Five former athletes and one former coach from Santa Ynez High are to be the newest additions to the school’s Wall of Fame. Parker Colvin, Josh Hartman, Coach Iain McPherson, Kelley Moore, Meghan Mosebar, and Chris Pace will be honored Friday, Sept. 19, at 6:30 before the Pirates’ football game against Nipomo High.

Parker Colvin

Colvin graduated from Santa Ynez High in 2009. He played four years of football and golf, and he earned the Jeff Rio Memorial Scholarship and was named the Most Valuable Male Athlete for the class of 2009.  After graduating high school, Parker attended Cal Lutheran University, where he played four years of golf. During his college career, his team had a NCAA Division III National Championship appearance in 2012, and 2013. In 2011 he was CLU’s golf team MVP and won Athlete of the Week for Southwest California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC). Colvin graduated from Cal Lutheran with a degree in exercise science with an emphasis in sports medicine.

Josh Hartman

Hartman graduated from Santa Ynez High in 2006, where he was a standout athlete in both football and track. As a senior, he captured the Los Padres League titles in the 100 and 200 meters and also won the 100-meter dash at the Santa Barbara County Championships. On the football field, Josh earned All-League honors twice. He was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and honored as the school’s Most Valuable Male Athlete in his final year. After high school, Josh concluded his athletic career at Chapman University, playing football while earning a bachelor’s degree in business with an emphasis in finance. Following graduation, he began working under one of his former coaches, Jim Colvin, who helped launch his career in the hospitality industry. Josh now serves as a director of revenue management.

Iain McPherson

Iain “Coach” McPherson left an enduring legacy at SYHS as a U.S. history teacher and a devoted coach of the soccer, swimming, and water polo teams. Known for his tough love approach, he earned respect from students and players by pushing them to achieve more than they thought possible. As an All-American swimmer himself, he coached numerous athletes to CIF, All League MVPs, and All-American. Beyond the classroom and pool, Iain was a proud Scotsman and family man, cherished by his wife Linda and daughters Kerry and Heather. In 1998, Coach McPherson was the winningest coach in SYVHS history with 1,359 wins; however, he passed away in February 1999 at the age of 53. It wasn’t the wins he valued most, but the special relationships he built with his students and players.

Kelley Moore

Moore graduated from SYHS in 1972. He went on to play football at Allan Hancock College and Chico State.  After graduating from CSU Chico in the spring of 1977, Dr. Coach Kelley Moore has been blessed to have had a lifetime, 49 years, in the coaching profession. The high-school portion of his career includes coaching tennis, wrestling, basketball, and track and field (28 years as head coach). Moore also spent four years with Allan Hancock College as the head track and field and cross country coach, and as an assistant coach for football.  That was followed by two years as Head Track and Field Coach and Assistant Football Coach at Thiel College. He has as an assistant football coach the last four years at Arizona Christian University.

Meghan Mosebar

Mosebar graduated from SYHS in 1995, went to Purdue University from 1995-1997, and transferred to and graduated from the College of William & Mary in 2000. Mosebar earned high honors each of her four years of high school: She earned varsity letters in volleyball three straight years as a middle hitter, named All-League First Team her sophomore and junior years. Her senior year, she set a school record for most blocks and kills in a single match, leading her team to a Los Padres League championship, and winning Los Padres League MVP honors. Meghan received athletic scholarship offers from many Division I schools and accepted a full volleyball scholarship to Purdue University in Indiana. During here junior year, Mosebar transferred to William and Mary in Virginia, where she also received a volleyball scholarship, graduating in 2000 with a Bachelor of Science in biology. While at William and Mary, she earned Dean’s List High Honors, All-Conference CAA Scholar Athlete, and was team Co-Captain 1999-2000. Meghan currently resides in Rockledge, Florida, where she has taught elementary school, and coached club volleyball. She now works with nonprofit organizations on the Space Coast of Florida, serving families with daycare and housing assistance, while enjoying life with her 19-year-old daughter and 7-year-old son.

Chris Pace

Pace graduated from Santa Ynez High in 2004. While at SYHS, he played water polo and soccer, and was a team captain on the swim team. Outside athletics he was the senior class president, a boys state school representative, and Eagle Scout. He was accepted into the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he graduated with a Bachelor’s in systems engineering management. While at the USAFA, he played water polo all four years, three times winning the varsity’s Hardest Worker Award, and in his senior year won the Derek Argel Memorial Award, for the athlete who demonstrates perseverance and an incredible work ethic, which was named for the former USAFA water polo player and alum of nearby Cabrillo High in Lompoc, who was killed in action in Iraq in 2005.

