Adelante Charter School Teacher Earns Statewide Recognition

Erika Ruiz Santillán named California Association for Bilingual Education's Teacher of the Year

Apr. 1, 2026 at 11:41pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Erika Ruiz Santillán, a third grade teacher at Adelante Charter School in Santa Barbara, was named the 2026 Teacher of the Year by the California Association for Bilingual Education (CABE). The award recognizes Ruiz Santillán's work as a bilingual educator, her leadership, and her positive impact on students.

Why it matters

Ruiz Santillán's honor highlights the importance of bilingual education and the dedication of teachers who help students become stronger leaders in their communities by developing fluency in multiple languages and celebrating diverse cultures.

The details

Ruiz Santillán, who grew up just blocks from Adelante, first became interested in education as a teenager when she taught a children's Mexican folk dance group. She has been teaching since 2009, starting at the former César Chávez Charter School and then moving to Adelante when it reopened in 2010 with a 90/10 dual immersion model. Ruiz Santillán is known for her attention to individual student needs, high expectations, and collaborative approach with colleagues.

  • Ruiz Santillán received the award at CABE's 2026 conference in San Francisco.
  • In 2025, Adelante saw student English and mathematics proficiency scores jump up by 13 and 16 percentage points, respectively.

The players

Erika Ruiz Santillán

A third grade teacher at Adelante Charter School in Santa Barbara who was named the 2026 Teacher of the Year by the California Association for Bilingual Education.

Adelante Charter School

A dual-immersion school in Santa Barbara that practices the 90/10 model, where kindergartners learn in Spanish 90 percent of the time and English the other 10 percent.

Javier Bolívar

The Executive Director of Adelante Charter School.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It was such a full circle moment for me, because I started as an English learner myself. I am like my students. I'm a mirror for them.”

— Erika Ruiz Santillán, Third Grade Teacher, Adelante Charter School

“Bilingual education, for my students, helps them become stronger leaders in their community. They're able to communicate with more people. They have stronger views of themselves, and they're more confident.”

— Erika Ruiz Santillán, Third Grade Teacher, Adelante Charter School

“I was proud of not just myself, but of my mom and my teachers that I've had, and all the teachers that come to mind that have motivated me to be the teacher that I am. I was proud of myself, proud of my family, and proud of my community.”

— Erika Ruiz Santillán, Third Grade Teacher, Adelante Charter School

The takeaway

Ruiz Santillán's recognition as California's top bilingual educator highlights the vital role teachers play in empowering students, especially English language learners, to become confident, successful leaders in their communities through a rigorous, culturally-affirming education.