NEWS
Local Music Teachers Kick Off the School Year with Instruments and a $16,000 Gift from SBEF
The ringing of school bells isn't the only sound that reminds us that Santa Barbara schools are back in session. The sound of violins, mostly played in unison, echoing through local campuses, let us know that our school music education programs are also back in session. And with a return to music classrooms, students need [...]
The Sweet Sounds of SBEF Summer!
SBEF provided hands-on musical learning opportunities over the summer so that students could keep their skills sharp for the upcoming school year. See what our aspiring musicians were up to! Nick Rail Summer Band Camp Students work with specialists in preparation for the Summer Pops Concert. We were thrilled to host the 31st [...]
Elke Kane Joins Santa Barbara Education Foundation’s Board of Directors
The Santa Barbara Education Foundation recently elected Elke Kane to its Board of Directors. Kane is a business and employment attorney at the boutique legal services firm, Trusted Legal, LLP, where she works with businesses, private families, and trust clients. Raised in Chula Vista, California, Kane has made Santa Barbara home for over 20 years. [...]
Santa Barbara’s Mission Scholars Succeed Despite COVID-19
Amid a historically turbulent year, Mission Scholars achieved its goal of 100% four-year college enrollment for the Class of 2021, duplicating the success of last year’s inaugural cohort. “This is a big part of our core mission,” said Cassie Lancaster, Executive Director of the program, which operates under the aegis of the Santa Barbara Education [...]
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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