OUR COMMUNITY
DESERVES
HIGHER LEVELS OF
Effective Leadership
Educational Outcomes
Engaged Learners
Parental Involvement
Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools 2026
Why I Am Running
I am Christy Lozano, a 20-year veteran public school teacher in Santa Barbara County, a proud U.S. Air Force Veteran, and a devoted mother. Our local schools urgently need bold, effective leadership to deliver tangible results that support our families.
Over half of our 70,000 students are not reading proficiently. Two-thirds struggle in math. These are persistent issues demanding action. We must prioritize measurable success over just good intentions. As your next superintendent, I will provide steady oversight: slashing administrative bloat to redirect funds to classrooms—bolstering support for English learners, expanding arts, music, and career pathways, and raising teacher pay.
I will elevate academics through the "science of reading," early math tools, and targeted fixes for underperforming areas like Santa Maria. Safety is paramount: I will fortify protections against both negligence and threats, expand mental health resources, enforce smartphone limits, and ensure curriculum transparency to empower parents without creating division.
I will maximize federal funding while upholding community values. Together we will build a world-class education system. This will set our children up for a lifetime of success. I humbly ask for your vote on Election Day.
The SB County Board of Education has a $100 million dollar budget and oversees $1 billion in Local districts’ spending, including LCAP funds.This is enough funding to generate excellent outcomes.
PROBLEM: We can not keep doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. SOLUTION: Change. Change requires Courage. Christy has the courage to bring the change.
Let's Turn the Tide in the Santa Barbara County Schools Together!​
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A Few Proud Moments During My
20 year Teaching and Coaching Career
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My Teaching Method is called “Mining for Gold”
The beauty of watching a student grow is special because it happens through confidence and finding their own identity. It doesn’t take a lot of money. What it does take is teachers to guide students, commitment, patience, and resilience. My students achieved confidence, critical thinking, and resilience through my programs.
I was fortunate to be able build tailored fitness and sports programs at every school I served. My programs were very structured, rigorous, age-appropriate, rewarding, and required students to monitor their own progress using fitness and running cards so they could see their progress. This was an important element because it helped students be part of their own learning and inspired them to work hard.
During my career, I personally witnessed incredible strides in emotional and athletic skills. I have had runners that exponentially increased their running capacity. One memorable student, Felix, reached a 100-mile goal in first grade! He will probably be in the olympics one day.
Spencer was in first grade and could barely make three laps (six was a mile). The next year was equally challenging, but we worked on a plan that he could handle. In 3rd grade, it happened. He came to me and said “Coach, I am going to do my best mile ever,” and he proceeded to run his fastest mile. I was proud of Spencer and acknowledged his hard work by awarding him in PE. By helping him see that his goals were attainable, through hard work, he succeeded.
Most recently, my student Melody, succeeded in running 38 laps in 40 minutes a total of 3.25 miles or a 5k! When she began the running program she didn’t like to run and didn’t consider herself athletic, but she reached deep inside, found her gold, and reached her goal. The smile on her face was priceless. Melody had slayed her Goliath!
Like I said. My programs don’t take a lot of money. They take heart. We have below 50% proficiency in reading and 30% in math in Santa Barbara County Schools, despite our very large budget. We need leaders that will channel the money into the students for reading and math labs, and stop funding the admin. We need leaders who understand the process of learning and how to engage the learner. We need a leader that inspires students to find the gold within themselves. Success is mental and emotional. We need to cultivate that part of our youth.
I am – and will be – that kind of leader. Please vote Christy Lozano for County Superintendent of Schools 2026.
Join me in helping to build a solid and diverse educational foundation for every student, a life-long love of learning, and a well of meaningful knowledge to sustain and draw from for the rest of their lives.​​
About Christy
Teaching in Santa Barbara has been Christy’s passion, love, and career for the past 20 years. Throughout her tenure, she has held various roles, including Physical Education teacher, Leadership teacher, Department Chair, Union Representative, Teacher-In-Charge, Head Coach of the San Marcos Girls Soccer Program, trained LCI Bicycle Instructor, and advocate for youth.
