Anonymous
Principal Elena Garcia-Yoshitomi, Nathan Baskett, and Stephen Baker (Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Teacher Recognition Coordinator and Associate VP for College Advancement, Westmont College)
Source: Santa Barbara County Education Office
The Santa Barbara County Education Office and the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara are pleased to announce Nathan Baskett as the Rotary Club’s recipient of the Teacher Recognition Award for the winter quarter. On January 24, the Rotary Club provided Baskett with a plaque and $1,000. Baskett is a 6th-grade teacher at McKinley Elementary School in the Santa Barbara School District.
McKinley Principal Elena Garcia-Yoshitomi said, “Mr. Baskett has high expectations for all students. He takes initiative, demonstrates strong teacher leadership, and is a team player! McKinley is lucky to have him!”
“We celebrate Mr. Baskett’s passion for the important work teachers do and his desire to elevate every student to be successful,” said County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Susan Salcido, whose office coordinates the recognition with the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. “We appreciate the support of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara and the recognition they provide to teachers. These awards are a reflection of our community, which truly values education,” Salcido continued.
Baskett plans to use the $1,000 to support literacy development, supplement technology needs in the classroom, and improve the array of flexible seating choices in the learning environment.
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has honored outstanding teachers from South Coast schools each year since 1986. The club awards a secondary, elementary, and special education teacher with a certificate and a $1,000 check to spend on classroom needs.
“The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has a long tradition of supporting the youth in our community. Honoring outstanding teachers like Mr. Baskett is one way we do that,” said Dean Axelrod, President of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara and Associate Director for Partnerships and Philanthropy at Direct Relief. “There are so many outstanding teachers here, and the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara’s Teacher Recognition Award program is our way of showing how grateful we are for their work.”
Basket is a Memphis, Tennessee, native and has been working in the Santa Barbara School District since 2014. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Harding University and his Masters of Arts from the University of Southern California.