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The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District has restructured its leadership team in order to strengthen leadership, provide greater accountability, and prepare the district for the important work ahead, the district announced in a statement released on Friday, Sept. 5.

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District Board approved the appointment of Tori Martinez on Sept. 9, as the district moves from a combined principal/superintendent model with three assistant principals to a more balanced structure where Dr. Kimberly Sheehan will continue in her role as district superintendent, Martinez will be appointed to the role of principal, and Jasmine Day and Kelley Carter will continue in their current roles of assistant principals.

“Last year, when Dr. Sheehan was hired, the board chose to combine the roles to better align leadership, goals, and vision,” said Board President Chris Johnson at the meeting. “While Dr. Sheehan has worked diligently to fill both roles, the scope of the superintendent and principal roles has expanded significantly, making it impossible to fill both positions effectively.” 

Johnson added that as vice principal, Martinez had willingly taken on the expanded duties of the principal condition despite them falling outside her job description, and said that it is important to formally to recognize the scope of responsibilities fall under a principal’s job description, necessitating her appointment.

The district’s Sept. 5 statement said, “This change reflects the district’s commitment to aligning with best practices in education as it prepares significant initiatives in the coming years. With a dedicated principal in place, the district can more effectively address instructional leadership priorities and the continued expansion of educational program opportunities for students. At the same time, Superintendent Dr. Sheehan will have the capacity to focus on additional executive leadership responsibilities, including financial oversight, facilities planning, consortium management, charter authorization, accountability measures, and labor negotiations.

“The restructure also strengthens an important system of checks and balances. By separating the superintendent and principal roles, the district adds an additional layer of oversight and internal control. This change provides additional clarity for students, families, and staff.

The district also noted the change is essentially budget-neutral. The adjustment eliminates the need for payment of additional assistant principal work days and reallocates existing funds, including a reduction to the superintendent’s professional development stipend. In return, the district gains a leadership model that is more efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

Martinez has been a dedicated leader in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District since 2019. Most recently, she has served as an assistant principal at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, where she has coordinated and drafted master schedule development, overseen the Counseling Department and the Health & Wellness Center, provided oversight of WASC accreditation, and drafted the district’s LCAP. Prior to that, she served as the Refugio High School’s administrator and a teacher on special assignment, where she developed the district’s Independent Study and Online Learning programs. With a background in teaching English and communications, Martinez brings both classroom experience and extensive leadership expertise, all centered on her deep commitment to student success and community engagement.

“With Sheehan, Martinez, Day, and Carter leading the way, the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is well-prepared to meet the challenges ahead while keeping student success at the heart of every decision,” the statement concluded.

The post Tori Martinez named principal at Santa Ynez High appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

