support from other generous sponsors. Also to be honored are the 2025 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Laura Branch of Righetti High School, and the 2025 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year, Rich Lashua of Santa Barbara Junior High.

Each year, school administrators, colleagues, and others across Santa Barbara County public schools are invited to nominate mentor teachers who demonstrate exceptional instructional practices, leadership, and support to new educators. They are also invited to nominate new teachers who demonstrate early career success and outstanding teaching skills.

The Distinguished Mentors are:

Socorro Chávez – Isla Vista Elementary School, Goleta Union School District

Socorro Chávez is known for her ability to create a classroom environment where students feel valued and are highly motivated to succeed. A self-described “facilitator of learning” for both her kindergarten students and the new educators she mentors, she aims to teach, guide, and inspire through reflection and open dialogue and to be a trusted advocate and support for her new teacher mentees. Her principal shared: “Mrs. Chávez is deeply committed to supporting our future educators and will also go above and beyond to ensure their success. In her role as a teacher mentor, she shares her expertise and provides unwavering support even after the teacher candidate leaves her classroom.”

Eugenia Vasilique Pappas – Santa Ynez Valley Charter School, College School District

Eugenia Pappas, a first-grade teacher, is a respected mentor and educator who has dedicated over a decade to supporting teachers through mentorship. Her approach to mentorship is rooted in fostering mutual respect and collaboration, helping beginning teachers develop professionally while navigating the early challenges of their careers. “Eugenia has a supportive and encouraging manner with her new teachers and guides them through their successes and challenges as an absolute professional. She models community-building in her own classroom and takes time to observe teachers and give them meaningful feedback,” shared her principal.

Jordan Willis – Orcutt Academy High School, Orcutt Union School District

An inspiring mentor and English Language Arts and concurrent enrollment instructor, who brings a wealth of experience from diverse educational settings, Jordan Willis is known for fostering a collaborative and culturally responsive classroom environment. Her approach to mentorship is centered on intellectual discovery, critical thinking, and empathy, which help her guide her mentees in finding and developing their unique pedagogical voices. As her principal said, “Jordan makes everyone else around her better. She is smart, caring, thoughtful, and fully dedicated to sharing her knowledge with her students, as well as with the staff that she works with here at our school.”

The Distinguished New Educators are:

Ryan Blasena – Hope Elementary School, Hope School District

Ryan Blasena is a first-year special education teacher, working with students in an Extensive Support Needs program. Colleagues commend him for his ability to create personalized, engaging lessons that align with students’ Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals, transforming his classroom into a thriving learning environment. Ryan’s commitment to reflective practice and continuous improvement has led to significant student progress, with many students transitioning from non-readers to nearly reading at grade level during his first year with them. “Ryan is a highly dedicated and talented educator who has made a profound impact on the lives of his students and colleagues during his first year at Hope School,” shared his principal.

Noe Alberto Gomez – Carpinteria High School, Carpinteria Unified School District

From starting off as a scientist and researcher to beginning his teaching career as a Career Technical Education (CTE) agriculture teacher to now teaching dual-enrollment chemistry, Noe “brings a wealth of experience to the classroom.” His unique perspectives help him engage students through innovative and engaging lessons, fostering their love of learning. Beyond the classroom, he serves as a role model for his school’s cross country team. His principal shared: “Noe’s passion for teaching, combined with his experience and dedication to his students, make him an outstanding educator and valuable asset to Carpinteria High School.”

Oscar Velasco – Santa Maria High School, Santa Maria Joint Union High School District

Oscar Velasco is a dedicated second-year teacher at Santa Maria High School, where he teaches Ethnic and Gender Studies, co-advises the school Alpine club, and coaches boys varsity wrestling. Oscar’s commitment to developing and delivering meaningful and relevant curriculum has had a profound impact on his students. An alumnus of Santa Maria High, Oscar returned to his community with a clear vision to educate and inspire the next generation. “Oscar is a fair-minded, kind, and passionate teacher whose dedication shines brightly in the form of well-prepared, well-structured, and well-delivered lessons,” said his principal.

“We thank and commend our 2025 Santa Barbara Distinguished Mentors and New Educators for their dedication to their students and excellence in their teaching,” said Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido. “At SBCEO, it is our privilege to elevate the teaching profession and recognize outstanding educators in our county’s schools. We look forward to sharing more about these inspirational individuals in the coming months.”

Kirsten McLaughlin, Market Vice President of Cox Communications, said the team is looking forward to celebrating the awardees and their school communities at the upcoming A Salute to Teachers. “Cox Communications was founded by a teacher, James M. Cox, more than 125 years ago and supporting teachers, local education, and the communities we serve remains a top priority for us today. We are proud to celebrate this year’s new educators and mentor teachers who do so much for our community across the county.”

The awardees are participants in qualified teacher induction programs either through SBCEO or their district. Induction programs pair experienced mentor teachers with new teachers to ease their transition into the profession, accelerate teacher effectiveness and enhance teacher retention.

SBCEO is grateful for our partnership with Cox Communications and other sponsors, including Fielding Graduate University, Noozhawk, Melfred Borzall, Rusty’s Pizza Parlor, the Santa Barbara Bowl, and others who make the A Salute to Teachers event possible.

For more information about the awards or the A Salute to Teachers event, visit sbceo.org/salute or contact Steve Keithley, SBCEO Director of Teacher Programs and Support, at (805) 964-4710, ext. 5281. For more information about the Teacher Induction Program, visit sbceo.org/tip or contact John Merritt, SBCEO Director of Teacher Induction Program, at (805) 964-4710, ext. 5426.