Wendy Marin, a second-grade teacher at Fairlawn School in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District, will be honored as a 2027 distinguished new educator. Marin is among eight public school educators who will be recognized at the 13th annual Salute to Teachers event, hosted by the Santa Barbara County Education Office on November 7. The ceremony is scheduled to take place at the Music Academy of the West in Montecito.
Marin's desire to become a teacher grew from her personal experiences as a student and her extensive work with children and families. She faced challenges in school, particularly as a student learning English. She recalled what it felt like to be new, to struggle academically, and to lack the words to express her thoughts. These experiences shaped her ambition to create a classroom environment where students feel safe, understood, and encouraged, regardless of their language background or personal challenges. The journey to earn her teaching credential took 15 years, with each obstacle reinforcing her commitment to education. Marin stated that when she looks at her students today, she sees parts of her own story reflected in them.
Currently in her fourth year as a classroom teacher, Marin's involvement in education began almost two decades ago with the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. Her passion for teaching first ignited at age 15, when she volunteered as a Sunday school teacher, eventually moving into a leadership role overseeing a children’s program. Throughout her professional career with the district, Marin has served in various capacities, including food service, community liaison, school office staff, and instructional assistant, before becoming a classroom teacher. Each of these roles provided her with a unique perspective on education and emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with students, their families, and the wider school community. She previously taught transitional kindergarten and currently teaches second grade. Additionally, Marin instructs adult learners at Allan Hancock College, where she helps prepare future instructional aides and educators.
Marin's favorite area to teach is literacy, with a particular focus on vocabulary development and English language development (ELD). Drawing from her own struggles learning English, she understands the profound impact students experience when they discover their own voices. She designs lessons that incorporate visuals, gestures, movement, conversations, and real-life connections to help students grasp new words and concepts. Her experience teaching transitional kindergarten highlighted the effectiveness of hands-on activities, movement, play, and meaningful interactions in fostering language and comprehension. As a kinesthetic learner herself, she naturally incorporates these active engagement strategies into her second-grade classroom, especially for ELD. Marin enjoys finding creative ways to make vocabulary and language skills interactive and meaningful, such as students acting out words or practicing new language through partner conversations. She finds particular joy in witnessing students who were initially hesitant begin to use new vocabulary, share ideas, or confidently explain their thinking. For Marin, literacy extends beyond reading and writing; it empowers children with the confidence and language to express themselves, connect with others, and feel capable as learners.
Marin described her unique strength as building relationships and recognizing the potential in students, even when they cannot see it themselves. She believes that a sense of safety, love, respect, and understanding is fundamental for children to truly learn. She makes it a priority to understand her students beyond their academic performance, delving into their personalities, cultural backgrounds, strengths, and challenges. This approach was developed through her own childhood experiences, her work with families, and her journey as a mother and educator. She strives to be the person who offers encouragement and belief to her students every day, knowing what it feels like to struggle. One impactful experience for Marin involved working with a student with autism for the first time. This interaction taught her patience, love, and revealed the remarkable abilities of children with special needs, igniting a passion for special education. She recalled the student's initial unfamiliarity with school routines but observed incredible growth through consistent effort, love, and adapted lessons. Witnessing the student independently follow routines, participate in lessons, and complete assignments has been a source of immense joy, marking what Marin considers extraordinary milestones. This experience underscored her belief that every child is capable of learning, even if their path is unique, and that finding the right approach, believing in their abilities, and providing them time allows them to flourish.
The Salute to Teachers event also recognizes other educators. Alejandra Navarro, a first-grade Dual Language Immersion teacher at El Camino Elementary School in the Goleta Union School District, is the 2027 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. Selyn Barrette Harwin, a drama teacher at Pioneer Valley High School in the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, will be honored as the 2027 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year. The 2027 distinguished mentors include Becki Naranjo-Gonzales from Cold Spring School District, Savannah Schindele from Lompoc Valley Middle School in the Lompoc Unified School District, and Billy Silvola from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School School District. Other distinguished new educators to be honored alongside Marin are Laurie Geronimo from Pioneer Valley High and Stephanie Rosas from Battles School in the Santa Maria-Bonita School District. The event is sponsored by the Santa Barbara County Education Office, along with Chevron, Driscoll’s, Melfred Borzall, Ramsey Asphalt Construction, and the Santa Barbara Bowl.
