The Santa Barbara Bowl is thrilled to announce Jennifer Peterson as the 2023 Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year! Congratulations Jennifer, your passion and dedication for teaching performing arts shines brightly!

Peterson is the Choir and Theater Director at Cabrillo High School in the Lompoc Unified School District and has a 25-year career in performing arts education.

In her last 15 years at Cabrillo, Jennifer has put on 34 plays and musicals with her students. “I mean full-length Broadway shows, with the exact same books and music you'd see in New York or on any professional theater company's stage, done on a shoestring budget in 8 weeks of rehearsal,” says Garson Olivieri, Cabrillo High School teacher and nominator of Peterson for this award.

“What she can pull off with so little is amazing, but that is not what makes it special. What is unique and special about Mrs. Peterson's program is not the show, but the students themselves. Mrs. Peterson always has the outcome for individual students in mind, and that outcome is time after time life-changing and self-affirming.”

Rick Boller, Executive Director of the SBBowl Foundation added, “The Santa Barbara Bowl celebrates Jennifer Peterson’s success and dedication. Her commitment to performing arts education and her students exemplifies the best parts of Santa Barbara County’s teachers.”

The Santa Barbara Bowl Performing Arts Teacher of the Year is an annual recognition of an exemplary performing arts teacher. The Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation, in partnership with the Santa Barbara County Education Office, selects one teacher based upon content of the nomination forms. The winner selected proves to be an excellent instructional leader who effectively inspires the creativity of students and serves the greater school community with performing arts.

The SBBowl Outreach provides essential support and resources to performing arts programs for K-12 youth in-school, out-of-school, during school and after school.

To find out more Bowl Outreach and all programs provided please visit: https://sbbowl.com/outreach/education/education_outreach_overview