Brittany Santillana Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Brittany Pearson Santillana Memorial Scholarship is designed to assist qualified high school, undergrad and graduate students in California seeking careers in special education. The scholarship is named in honor of my cousin, a special education teacher who passed away at age 34 on March 27, 2024, due to complications following brain surgery. Brittany was devoted to her students of the Newport-Mesa School District in Costa Mesa, CA, where she had taught as a fulltime special ed teacher for nearly eight years, following substitute positions in Irvine and Tustin. She received her B.A. from California State University, Bakersfield, and her master’s degree in special education and her teaching credential from National University in San Diego. A lifelong Southern California girl, Brittany learned about special needs children at a young age. She grew up assisting her parents Michael and Kathy Pearson with the care of Britt’s younger sister, Sydney, a non-verbal cerebral palsy patient. Brittany was especially close to Sydney, and Sydney inspired Britt to follow her dream of teaching students with disabilities. Brittany’s family would like to honor her legacy by helping other young people pursue this important educational field. According to NPR*, 44 states reported special education teacher shortages to the federal government in 2019; in 2022, that number increased to 48. California is among the few states that offer provisional licenses to help staff special education classrooms; however, this practice “concerns some special education experts. They worry placing people who aren't fully trained for the job in charge of classrooms could harm some of the most vulnerable students.” The need for qualified special education teachers in Brittany’s beloved home state is acute. We hope that the Brittany Pearson Santillana Memorial Scholarship can be of some assistance to future California special ed teachers to help meet this need, and to give these young people a boost toward making their dreams come true, as Brittany did hers. * Gaines, Lee V. “Students with disabilities have a right to qualified teachers — but there's a shortage.” Text of All Things Considered episode, NPR / WNYC, April 20, 2022, retrieved April 15, 2024; https://www.npr.org/2022/04/20/1092337446/special-education-teacher-shortage