NEWS
Santa Barbara Teachers Awarded a Record-Breaking $228,000 in Grants
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, [...]
How One Teacher Grant Brings Student Creativity Into Focus
On the walls of the Santa Barbara Junior High School library, framed photographs quietly tell students’ stories: a bus ride in the early morning, friends gathered around a birthday cake, a kite flying high above. Each image began the same way, with a student checking out a camera and being asked to slow down, notice [...]
Local Musician Irene Fredricey Champions Music Education with Giving Tuesday Benefit Concert
[vc_row type="in_container" full_screen_row_position="middle" column_margin="default" column_direction="default" column_direction_tablet="default" column_direction_phone="default" scene_position="center" text_color="dark" text_align="left" row_border_radius="none" row_border_radius_applies="bg" overflow="visible" overlay_strength="0.3" gradient_direction="left_to_right" shape_divider_position="bottom" bg_image_animation="none"][vc_column column_padding="no-extra-padding" column_padding_tablet="inherit" column_padding_phone="inherit" column_padding_position="all" column_element_direction_desktop="default" column_element_spacing="default" desktop_text_alignment="default" tablet_text_alignment="default" phone_text_alignment="default" background_color_opacity="1" background_hover_color_opacity="1" column_backdrop_filter="none" column_shadow="none" column_border_radius="none" column_link_target="_self" column_position="default" gradient_direction="left_to_right" overlay_strength="0.3" width="1/1" tablet_width_inherit="default" animation_type="default" bg_image_animation="none" border_type="simple" column_border_width="none" column_border_style="solid"][vc_column_text css="" text_direction="default"] Irene Fredricey and Jim Thomas For Irene Fredricey, music [...]
Thank You, Mat Gradias!
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation extends our heartfelt appreciation to Mat Gradias, who is stepping down from the board after seven years of dedicated service, including four years as Board President. Under Mat's steady leadership, SBEF navigated key transitions and implemented a new strategic plan, strengthening the foundation's impact and deepening support for local public [...]
EVENTS
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation (SBEF) will host Wealth of Knowledge, a free financial literacy workshop designed specifically for educators, on Saturday, April 18, 2026.
LATEST ISSUE
Education Matters
As we close out 2025, this issue of Education Matters celebrates the impact made possible by our community.
From a powerful story highlighting the lifelong influence of music education to key insights from Superintendent Dr. Hilda Maldonado’s State of Our Schools address, this newsletter reflects a year of growth and opportunity across Santa Barbara’s public schools.
You’ll also meet SBEF’s newest board member and join us in thanking a longtime leader for his dedicated service.
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