$2.4 Million Grant Benefits Future Teachers

Westmont students earning a teaching credential in the next four years could benefit from a $2.4 million grant program. The college and the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) have launched a new initiative providing funds for students seeking a teaching credential and a position in California public schools. Each person will receive a $33,000 stipend for tuition at Westmont and other living expenses, providing a yearlong, classroom-based pathway to the teaching profession.

“This investment allows us to grow our own educators and build a stronger, more representative teacher workforce for our schools,” says John Becchio, SBUSD’s assistant superintendent of human resources. “Through this partnership with Westmont, we’re preparing teachers deeply connected to the community and ready to serve our students.”

“Effective teachers develop through practice and strong mentorship,” says Sally Hawkins, assistant professor of education at Westmont. “Our partnership places candidates in classrooms from the start, allowing them to learn the craft of teaching while contributing meaningfully to local schools.”

“Our partnership places candidates in classrooms from the start, allowing
them to learn the craft of teaching while contributing meaningfully to local schools.”

“It’s powerful for students to see themselves in their teachers, who may have attended the same elementary, junior high or high school they do,” Becchio says. 

Teacher candidates spend three days a week in SBUSD classrooms for a full academic year, working alongside experienced mentors while completing post-graduate graduate coursework at Westmont. Participants will actively support instruction, engage with students and develop their teaching practice.

The initiative aims to expand the local workforce by recruiting teacher candidates who reflect the backgrounds of the students they serve. Providing tuition stipends to reduce financial barriers allows the partnership to create a direct pipeline for local students to Santa Barbara teaching positions. The grant also funds mentorship and program development to ensure the program’s long-term impact and reach.

The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing awarded the four-year grant through the Teacher Residency Implementation and Expansion Grant Program, the final round of state funding for residency programs.

With funding secured, SBUSD and Westmont will begin their partnership by recruiting the first cohort of teacher candidates for fall 2026, developing mentor teachers and coordinating clinical placements.

To learn more or to apply, visit westmont.edu/teach.