Nineteen-year-old Nevaeh Martinez is a recent graduate of Allan Hancock College and was awarded “Student of the Year” award and a scholarship for her accomplishments. She is now off to a new future at San Diego State University on her way to acquiring a degree in criminal justice. Nevaeh is the stepdaughter of Arturo (Cheech) Raygoza and daughter of Griselda and Richard Martinez. Her family dynamic has experienced the consequences of the alcohol and drug addiction crisis and has emerged, not only from
the trauma, but has triumphed, breaking the cycle of addiction and incarceration that plagues our society today.
Like so many of our youth who have grown up in dysfunctional families, victims of drug abuse, alcoholism, inadequate familial and societal structures, and incarceration, Nevaeh shares her story to help others attain insight into the struggles of children born into these dynamics and how she overcame them through education, fortitude, and a deep desire for a better life.
“I grew up not having my mother by my side because of her own struggles with addiction, which led to me getting into trouble, growing up too fast, and having a constant worry about what could happen next,” she said. “Although my dad has had his struggles as well, he has always been there and tried his best for all of us, working late nights to provide for us, keeping us warm and safe. Without his love and nourishment, our lives would’ve been much more difficult.”
In a previous story on Cheech Raygoza in the Santa Ynez Valley Star dated Aug. 2, 2022, wherein Griselda told her story of addiction and incarceration, she said that one of the inmates she met while incarcerated had a huge impact on her, inspiring her to realize how much damage she had caused, not only to her own life, but more importantly, to the lives of her children. She decided to get clean for the sake of her children, once and for all.
When Neveah was 12 years old, she and her siblings moved back in with their mother after being in their grandmother’s care for three years.
“My mother helped herself by making all the necessary changes in her life that were required to regain custody of me and my siblings. We then moved from Santa Maria to Los Alamos into an apartment,” she explained.
But with all the changes and uncertainty in Neveah’s life, there were also many struggles along the way.
“When we first moved to Los Alamos, I had to change schools. That was a big change for me,” she explained. “Plus, I didn’t know how to live a normal life with my mom, whom I had been away from for three years. It was a lot to get used to, but I did. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend school with my brother. He was in eighth grade, and I was in sixth. He was also getting in trouble, which made his teacher resentful towards him, and once he left to go to high school, the same teacher held the same
resentment towards me, which wasn’t easy because I was now the one getting picked on. This teacher made me think that I wouldn’t amount to anything, constantly bringing up my mother’s past to hold against me, just as he had done to my brother. I began to suffer from depression. When COVID hit, I was thankful because I didn’t have to see him anymore.”
Entering high school is a difficult transition in itself, and with the complications of COVID, her road ahead was fraught with more unexpected hurdles.
“I was 13 at the time, and I didn’t know what depression was until I felt it. I was always in my head, overthinking everything,” she explained. “And when I started my freshman year at Righetti High School, it was still during COVID, and I hated it. I lost all motivation, my depression got worse, I was failing school, and I was just stuck in a dark hole that I couldn’t seem to get out of.
“There were teachers who never really showed they cared because everything was so new. And there were counselors who didn’t guide me in the right direction when I needed the help. COVID changed everything. After that year ended, I transferred to Orcutt Academy High School, which was the best decision I’d made up to that point. The school was so welcoming and supportive, and my
teachers wanted to see me succeed. But after transferring, I had to play catch-up because of failing the previous school year. It was hard and kind of a setback, but I pushed and pushed myself.
During her junior year, she learned that she was able to cross-enroll into community college while still attending high school, and in so doing, it would help her catch up with her credits. She did that for the rest of her time in high school, and she said that it was the best feeling to have that opportunity and to get help from her stepdad and mother, who worked and ran the B.I.G.E. Club at Allan Hancock College, which her stepfather founded. Unfortunately, when her senior year rolled around, she was still at risk of not graduating due to one difficult class, despite all of the hard work she had put into her education. She fell back into a depression but pushed through it. She said that the thought of failing again was just “unthinkable.”
“I seriously thought that I was not going to make it, but I pushed myself again, and by the grace of God, I was able to pass the class,” she said. “During the second semester, I gave my life to the Lord Jesus Christ and got baptized. Without God’s strength and love, I wouldn’t be where or who I am today. I’m very grateful that I made that decision for myself because it allowed me to make a change and start over.”
Despite all the struggles she has faced, Nevaeh graduated from high school in 2024, and this year she graduated from Allan Hancock College in May. She received two degrees in administration of justice and liberal arts: social and behavioral sciences, and received four certificates of achievement.
She was awarded “Student of the Year” because of her accomplishments and also received a scholarship. She said that she is proud to have been accepted at all four universities she applied to: Cal State Long Beach, Chico State, San Diego State, and Fresno State. She is now attending SDSU to further her education and obtain a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice.
“From someone who has struggled with motivation and not liking school to someone who wants to learn and work hard for a life that I’ve longed for is a miracle. It was a long road, but I finally did it, and I’m now walking happily through life knowing that God’s plan is the right plan,” she added.
“My mom has been my greatest inspiration,” she said. “She has shown me so much about what this world has to offer. She alone gives me so much strength and motivation to keep pushing forward. She as a person is important to me because despite all of her pain and suffering, she broke the cycle with the help of my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza. I am very fortunate to have them both in my life. Without them I don’t know where my life would be or how it would’ve turned out. My stepdad has helped us all get out of this cycle of feeling that we don’t belong or aren’t good enough for this world. He is a prime example of God’s grace working in all of our lives. Not only did he help change my life and that of my family, but he also changed himself and now helps change the lives of people around him. They both grew into these amazing people and are willing to help those who are struggling today. They didn’t just turn their lives around; they turned my life and my views around. My mom is now attending Chico State University, working towards her bachelor’s degree in sociology. She has two associate degrees in human services addiction studies and sociology to become a drug and alcohol counselor. My stepdad has now earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology from UC Berkeley and is the founder of the B.I.G.E program, which helps formerly incarcerated students navigate higher education. You can see why they are my inspiration because they taught me that there’s beauty in the struggle and that no matter how big or small a situation is, we will always get through it; we just have to have faith in God and work hard. My family, Richard, Devin, Damion, Josephine, and Allyson, will continue to be my best support system and the best role models. And a sincere thank you to my stepdad, Cheech Raygoza, and my mom, Griselda Martinez, for their inspiration and guidance and for giving me a story that I am proud of.”

