On April 28, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara
recognized Goleta Valley Jr. High School teacher Justina Weinbender for her
demonstrated excellence and significant contributions to public education. It
is the fourth and final such award the Rotarians presented to area educators
this academic year.
Weinbender has been teaching seventh and eighth grade
English at Goleta Valley for 19 years —20, if you include her student teaching
there. “I don’t plan on retiring until I’ve been teaching over 40 years,” she
says.
Since 1986, the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has
honored outstanding teachers from South Coast schools each year. It awards a
high school, junior high, elementary, and special education teacher with a
certificate and a $1,000 check to spend on classroom needs.
“We appreciate the vision, caring, and commitment of
the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara in making annual awards that recognize the
contributions of outstanding teachers, while providing resources that enable
them to enrich their classroom environments,” said County Superintendent of
Schools Bill Cirone, whose office coordinates the recognition with the Rotary
Club of Santa Barbara. “Our teachers are second to none and perform daily
heroic acts on behalf of students and families.”
“The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara is committed to
supporting the Santa Barbara County Education Office, and it gives us great
pleasure to recognize the efforts of outstanding teachers like Justina
Weinbender,” said Mike Bieza, chairman of the Teacher Recognition Committee of
the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. “Rotary of Santa Barbara and Rotary
International members know that educators like Justina have a tremendous impact
on their students, who one day will be the leaders of our community.”
Education is a family affair for Weinbender, whose husband teaches U.S.
History at Goleta Valley. Described as a devoted, creative, “out-of-the-box”
thinker, Weinbender says of her students, “I really want them to think for
themselves, and to make the learning rich and useful for them. When a student
tells me they watch movies differently because of class, or they understand the
news because of what they’ve learned,” she adds, “that absolutely makes my
week.”
Weinbender earned an undergraduate degree in English
as well as her Masters in Education from UCSB. Her strength lies in her
compassion and dedication. She wants every student to succeed, regardless of
their background or ability.
Her passion is noticed not only by her students, but
by her fellow teachers and administrators. “Ms. Weinbender exemplifies
excellence and a dedication towards keeping students first,” says her principal
Mauricio Ortega. “With consistency, she provides rigorous and engaging
lessons, opens her classroom up to clubs during lunch, and runs the school
newspaper. It has been a tremendous gain to have Ms. Weinbender at our school,
and I have no doubt that she will continue to be a huge asset for our
students.”
The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara meets at Fess
Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara for lunch from noon to 1:30 p.m. on
Fridays. Recipients of the club’s Teacher Recognition Awards are made with the
assistance of the Teacher Programs and Support department of the Santa Barbara
County Education Office.
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Justina Weinbender with Rotary Club of Santa Barbara’s Mike Bieza
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