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Jonata educator honored for April

By Staff

Alison Brooks of Jonata Elementary School in Buellton has been named the Valley’s Educator of the Month for April by the Valley Oaks Branch of Montecito Bank and Trust.

Brooks teaches sixth-grade English in the Buellton Union School District, where she has worked for 20 years. She has lived in the Santa Ynez Valley for more than 30 years. Both she and her husband, Mark, graduated from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School.

“My students are the best part of teaching because they are all individuals who fill my days with fun and variety. We work together as a community of learners enabling all of the students to become better readers, writers and thinkers. This learning community promotes critical thinking, the most important tool that students need to become successful in the future,” Brooks said.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in education from UCSB. In addition, she works with Santa Barbara County to support new teachers and their mentors.

Brooks’ oldest daughter, Amanda, is a college student and her younger daughter, Aubrey, is a sophomore at SYVUHS.

As teacher of the month, Brooks received a certificate to display in her classroom and a $75 gift certificate to a restaurant of her choice from Bonnie Holdren, the bank’s assistant branch manager, and Larry Edwards, investment officer and portfolio manager.