The post Breaking the cycle of family addiction and incarceration appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

By Pamela Dozois

Contributing Writer

After a life of neglect, bad choices, substance abuse, and incarceration, 57-year-old Arturo “Cheech” Raygoza has risen like a phoenix from the ashes, overcoming a mountain of hardships and obstacles to graduate from UC Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in sociology and on his way to acquiring his Master’s and then a Ph.D.
As recounted in a two-part story in the Santa Ynez Valley Star in 2022, Raygoza had been in and out of jail over a 13-year period, mostly for drug abuse charges. But in 2016, he made a decision to create a better life for himself and his children. He had received his GED while incarcerated, and when he was released, he decided to enroll in Allan Hancock College to take classes in auto mechanics. But for a teacher he met on his first day at class, Lynn Bacerra-Valencia, Raygoza said he would have quit, but instead he graduated from Hancock with honors, earning three Associate of Science degrees in automotive technology and two Associate of Arts degrees in sociology. He then enrolled in UC Berkeley with a determination to acquire a bachelor’s degree in sociology and give back to his community.

“I spent 13 years in and out of jail between 2001 and 2014 with only five or seven months between incarcerations. It was like a revolving door,” said Raygoza. “Most of my offenses were drug-related, and
never once was I offered a rehabilitation program. It was always ‘lock ‘em up and throw away the key.’ No one that looked like me came to talk to me, only people in suits who had never experienced what it was like being incarcerated or addicted to drugs, telling me how easy it was to break the habit and not come back to jail.”
While studying sociology at Allan Hancock College, Raygoza said that he was able to put his life into
perspective and realized that “society and the judicial system are structured for us to fail, with mass
incarcerations without rehabilitation and education,” which ultimately negatively affects society at its
core. He saw the need for reform and founded the Beyond Incarceration: Greater Education Club (B.I.G.E.), which helps formerly incarcerated students navigate higher education through the program he created.
“I never grew up wanting to become a drug addict or a criminal,” he stated. “I was a product of my
environment. I realized that a program like B.I.G.E. would have helped me as a youth, and that’s why I
feel this club is so important and must be continued.”

Raygoza now stands as an example for people who want to turn their life around.

“My story demonstrates that transformation is not defined by one moment but by a series of choices,
commitments, and community investments,” said Raygoza. “Today, as a graduate from UC Berkeley, I continue to inspire people from my community. My academic record reflects both determination and achievement. My academic excellence earned me acceptance into four University of California campuses, with UC Berkeley becoming my chosen home. I just received a bachelor’s degree in sociology, and aspire to continue my education through a Ph.D. program where I will focus on incarceration, education, and social justice. My work bridges lived experience with scholarship, offering powerful insights into the challenges and opportunities faced by system-impacted communities.”
Founded in 2016, the B.I.G.E. Club has grown into a thriving community resource under Raygoza’s
leadership. What began with a handful of students and a modest $100 startup fund has since received
over $19,000 in grants to support its programming. B.I.G.E. provides formerly incarcerated and socially
impacted students with mentorship, advocacy, and a safe space to pursue education. Raygoza goes on
to say that through workshops, peer support, and direct connections to resources, the club embodies
the belief that higher education can be a pathway to healing, opportunity, and empowerment. His
advocacy extends far beyond the campus. He speaks regularly at community forums, schools, and
academic events, highlighting the importance of breaking cycles of incarceration through education and
mentorship. For the past two and a half years, Raygoza has been speaking in San Francisco and Contra
Costa juvenile halls, telling his story to kids from someone who has been there.

