At the beginning of this academic year, the Santa Barbara Independent launched Top Class, a program to help highlight and support local teachers, students, and classrooms. School looks different this year and teaching processes are evolving. Top Class showcases the creative ways that local classrooms are thriving, as students collaborate and grow, whether they are together in one room or learning from home.
Pre-K through 12th grade classrooms in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Montecito, Summerland and Carpinteria are eligible, and can be nominated by a teacher, parent, student, family, or friend. Each month, a panel of judges reviews the entries and chooses one classroom to be recognized as that month's Top Class.
Top Class honorees from this school year so far include Santa Barbara Middle School's online cooking class with instructor Pierre Alexandre “Chef PA” Tremblay, San Marcos High School concert band with teacher Michael Kiyoi, Kindergarten Room 101 Mariposas at Adelante Charter School with Maestra Carolina Alcarez, and Mrs. Chang's Pre-K class at Franklin School.