Monte Vista Elementary School teacher Allison Heiduk has received the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara’s Teacher Recognition Award for the 2021 fall quarter. Heiduk, who teaches third-grade, was presented with a plaque and $1,000 by the Rotary Club on Oct. 29.

"We celebrate Ms. Heiduk's continued dedication and commitment to providing meaningful engagement and learning experiences for her students and serving as an educational leader," said County Superintendent of Schools Susan Salcido, whose office coordinates the recognition with the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara. "The Rotary Club's recognition program underscores the value our community places on high-quality education," she said. “Thank you to the Rotary Club for supporting teachers and our schools."

Heiduk plans to share the $1,000 award with her school community by giving each grade a portion of the money to build classroom libraries, or purchase teaching materials or equipment needed to serve the needs of all students at Monte Vista. The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has honored outstanding teachers from South Coast schools each year since 1986. The club awards a secondary, elementary, and special education teacher with a certificate and a $1,000 check to spend on classroom needs.

"The Rotary Club of Santa Barbara has a long tradition of supporting the youth in our community," said Matt Nehmer, Rotary Club of Santa Barbara president. “Rewarding excellent teachers like Ms. Heiduk is one way we do that. “There are so many outstanding teachers here, and the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara's Teacher Recognition Award program is our way of showing how grateful we are for their work."