“I’ve been to Rhode Island and Guadalajara and recently returned from Spain, where I was studying
abroad, sharing my experience, strength, and hope. My personal journey — marked by over seven years
of continuous sobriety, 08/03/2018 — serves as a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and
community support,” Raygoza continued. “Recovery has remained central to my success. It often
reminds others that sobriety is not simply the absence of substances but the foundation of a life rooted
in service, scholarship, and hope. My long-term vision is to bring my lived experience and academic
training together in research, teaching, and policy work that expands opportunities for justice-impacted
individuals. With my pursuit of a Ph.D. on the horizon, I am poised to contribute meaningfully to both
academic knowledge and community transformation.”
Raygoza feels that it’s never too late to turn the page of one’s life and start over and inspire others to do
the same.
“Dr. Cheech sounds pretty gangster!” Raygoza said, smiling. “My journey reflects the guiding truth that
‘it’s never too late for a new beginning.’ By investing in education, nurturing community, and leading
through example, I continue to show what is possible when determination meets opportunity.”
“I feel that I was given these life experiences to help make a difference in the lives of others who have
had similar lived experiences, culminating in poor life choices. Our club is all-inclusive — it’s not just for
the formerly incarcerated; it is also for students who want to work in the criminal justice system so that
they can acquire a fuller perspective and make a difference on their own,” he explained.
“This journey I am on is nothing short of a miracle,” Raygoza said. “My higher power, who I call God, has brought me through the darkness and into the light. I learned that drugs weren’t the problem; ‘Cheech’ was the problem, and I am now on a journey of healing myself and others, with God’s help.

“At 57 I feel as though I have barely grown up, and I know that I have a long way to go. But I’m on my way, one day at a time.”

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Staff Report

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is restructuring its leadership team in order to strengthen leadership, provide greater accountability, and prepare the district for the important work ahead, the district announced in a statement released on Friday, Sept. 5.

Pending approval at the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District’s regularly scheduled board meeting on Sept. 9, the district will move from a combined principal/superintendent model with three assistant principals to a more balanced structure where Dr. Kimberly Sheehan will continue in her role as district superintendent, Victoria Martinez will be appointed to the role of principal, and Jasmine Day and Kelley Carter will continue in their current roles of assistant principals.

“This change reflects the district’s commitment to aligning with best practices in education as it prepares significant initiatives in the coming years,” the statement said. “With a dedicated principal in place, the district can more effectively address instructional leadership priorities and the continued expansion of educational program opportunities for students. At the same time, Superintendent Dr. Sheehan will have the capacity to focus on additional executive leadership responsibilities, including financial oversight, facilities planning, consortium management, charter authorization, accountability measures, and labor negotiations.

“The restructure also strengthens an important system of checks and balances. By separating the superintendent and principal roles, the district adds an additional layer of oversight and internal control. This change provides additional clarity for students, families, and staff.

The district also noted the change is essentially budget-neutral. The adjustment eliminates the need for payment of additional assistant principal work days and reallocates existing funds, including a reduction to the superintendent’s professional development stipend. In return, the district gains a leadership model that is more efficient, equitable, and sustainable.

Martinez has been a dedicated leader in the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District since 2019. Most recently, she has served as an assistant principal at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, where she has coordinated and drafted master schedule development, overseen the Counseling Department and the Health & Wellness Center, provided oversight of WASC accreditation, and drafted the district’s LCAP. Prior to that, she served as the Refugio High School’s administrator and a teacher on special assignment, where she developed the district’s Independent Study and Online Learning programs. With a background in teaching English and communications, Martinez brings both classroom experience and extensive leadership expertise, all centered on her deep commitment to student success and community engagement.

“With Sheehan, Martinez, Day, and Carter leading the way, the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District is well-prepared to meet the challenges ahead while keeping student success at the heart of every decision,” the statement concluded.

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Students, families and staff filled campuses with excitement Friday morning, Aug. 15, as College School District launched the first day of the 2025–26 school year with a flag salute, BMX stunt show, and plenty of Bobcat spirit.

In the weeks leading up to the opening, preparations were in full swing. Two colorful new murals were completed at Santa Ynez Elementary School by the district’s art teacher. One mural proudly spells out the school’s name, while the second depicts vibrant bookshelves painted on the wall of the new Eighth Grade Bobcat Den, a dedicated space for the district’s oldest students. The art teacher also plans to create a third mural later this year at College School, celebrating the district’s youngest learners, the “Baby Bobcats.”

Another major upgrade included a long-awaited play structure at College School. The new structure replaces a 20-year-old set and features a shade canopy and musical play components, including bongo drums and a xylophone.

“We were able to find a play structure that also had a shade component for our youngest students, and we also added two musical components,” said Superintendent Maurene Donner. “It’s already a favorite spot for our students.”

Also, the school earlier this month had dedicated new tennis and pickleball courts on the campus. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation evenly split the cost of a $76,730 project to renovate the courts. They were initially installed by Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation in the 1980s, and after many years of quality use, had become worn and underutilized. Donner saw an opportunity to refresh the space and make it more versatile, with the aim of enhancing their physical education program and sharing the courts with the community.