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Over the years, Christy has taught at multiple educational levels: 8 years at the high school level (Dos Pueblos and San Marcos), 4 years at the junior high level (La Cumbre and Santa Barbara Junior High), and 6 years at the elementary level (McKinley and Cleveland), in addition to 1 year at a private school serving grades K-8. While she has experience across all grade levels, her true passion lies in teaching elementary students because it is so important to lay a solid foundation.
Christy holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master’s degree in Art with an emphasis in Educational Leadership, along with an Administrative Services Credential from Cal Lutheran University. Her enthusiasm for seeing students learn is at the heart of her work.
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As a mother of a teenage daughter, Christy understands that strong relationships are essential for creating profound and lasting positive change within our society.
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Additionally, Christy is a United States Air Force veteran who proudly served our country during wartime events surrounding 9/11. She served domestically at LAX and overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as part of a Medical Evacuation Squadron.
Christy's Vision
The Goal
The Goal
Each child is precious.
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Each child has a unique mix of talents and aspirations.
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This perspective serves as a foundational goal for our educational mission. To achieve this, parents, teachers, and the community must collaborate to create schools where the joy of discovery is never lost. By fostering such an environment, we ensure that the children in our care develop both mentally and physically into young people equipped with the tools and gifts necessary to understand who they are, how they can contribute, and to confidently embark on their journey into adulthood.
Current Obstacles
Despite the State of California continuously lowering expectations for students in literacy, math, and science, more than half of the students in Santa Barbara County schools fail to meet even these minimal standards. This alarming trend highlights the urgent need for effective leadership focused on ensuring positive educational outcomes.
In addition to this failure to teach foundational academic skills, school districts are prioritizing the dissemination of materials on sexuality and political activism. These resources are encouraged to be integrated into lessons at every grade level, yet they remain inaccessible to parents, as they are only posted on a password-protected website for teachers. This lack of transparency undermines parental involvement, which is essential for fostering a collaborative educational environment.
Furthermore, the county school budgets exceed one billion dollars, yet information about the county’s budget and vendor spending is not readily available on the county board of education's website. This raises critical questions about spending priorities and accountability. Why aren’t we provided with clear insights into how funds are allocated for the education of our children?
Christy's Solutions
Christy Lozano brings twenty years of experience as a teacher in Santa Barbara County schools, having taught every grade from elementary to high school in both public and private settings. She understands that a strong bond of trust among parents, teachers, and the community is the foundation of a successful school. This trust is cultivated through open communication, shared goals, clarity on how to achieve those goals, and collaborative efforts focused on student success.
Effective Leadership
​Christy knows that leadership means, first, listening—to parents, teachers, staff, and the whole community. She will work tirelessly to make sure that our schools serve the students’ best interests. She will help bring parents, teachers, and the community together on one of the most important jobs we have—making sure that the children who are our future, will, by the end of their schooling, have the knowledge and the character to be productive citizens and leaders.
Educational Outcomes
Teaching methods will be evaluated based on their outcomes. Schools that are leading the way serve as models for others to follow. In contrast, those schools that demonstrate significant deficiencies will undergo restructuring to ensure their success. It is essential to return funding, resources, and personnel to the classroom, where they can have the greatest impact. Furthermore, we must expand educational opportunities in the arts, music, sports, STEM, and career pathways. Given the low proficiency rates and the fact that some of the longest COVID-related school closures in the nation have occurred here, we have considerable ground to make up.
Engaged Learners
Schools should be engaging environments where students feel safe to learn and are actively involved in their own educational journeys. It is crucial to implement reasonable expectations and approaches to managing schools and classrooms, addressing disruption, and violence effectively. Christy is committed to utilizing both restorative methods and, when necessary, implementing disciplinary protocols and actions, to ensure that all our schools remain secure and conducive to learning.
Parental Involvement
Parental involvement in education is crucial for student success and enhances the overall educational experience. A healthy school environment consists of schools, parents, and the community working together to help children learn and grow. It is vital for parents to attend school events and meetings, volunteer in classrooms and on committees, support homework and learning at home, and participate in parent-teacher organizations. The benefits of parental involvement include improved academic performance, enhanced social skills and behavior, stronger school-community relationships, and increased student motivation and engagement. Together we can affect the whole child in positive ways.
