The Santa Cruz County Office of Education (Santa Cruz COE) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Santa Cruz County Educator of the Year Awards, which recognize exceptional educators, support staff, and partners from across Santa Cruz County who embody the values of our school community.
Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Faris Sabbah and the Santa Cruz County Board of Education will recognize the honorees at the May 21 meeting of the Santa Cruz County Board of Education. There, honorees will receive a plaque recognizing their service to Santa Cruz County, and their names will be engraved on the Educators of the Year perpetual plaque hanging in the foyer of the Santa Cruz COE.
“Congratulations to this incredible group of honorees, whose deep commitment to student success reflects the very best of public education,” said Dr. Faris Sabbah, Santa Cruz County Superintendent of Schools. “Their service and leadership help us build a school community rooted in equity and belonging, making a lasting impact on students and families and setting an example for all of us to follow.”
The 2026 honorees are as follows:
- Teacher of the Year: Shireen Goudarzi, Teacher, H. A. Hyde Elementary School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District
- Classified Employee of the Year: Emily Tatro, Student Information & Enrollment Manager, Linscott Charter School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District
- Counselor of the Year: Cynthia Fernandez, Counselor, Costanoa Career Prep High School and Ark Independent Studies, Santa Cruz City Schools; and Kayla Raymond, Mental Health Specialist, San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
- Administrator of the Year: Marina Maldonado, Academic Coordinator / Assistant Principal, Amesti Elementary, Pajaro Valley Unified School District
- Community Partner of the Year: Cabrillo College
A selection committee reviewed nominations using the California Standards for the Teaching Profession and the California Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. Due to a tie in the selection process, two individuals were selected as 2026 Counselor of the Year. Criteria considered by the committee include:
- Ability to create a passion for learning
- High expectations for all students
- Strong communication and collaborative skills
- Strong sense of values, integrity, and professional ethics
- Knowledge of subject and curriculum content
- Commitment to the community they serve
Honorees will be recognized at the Santa Cruz County Board of Education meeting on Thursday, May 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education, 400 Encinal St., Santa Cruz.
2026 Educator of the Year Award Honorees
2026 Teacher of the Year
Honoree: Shireen Goudarzi, Teacher, H. A. Hyde Elementary School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Shireen Goudarzi is a Watsonville native who graduated from Pajaro Valley Unified School District schools before earning her master’s degree in education from UC Santa Cruz and returning to teach in the district. She has 25 years of teaching experience, all at H. A. Hyde Elementary School. Throughout her career, Shireen has taught first through fourth grade, team-taught dual language first grade, and currently teaches third grade. She is known for her ability to connect with students, her strong classroom management skills, and her creativity in the classroom. Shireen is committed to continuous learning and improvement, and has been selected as a Cotsen Art of Teaching fellow, received training in GLAD, CREDE, and Writer’s Workshop, and is currently participating in LETRS training. In addition to supporting and encouraging her students, she supports her fellow educators by serving on her site leadership team, as a PVFT union representative and negotiator, and as a mentor and cooperating teacher for student teachers from UC Santa Cruz and Cal State Monterey Bay. Outside the classroom, Shireen enjoys painting, sewing, cooking, playing board games, and gardening.
2026 Classified Employee of the Year
Honoree: Emily Tatro, Student Information & Enrollment Manager, Linscott Charter School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District
As the Student Information Manager at Linscott Charter School in Watsonville, Emily Tatro brings a strong foundation of advocacy, organization, and community engagement shaped by her previous career as a paralegal. After several years of volunteering at the school, she officially joined the Linscott team three years ago, deepening her commitment to supporting the entire school community. In her role, Emily has prioritized building meaningful, trusting relationships with students and their families, helping ensure they feel safe, heard, and supported. She strives to create a welcoming and dependable presence on campus so every student feels encouraged to attend school knowing they have a reliable support system. Emily also works closely with families to connect them with essential resources while serving as a compassionate listener and guide as they navigate the challenges of parenthood and daily life. Collaborating with a dedicated and inspiring team of educators, staff, and administrators continues to motivate her to serve the Linscott community with integrity, empathy, and excellence.