While exploring avenues for funding, Donner applied for a grant through Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation, which partnered with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to make the project happen.

With the growing popularity of pickleball, Donner aimed to create a space that would better serve their students and the interests of members of the local community.

New teachers also joined the district this year, bringing fresh perspectives to the classrooms. To help the youngest students settle in, the district hosted its annual TK and Kindergarten Lemonade Party on Thursday, the day before school started. Known affectionately as the “Baby Bobcats,” the incoming students and their families were able to see classrooms, meet teachers and classmates, and ease into the start of their school experience.

Friday’s festivities began at 8 a.m. when students arrived, followed by all students gathering in the quad for introductions and the Pledge of Allegiance. After that, the district upped the ante with a high-energy performance from BMX Productions. The California-based crew blended gravity-defying tricks with lessons on being respectful, responsible and safe — values College School District emphasizes throughout the year.

“The BMX demonstration was a fun way to reinforce the importance of responsibility, respect and safety,” Donner said. “It’s a fabulous start to the school year. We’re so excited to have students back on campus, to see their shiny faces. They’re ready to learn — and so are we.”

Students agreed.

“I missed it more than I realized and it’s our last year, so we’re going to make it a good one,” said eighth grader Niki Ball.

“I was a little bit nervous this morning, but it’s been a good day,” added fellow eighth grader Mia Gonzalez. “I’m excited for the activities and being with my classmates again.”

Teachers and staff said the first day couldn’t have gone better.

“Today is the best day ever,” said Charlene Asmussen, first-grade teacher at Santa Ynez Elementary School. “The smiling faces, the whole school assembly, the hugs and the excitement — it’s amazing.”

Principal Anthony Bruemmer said the smooth opening was the result of months of planning.

“It was a lot of work getting ready for it, but the day went very smoothly,” he said. “The kids are excited, and our experienced and new staff are really gelling together well. It’s going to be a strong year.”

“Kids are very excited,” Donner added. “They’re happy. I walked around to each of the classrooms. They’re all ready to learn. It’s going to be a great school year.”

College School District serves students across two campuses: College School, which houses preschool, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, and Santa Ynez Elementary School, which enrolls grades 1 through 8.

Located at 3325 Pine St. in Santa Ynez, College School District creates a safe, positive and engaging school climate. A highly-skilled team of professionals work in partnership with students, parents, and the community, all dedicated to meeting the academic, behavioral and social-emotional needs of every student. Through rigorous curriculum and a system of support, students are prepared for high school, higher education, and future opportunities.

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The Santa Ynez Valley High School District has named Maddie Quiroga and Hannah Wright as its girls flag football co-head coaches. Wright and Quiroga both graduated from SYHS and currently coach the JV girls basketball team.  

Maddie Quiroga graduated in 2014, where she was captain of the varsity girls basketball team her junior and senior years. Maddie broke the school record for 3-point shots in a game and the record for points in a season, while also being named to All Los Padres League team her senior season. She is currently finishing school to become a teacher.

Hannah (Cantrell) Wright graduated from SYHS in 2015, where she was a captain of the girls volleyball and basketball teams. She was all-league in basketball for three years and was all-league in volleyball twice.  While playing volleyball, she broke the school record for hitting percentage in a game. Wright went on to play volleyball at Santa Barbara City College, where she was named all-conference both years. She graduated friom UCSB and is currently teaching at Jonata Middle School in Buellton.

“We are extremely excited to be starting girls flag football at SYHS,” SYHS Athletic Director Josh McClurg said. “It is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and we had to make it a priority to get it started. I have been impressed with watching Maddie as our girls head JV basketball coach the last three years. She has a great rapport with the girls and brings a positive energy that is needed as a high school coach. The girls program added Hannah as a JV coach this year, and the two of them work extremely well together, so it was a no-brainer on who we needed to have as our inaugural girls flag football coaches.”

Both coaches have deep ties with the Pirates athletic program. Wright’s father, Rob Cantrell, has been SYHS’s girls soccer head coach since 2005. Her mom and brothers all graduated from SYHS, with her brother Austin playing football for the Pirates the last four years. Her uncles all played football for the Pirates in the 1990s, and one of them, Brennan Swanson, went on to play football at Cal State Northridge and then had a short stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Her cousin, Harloe Swanson, will be a senior and is a member of the girls track 4×100 team that broke the 30-year-old school record this past season.  

