The Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) celebrated a milestone year for its Teacher Grants program, awarding a record-breaking $228,000 to educators across the Santa Barbara Unified School District at its annual Teacher Grants Awards Reception on January 28, 2026, at the Historic Carrillo Ballroom.
This year’s grants will support 102 teachers across 21 district schools, funding innovative, hands-on classroom projects that enhance learning opportunities for thousands of students.
Since launching the Teacher Grants program in 2018, SBEF has awarded more than $1.1 million in grants, directly supporting teachers and students through projects that spark creativity, increase engagement, and bring learning to life.
The reception featured student performances by the Santa Barbara High School Madrigals and the La Colina Junior High School Orchestra, highlighting the talent and creativity of SBUSD students.
One of this year’s honorees, Stephen Hughes, Instrumental Music Director at La Colina Junior High School, received the Margie Yahyavi Grant for Excellence in Music Education. The grant will support the launch of Honor Strings, a new districtwide program that brings together string students from all levels of SBUSD to rehearse with a guest conductor and perform in concert.
For many years, students in SBUSD Band programs at all levels have participated in Honor Band, which brings together students from every school in the district for a unified presentation. Now string students will have similar opportunities, which will hopefully increase enrollment in orchestra classes at the junior high and high school levels.
Alta Vista High School teacher Carlos Estrada also spoke at the event, sharing how his Teacher Grant will support the next phase of the school’s garden and outdoor learning space. The grant will fund a tiller, wildlife trail cameras, and a small greenhouse to support the launch of a small-scale food production course.
“We came up with the idea of integrating food ways, music ways, and ways of being by creating a garden with coastal native plants, ecosystems, and an outdoor gathering space,” Estrada shared. “Our aim was to create a space for students to tell their stories, humanize others, and learn from the land through exploration, observation, dialogue, action, community, and expression.”
“Our garden has become a multidisciplinary learning space at the intersection of music, health, and the land,” he added. “The grant from the Santa Barbara Education Foundation made it possible to connect our garden, ruralism, music, and community. We are truly grateful for that. Thank you!”
“Our teachers bring incredible vision to their classrooms, and the Teacher Grants program exists to support that vision,” shared Katie Szopa, SBEF Programs Manager and Interim Executive Director. “We’re deeply grateful to the donors who make it possible for educators to expand opportunities for students in such impactful ways.”
This year’s successful grant program is made possible by the generosity of donors, including the Gainey Foundation, the Stone Family Foundation, the Kirby Jones Family Foundation, the John C. Mithun Foundation, Google.org, the Gretler Foundation, and the Arnesen Family Foundation, along with numerous individual donors. SBEF also extends special thanks to Lazy Acres Market, the event’s awards reception sponsor.
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation works to generate private support for Santa Barbara’s public schools, impacting almost 12,000 students. To learn more about Teacher Grants and the foundation’s other programs or to get involved, visit www.santabarbaraeducation.org.
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