2 Santa Barbara Unified School Facilities Named After Beloved Educators

In Santa Barbara, where the line between school and community often blurs, educators do more than teach—they build the spaces where young lives take shape. That enduring truth was on full display last week when the Santa Barbara Unified School District’s board of trustees formally approved naming two campus facilities after a pair of influential educators who left indelible marks on local students.

The Dos Pueblos High School Greek Theater has officially been named the “Scott Guttentag Greek Theater,” while La Colina Junior High’s central stage is now the “David L. Ortiz Palm Central Stage.” According to district officials, both men were selected for the profound impacts they had on their respective campuses, shaping not just academics but the culture and spirit of the schools.

According to Noozhawk, the district’s board of trustees approved the renaming measures last week, finalizing a process that had already been celebrated by students, staff, and families on the campuses themselves.

'Mr. DP' Gets a Birthday Surprise

For 36 years, Scott Guttentag has been a fixture at Dos Pueblos High School, spending 33 of those years as the school’s activities director. Affectionately known across the community as “Scotty G” or “Mr. DP,” Guttentag has been the orchestrator of the rallies, performances, and assemblies that define the high school experience for thousands of teenagers on Santa Barbara’s Westside.

The high school’s outdoor Greek Theater has actually borne his name since a surprise unveiling ceremony in May. The school managed to keep the secret under wraps, announcing the theater's renaming during a schoolwide assembly on Guttentag’s birthday, with his friends and family secretly in attendance.

“It was completely shocking and so beautifully done,” Guttentag told Noozhawk of the ceremony.

District Chief Operations Officer Steve Venz noted that the Greek Theater was the perfect venue to honor Guttentag, as it is the central hub for the very activities he oversaw for more than three decades. For Guttentag, the most touching part of the tribute was the outpouring of love from the student body.

“It’s one thing to be appreciated by the kids that I have a direct relationship with,” Guttentag said. “It was another to have random students come up to me and hug me and congratulate me. That is what made it even more special.”

The honor comes as Guttentag officially bids farewell to the Dos Pueblos campus, marking the end of an era. He noted that he is looking for his next opportunity to serve students. Because of Santa Barbara Unified school policy, the naming rights are temporary; the theater will bear his name until June 2027 before reverting to its original title. Still, Guttentag remains unbothered by the policy.

“Even if the letters aren’t up there, it will always be, to my family, the Scott Guttentag Greek Theater,” he said.

Remembering David L. Ortiz at La Colina

Across town at La Colina Junior High, the honors took on a more somber, reflective tone. The junior high's central stage, beautifully framed by the campus’s iconic palm trees, will now be known as the “David L. Ortiz Palm Central Stage.” A memorial plaque featuring an engraved photo of Ortiz was placed at the location earlier this year, accompanied by the message: “Dream it. Believe it. Achieve it.”

Ortiz served as the principal of La Colina from 1997 to 2019. He passed away earlier this year, prompting an outpouring of grief and a concerted effort from family, alumni, and community members to dedicate a space in his honor.

Venz told the board that Ortiz was "known for his hands-on and personal style as principal." According to a letter submitted to the board, Ortiz was the kind of leader who connected with students at lunchtime, personally maintained the campus on weekends, and built the staff that carried La Colina forward.

The Palm Central Stage was chosen because it was one of his favorite places on campus. Over his 22-year tenure, it was the site of countless eighth-grade graduation ceremonies, school events, and even the unveiling of the school’s 1959 time capsule. La Colina hosted a recognition ceremony for the renaming earlier this year before the board gave its formal approval.

A Legacy Etched in Campus Concrete

The decision to name facilities after Guttentag and Ortiz highlights the critical role that educators play in the broader 805 community. Schools are often the heartbeat of Santa Barbara neighborhoods, and the people who run them become local icons.

While Guttentag moves on to his next chapter and the La Colina community continues to mourn the loss of Ortiz, their legacies will remain visible. Whether it’s a student taking the stage for the first time or a senior class gathering for a final rally, the spaces that bear their names will serve as daily reminders of the dedication that shapes the next generation.