Quiroga is a proud Santa Ynez Valley Chumash descendant of the first students/athletes to become Pirates in 1896. Her father, Michael Quiroga, graduated in 1980 after being a standout basketball, football, baseball, and tennis athlete. Mike was considered one of the best basketball shooters in school history. Since his passing, Maddie and her family have started the Mike Quiroga Scholarship Fund at SYHS in honor of his legacy. Maddie’s uncle, David Quiroga, was an all-star athlete at SYHS along with her aunt Lydia Quiroga.  Her sister, Ashley Quiroga, was a four-year varsity basketball starter for the Pirates as well.

“The fact that both coaches come from a long line of standout Pirate athletes is pretty special,” McClurg said. “I remember playing men’s league basketball at 18 years old and having to defend Mike Quiroga, who literally could shoot the lights out of gym. Hannah’s uncle, Brennan, and I were teammates on the Los Padres League champion football team in 1993, and went to elementary school together as well. The small-town connections of the Valley are what make our school so special and it is what helps to instill Pirate Pride in all of our athletes.”

The Pirates girls flag football team will play its first game on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Dos Pueblos (time TBA) and will play at Paso Robles on Thursday, Sept. 4. After weekend tournaments at Pioneer Valley and Lompoc high schools in September, SYHS will play its first home game on Tuesday, Sept. 16, against Lompoc.

A story on the two new coaches and the outlook of the Pirates’ first girls flag football team will run in the next issue, coming out Aug. 19.

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A new Waldorf-based school called Hundred Hills School will be opening this fall in Buellton. Historically, Waldorf education is based on the education philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. They are independent schools that follow the Waldorf philosophy, which is known for its emphasis on the arts, including music, theater, and visual arts, as well as its focus on the development of the whole child, including their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Its educational style is holistic, intended to develop pupils’ intellectual, artistic, and practical skills, with a focus on imagination and creativity.

Hundred Hills School is a private, nonprofit, co-educational day school for students in preschool through grade four. It was founded by passionate Waldorf parents Whitney Stevenson-Chanana and Sundeep Chanana, with the unwavering support from equally passionate Waldorf educators Chinyelu Kunz, Terri Webster, and Marjorie Rehbach.

According to its website, the school’s educational philosophy is influenced by a reverence for children’s EQ and IQ journeys, which are segmented into three stages, or the three I’s: Imitation, Imagination, and Intellect. The philosophy is manifested in a curriculum that elegantly prioritizes both academic rigor and experiential/kinesthetic learning.

“I was born and raised in the Valley,” said Stevenson-Chanana. “My father was a veterinarian who worked for Jim Buell in the racehorse industry in the ‘ 70s, and my mother was a substitute teacher. Just last week my mother gave me a book that she found in her things that was written by Steiner in the 1960s about education. When I was a child, my mother actively managed my education by getting intra-district transfers so I could access the best teachers and curriculum available. I attended Family School, Jonata School, Vista, and Los Olivos schools, and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. My parents supplemented my education by incorporating 4-H, horses, Suzuki Method violin lessons, art, and ag. My mom had a vision of what she wanted to cultivate in her children.”

After graduating from UC Davis, Whitney worked on Wall Street as a research analyst covering semiconductors, retail, and hospitality. She said that when she became pregnant with their first child, she wanted to do a home birth and raise their child outside of New York City, so she and Sundeep returned to the Valley in October 2020, just two months before their first son was born. All of her family still live in the Valley or nearby.

The journey to launch a Waldorf school began in 2021 when, thinking ahead, Whitney and Sundeep were concerned about the education they wanted for their children. She recalled that she was first introduced to Rudolf Steiner when she was living in New York.

“There was an intriguing little bookstore with a lot of books written by Rudolf Steiner, which was always intriguing,” Whitney recalled. “I had a friend who had interesting grown children, capable and smart people. He once commented that if he had more children, he would send them to the Waldorf School, which was located on the Upper East Side.”

“Actually, my husband gets all the credit for the idea of opening a Waldorf School here in the Valley,” she added. “We were trying to figure out how we could remain living here and have our children enjoy the kind of education we wanted them to have. It was his idea to open a Waldorf School here in the Valley. He initiated the process.”

The Chananas are on a site for the school on Dairyland Road in Buellton that was approved in a lengthy Buellton City Council meeting on July 24 (see story on page 6), which will grant them a five-year land lease to incubate the Hundred Hills School. After the initial five-year term, their plans are to build a permanent campus in Buellton.