2026 Counselor of the Year
Honoree: Cynthia Fernandez, Counselor, Costanoa Career Prep High School and Ark Independent Studies, Santa Cruz City Schools
Cynthia Fernandez has served as a high school counselor at Costanoa Career Prep High School and Ark Independent Studies since 2010. A proud first-generation college graduate who grew up in Santa Cruz, Cynthia is grateful to work in the same community that helped shape who she is. As a former alternative education student herself, she is especially proud to support students in alternative education, a field that has long been a passion of hers. She cares deeply about each student in these programs and works to make their school experience a positive and meaningful part of their educational journey. In her role, Cynthia supports students academically, socially, and emotionally while helping them stay on track for graduation and plan for their future goals. She is a strong advocate for her students and is passionate about creating a school environment where they feel safe, encouraged, and supported. Outside of work, Cynthia enjoys long walks with her boxer dog and spending time with her family.
Honoree: Kayla Raymond, Mental Health Specialist, San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District
Kayla Raymond, LMFT, is a Mental Health Specialist at San Lorenzo Valley Middle School, where she has spent the past four years supporting the social and emotional growth of students. Her extensive background in youth advocacy includes working with the Santa Cruz County Office of Education’s Alternative Education programs, including Highlands, Seabright, and Phoenix Academy, as well as supporting transition-age youth in foster care and probation through Encompass Community Services. Driven by a mission to cultivate resilience, Kayla views her role as nurturing the foundational roots of student well-being and providing the steady support students need to flourish in their own time. Her dedication also extends to her community work as a board member for CASA of Santa Cruz County. Being named Counselor of the Year is a profound honor for Kayla, as it recognizes the often-invisible progress of the students she champions. Having grown up in the San Lorenzo Valley and now raising her own family there, Kayla finds it especially rewarding to serve as a counselor in the same district she attended and to give back to the community she has always called home.
2026 Administrator of the Year
Honoree: Marina Maldonado, Academic Coordinator / Assistant Principal, Amesti Elementary, Pajaro Valley Unified School District
Marina Maldonado has served students, staff, and families in Pajaro Valley Unified School District in a variety of roles since 2007. She is currently the Academic Coordinator at Amesti Elementary School, where she focuses on building systems that support and empower teachers. As a classroom teacher, Marina harnessed the power of fun and choice to create engagement in learning and build a thriving classroom community. She was named a Pajaro Valley Education Foundation Innovator of the Year for her work as a Technology Teacher on Special Assignment, helping students build 21st century skills. Marina also served as an Assistant Principal for Expanded Learning, where she partnered with the City of Watsonville to launch a successful inter-school sports league. Above all, Marina is passionate about supporting staff as they develop their craft and work toward their professional goals in service of positive outcomes for students. She finds great joy in her work and treasures the relationships she has built with colleagues, students, and families across the district.
2026 Community Partner of the Year
Honoree: Cabrillo College
Founded in 1959, Cabrillo College is a premier educational institution serving Santa Cruz County with campuses in Aptos and Watsonville. With an annual enrollment of nearly 15,000 students, it is recognized as the #1 transfer institution for UC Santa Cruz, providing a vital pathway for academic and career advancement. Cabrillo offers more than 100 academic and career technical education programs, designed to meet a wide variety of student goals, including degrees and certificates, A.A. and A.S. degrees, as well as certificates of achievement and skills certificates, transfer pathways to four-year universities, and opportunities for lifelong learning and personal enrichment. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI)—with a student population that is approximately 50% Latine—Cabrillo is steadfast in its commitment to equity, social justice, and economic liberation. The college’s vision is to champion a community of diverse learners through innovative education. By fostering an inclusive environment that actively works to eradicate structural racism, Cabrillo empowers its students to become culturally responsive leaders, effective communicators, and critical thinkers poised to reach their full potential.