GGSE News Archive

Dr. Macias is the new editor for California English, the journal for the California Association of Teachers of English (CATE). She was also a co-keynote speaker for the 2026 CATE Annual Convention this past March. In addition, Dr. Macias was an award recipient of the 2025-26 CSU Artificial Intelligence (AI) Educational Innovations Challenge from the CSU Chancellor's Office, receiving a $21,650 award for her BeachTeach project, a chatbot designed to support student teachers' pedagogical, emotional, and academic development.

Krista received the Four-Year College and University Section Excellence in Teaching award from the National Association of Biology Teachers in 2024.

Department of Education graduate student Kaylee Laub won the UCSB 2026 Grad Slam championship event with her three-minute presentation on “Reimagining Climate Solutions Through Speculative Designs.” Kaylee shared that to discover creative solutions to the challenges of climate change, educators are increasingly turning to those who could someday be impacted the most: today’s children. 

Jesse M. Bernal, Ph.D., a graduate of the Gevirtz Graduate School of Education at the University of California, Santa Barbara, currently serves as the 10th president of Western Connecticut State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Education from Gevirtz. 

Professor Shane R. Jimerson at UC Santa Barbara’s Gevirtz Graduate School of Education was recently honored with the 2026 Presidential Award for Distinguished Leadership and Contributions by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The prestigious recognition, presented by NASP President Shawna Rader Kelly,  acknowledges Jimerson’s outstanding leadership and sustained contributions to advancing the field of school psychology. 

Natalie Wilkes (TEP, M.Ed. ‘11), a first-grade teacher at Monte Vista Elementary in Santa Barbara, has been named the 2026 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year by the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

Associate Professor Rachel Lambert is on a mission to make math learning fun.

Q&A with Assistant Professor Fernanda Castellón

Adverse and potentially traumatic experiences remain all too common among school-age children, leaving teachers, administrators, and staff working to meet the complex emotional needs of their students. In response to this ongoing challenge, researchers at the UC Santa Barbara Gevirtz Graduate School of Education have developed the Trauma-Informed Practices for Schools (TIPS) initiative. 

Q&A with Associate Professor Lucy Arellano

Gevirtz School TEP candidates provide invaluable assistance to cooperating teachers in many ways - before, during and after classes. And it’s not just the TEP candidates who are learning from their cooperating teachers. Collectively, TEP candidates assist in shaping the learning experiences of more than 2,000 students during the school year.

The UCSB Gevirtz Graduate School of Education and the Kindred Collective for Healing and Liberatory Traditions (which encompasses The Healing Space) will present “Flourish & Flow: A Black Joy Beach Party”–a free, intergenerational celebration of Black wellness, cultural connection, and collective care. The event will take place Sunday, October 26, from 1 p.m. to sunset (approximately 6 p.m.) at Goleta Beach Area A, and is open to all who come in respect and solidarity.

Andrew Young Choi (CCSP, Ph.D. ‘19; Education, M.A. ‘18), assistant professor at Pace University in New York City, has earned a specialty board certification from the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).

Britt Andreatta (Education, Ph.D. ‘98), CEO of Brain Aware Training, has published a second edition of her book “Wired to Resist: The Brain Science of Why Change Fails and a New Model for Driving Success” (7th Mind Publishing, 2025).

Jacob Boone (TEP, ‘13), a special education teacher at Dos Pueblos High School in Santa Barbara, received the Special Education Teacher of the Year award from the Santa Barbara County Special Education Local Plan Area.

Jazzmyn Ward (CCSP, Clinical Psychology Ph.D. ‘23) received the 2025 Dissertation Award from the Trauma Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association.

Katie Eklund (CCSP, Ph.D. ‘11), professor of educational psychology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, received the UW-Madison 2025 Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award.

Kerry Kelly (Education, M.Ed. ‘93) has been elected vice chair of the board of directors for Jodi House in Santa Barbara.

Natalie Wilkes (TEP, M.Ed. ‘11), a first-grade teacher at Monte Vista Elementary in Santa Barbara, has been named the 2026 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year by the Santa Barbara County Education Office.

Nicole Caiazza (TEP, ’07), a social studies and AVID teacher at La Cumbre Junior High School in Santa Barbara, was named a 2026 Distinguished Mentor by the Santa Barbara County Education Office.