ABOUT
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My name is José Juan Ibarra, and I have resided in Los Olivos since 1978. Upon immigrating from Mexico at age 12, I attended Los Olivos Elementary School and began working in the agricultural and service industry in the Santa Ynez Valley. I earned my high school diploma from Midland School and then double-majored in Environmental Studies and Chicano Studies at the University of California Santa Barbara. In 2009, I returned to my alma mater to complete a Master's degree in Spanish. I have spent the last 28 years as an educator, and I currently serve as the Dean of Students, the Athletic Director, and an upper-level Spanish teacher at Midland School.
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My wife, Arcelia Sención, and I have two daughters, Deyanira and Zoraida. Deya recently graduated from Wellesley College and is continuing her graduate education in public health at USC, and Zoraida attends Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. As a family, we have made it a priority to contribute to our community in any way we can. For 14 years, Arcelia worked with a local, non-profit organization that benefits families and individuals experiencing short- and long-term economic distress. Arcelia and I have volunteered in multiple community-based efforts to address needs in the SY Valley, and we are members of the steering committee for Inclusion SYV.
I am ready to put my experience to use. I am committed to engaging in dialogue and to identifying ways in which we--administrators, educators, support staff, coaches, and community members--can enrich the learning spaces our schools provide. In my 28 years as an educator, I have learned that the social-emotional wellness of a child is fundamental to their learning and development into adulthood. As research increasingly shows, a child’s development and academic success are undoubtedly linked to a safe and affirming learning environment.
In the last 42 years, nine of my siblings and 16 nephews and nieces have attended Santa Ynez High School, and I anticipate many more descendants of the Ibarra family will do so in the future. Over the years, I have been keenly aware of the various experiences students have had in the education systems in our valley. I have seen some students thrive, and I have also seen others fall through the cracks. It is for this reason that I am running for the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District School Board.
I am ready to put my experience to use. I am committed to engaging in dialogue and to identifying ways in which we--administrators, educators, support staff, coaches, and community members--can enrich the learning spaces our schools provide. In my 28 years as an educator, I have learned that the social-emotional wellness of a child is fundamental to their learning and development into adulthood. As research increasingly shows, a child’s development and academic success are undoubtedly linked to a safe and affirming learning environment.
In the last 42 years, nine of my siblings and 16 nephews and nieces have attended Santa Ynez High School, and I anticipate many more descendants of the Ibarra family will do so in the future. Over the years, I have been keenly aware of the various experiences students have had in the education systems in our valley. I have seen some students thrive, and I have also seen others fall through the cracks. It is for this reason that I am running for the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District School Board.