Now the parents of three small children, ages 4, 2, and a newborn, the Chananas are looking forward to seeing all their hard work come to fruition with the opening of Hundred Hills School this fall.

Chinyelu Kunz is the founder of We Nurture Collective, a podcast she started in 2020. Stevenson-Chanana said she would listen to podcasts by Kunz, and that’s what led her to contact Kunz about opening a Waldorf School in Buellton, and they became friends.  

Born and mostly raised in Enugu, Nigeria, Kunz came to the U.S. after high school to attend college and majored in interior architecture at the New York Institute of Technology, and then studied architecture at Cal Poly Pomona.

“When my son was almost 2, I was introduced to Waldorf education,” Kunz said. “That was in 1992, and I have been completely involved in early childhood education ever since.”

“In 2020, I left the classroom and started podcasting, coaching, and supporting parents in parenting their young children,” she explained. “When Whitney brought up the idea of opening a Waldorf School in Buellton, I was wholeheartedly in favor. Then, by some miracle, my husband was offered a job in Santa Maria in aerospace, and within weeks we were moving from Pennsylvania to the Central Coast. I joined Whitney and became the joint head of Hundred Hills School.”

“Our goal is to create a Waldorf community that is not insular but builds a lasting and enriching relationship with the entire Valley,” said Kunz. “I am passionate about Waldorf education, and I see the benefits it has had on my three children, who are all grown up now.”

Kunz has published one parenting book titled “The Little Book of Parenting” and one children’s book titled “Away to Dreamland,” consisting of poems and stories for bedtime that will be released on Sept. 15. Kunz can be found @wenurture on Instagram, or visit her website at www.wenurturecollective.com.

The school is accepting enrollment for preschool and kindergarten for the fall 2025 classes. They also have a series of free events for families over the summer held on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at SYV Botanic Garden and Saturdays at 10 a.m. under the magnolia on the Buellton Library lawn.

“We have been really inspired by the way the pieces and the people involved have come together for our project to take flight,” said Stevenson-Chanana.

For more information, visit www.hundredhillsschool.org (a 501c3 nonprofit) or on Instagram @hundredhillsschool.

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The 2025 Summer Reading Program has crossed the finish line with success after this year’s theme invited readers to “Level Up at Your Library!” During the six-week program, over 1,247 readers participated in the all-ages program, logging an impressive total of 7,580 books and 148,039 minutes. The Summer Reading Program is an annual literacy tradition at the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, with a goal of connecting readers of all ages through community events and making reading even more rewarding through earning prizes.

This year, Children’s Librarian Kaeley Christensen redesigned the program to keep access levels high across all libraries while Goleta Valley Library moved into its temporary home during construction. The online tracking tool Beanstack allowed participants to log their reading from anywhere, at any time, while continuing to offer paper logs ensured that families could participate in their preferred format.

Events were held over the course of the Summer Reading Program at each of the libraries in the Goleta & Santa Ynez system. In Goleta, a first-ever Kick-Off event at Stow House attracted over 1,000 attendees who came to play games, register for the reading program, hear live music by Nathalia and Ukulele Jim, and even enjoy an interactive performance with Elemental Aerial Arts. Special events such as magic shows, hula lessons, outdoor concerts, and reptile visits continued throughout June and July at the Goleta Community Center, at the new Buellton Library’s outdoor spaces, and at Solvang Library, where there was often standing room only. The program concluded with a brand-new event in Goleta — a Silent Disco, where children ages 6-12 danced to their preferred music playlist through special wireless headphones! Overall, a total of 13 free community events were held, and 2,137 patrons of all ages gathered to learn, engage, and delight in these interactive performances.

The program would not have been such a success without the efforts of dozens of hardworking teen volunteers, who supported staff in essential ways: covering shifts at special events, awarding prizes as participants reported on their reading, and helping to take photos and interact with families during performances. Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries also wish to thank the many local sponsors whose generous donations of reading incentives helped participants meet and exceed their reading goals for the summer. Lastly, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, Friends of the Buellton Library, and Friends of the Library of the Santa Ynez Valley, whose incredible support funded prize incentives and special events throughout the program.

Planning for the 2026 Summer Reading Program is already underway – the libraries invite all for more literary fun next year!

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To be eligible for the Dean’s List, Muhlenberg College students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or better while taking three or more course units during a semester.

Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, four-year residential, liberal arts college in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, with nearly 2,000 bachelor’s and master’s degree-seeking students. The college’s curriculum and experiences are designed to open doors to new ideas, discoveries, friendships, and a lifetime of personal and intellectual growth.

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