Karen Dutton Joins Santa Barbara Education Foundation’s Board of Directors

Santa Barbara Education Foundation recently elected Karen Dutton to its Board of Directors as Santa Barbara Unified School District teacher representative.

An alumnus of the University of California Los Angeles, Dutton earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education, a Master’s in Education, and a teaching credential in Music.  

Dutton has taught music in the Santa Barbara School District for 34 years. She was instrumental in developing the current K through 6^th grade music program offered at all Santa Barbara Unified elementary schools and is co-founder of the District’s BRAVO! program, which provides comprehensive instrumental music instruction after-school for students in grades 4^th through 6^th. She currently teaches music at Adams Elementary School, providing general and instrumental music instruction. 

She also serves as the Wind, Brass, and Percussion Coach for the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony’s Camerata and Philharmonia groups and as the flute instructor for the Nick Rail Summer Band Camp. When she is not teaching, she plays with the Santa Barbara City College Flute Quartet.

As a product of public schools, Dutton believes in what it can do for students. “Public education ensures that every child has access to education, regardless of their economic or social background, and helps to create a more equitable and just society. By supporting public education, we are investing in the future of our communities and society.”

The Santa Barbara Education Foundation promotes private support of Santa Barbara’s public education system, serving over 12,500 students in 19 schools. For more information, visit santabarbaraeducation.org.