Board Members

Wendy Sims-Moten
                                                                                                         
PRESIDENT

Wendy Sims-Moten, elected to the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board in 2016, is the executive director of First 5 Santa Barbara County. She has worked for the county for 23 years and has been an active resident for 30 years.

Sims-Moten, who served as Santa Barbara Unified School Board President in 2019, has dedicated much of her life to the progress and well-being of the community, having been involved in several organizations including the original Santa Barbara County Employee University Governing Council, Gateway Educational Services, CAUSE Action Fund, African American Women of Santa Barbara County, United Way Women United, and Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee.

Her commitment to education and children make her a great addition to the board of the Santa Barbara Education Foundation.

Sims-Moten’s current term expires in December, 2024.

Email her at: wsims-moten@sbunified.org

Gabe Escobedo
                                                                                                         
CLERK

Mr. Escobedo earned a Bachelor’s degree at California State University, San Marcos before earning a Master’s degree at St. Mary’s College of California. He works at UCSB as an Intramural Coordinator, overseeing an 18,000-participant program with a $600,000+ budget. Mr. Escobedo helped manage an evacuation center at UCSB during the Thomas Fire. He’s also served on the Planning and Community Formation Commissions at the City of Santa Barbara for the past 3 years. Mr. Escobedo is a member of the Board of Directors for Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) and Standing Together to End Sexual Assault (STESA) as well.

His current term on the school board expires December 2026.

Email him at: gescobedo@sbunified.org

Rose Muñoz
                                                                                                         
BOARD MEMBER

Elected to the Santa Barbara School Board in 2018, Rose Muñoz is a Santa Barbara native. She is bilingual and bicultural. Muñoz holds a Master’s in Social Work (MSW) and is recognized as the first social worker, in known history, to serve on the school Board. Muñoz, active in the school community, has volunteered for a Parent Teacher Association and was involved in the formation of the Equity and Excellence Committee at Dos Pueblos High School.

She is recognized for her work to support the passage of local school bonds for art and music programs and to increase funding for local schools. In addition to her work with the school community, she provided Spanish translation for the Pro Youth Movement and the Westside Community group. Her goal is to have a school culture that is inclusive and safe for all students. It is her belief that every student in our schools should have equal access to an excellent education, regardless of race, income or background. Muñoz and her husband, Luis, have two daughters ages 25 and 28 who attended public schools and benefitted from a public education in Goleta Union and Santa Barbara Unified School District.

Her current term expires in December 2026.

Email her at: rmunoz@sbunified.org

William Banning
                                                                                                         
BOARD MEMBER

William Banning was appointed to the Board of Trustees on January 12, 2023, to complete the term of Supervisor Laura Capps, who stepped down in November 2022.

He is a passionate advocate for public education with extensive experience in the field. He has a proven track record of working with teachers, administrators, and parents to improve student achievement and is committed to ensuring that every student in the district has access to a high-quality education and the resources they need to succeed.

Banning holds a Master's Degree in Organizational Leadership and retired as Superintendent of the Goleta Union School District in 2017. His 40-year career includes work in Administrative Services, Human Resources, and both elementary and secondary school site leadership. His teaching experience includes elementary, secondary, and university levels. He is looking forward to applying his skills and experience to make a positive impact on the District.

His current term on the school board expires December 2024

Email him at: wbanning@sbunified.org

Anastasia Li
                                                                                                         
S T U D E N T   B O A R D  M E M B E R

Anastasia Li is a senior at Dos Pueblos High School and serves as the Student Board Member for the 2023-2024 school year.

Anastasia chose to run for Student Board Member with a deep commitment to facilitating the best student experience possible. She is driven by her desire to ensure that a diverse range of students’ ideas and perspectives are heard and actively incorporated into district decision making.

She prioritizes student well being and strives to make school a place where all students can grow as learners and people while receiving the support they need to be successful. 

Email her at: studentboardmember@sbunified.