SBCSS News and Press Releases

Former County Superintendent Fischer Receives Distinguished Service Award

2009-04-28

REDLANDS - Herbert Fischer, the San Bernardino County superintendent for 10 years and former superintendent of the Colton Joint Unified School District, is the recipient of the 2009 Distinguished Service Award.

Fischer was honored at the San Bernardino County School Boards Association spring meeting on April 27 at the University of Redlands' Casa Loma Room as the 19th Distinguished Service Award recipient.

Established in 1998, the San Bernardino County Distinguished Service Award celebrates exceptional and distinguished service sustained over many years. The purpose of the award is to recognize dedication and leadership on behalf of public education in San Bernardino County. Recipients are those who have been willing to take risks to improve educational opportunities for students; have had broad community involvement; have been willing to speak out on issues that have an impact on children; and have the respect of their peers. Up to two recipients may be selected annually.

For Fischer, he spent 39 years in public education, including being elected three times to office for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools. He made his mark as a leader and advocate for county students and their peers statewide. As the county superintendent until his retirement in 2008, Fischer founded ground-breaking academic programs, oversaw the state's largest building program for a county office of education and collaborated with partners in business, labor, community and faith-based organizations to bring education issues to the forefront of discussion in the county.

One cornerstone of his administration was the implementation and growth of the Alliance for Education, a program that has more than 1,500 partners in business, labor, community and faith-based organizations to bring relevance and rigor to secondary education in the county.

Its success in focusing instruction to improve opportunities in math and science, fostering collaboration among educational institutions through councils ranging from preschool through university students (P-16 Councils) and bringing together business and labor leaders to share their experiences with students has been a model replicated and advocated by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell. When O'Connell formed a statewide P-16 Council last year, he named Fischer as one of the founding members to help the quest to close the achievement and access gaps that exist across California. It came as no surprise that following his retirement, State Superintendent O'Connell called upon Fischer to forward California efforts to make sure high school graduates are prepared for the challenges of work or college through the American Diploma Project.

"As an educator, Dr. Fischer established a legacy in our county that will impact students, their families and our communities for years to come, under his vision of 'Teach them well. Keep them safe. Prepare them for the future,'" wrote County Superintendent Gary Thomas in his nomination of Fischer.

As an education leader, Fischer made an impact well beyond the borders of San Bernardino County. In addition to serving on State Superintendent O'Connell's statewide P-16 Council, Fischer served as the chair of the statewide Fiscal Crisis Management and Assistance Team. In 2008, Fischer was appointed to chair the California State University Educational Doctorate Advisory Committee by Chancellor Charles Reed. As the legislative chair for the California County Superintendents Educational Services Association, he has advocated tirelessly for legislation at both the state and federal levels for California's students.

The Distinguished Service Award competition is co-sponsored by the San Bernardino County School Boards Association (SBCSBA), the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, the San Bernardino County Committee on School District Organization, and the Fifth District PTA.

Past recipients are: Don Averill (2008), chancellor (retired), San Bernardino Community College District; Janey Kozlowski (2008), legislative analyst (retired), San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools; Wilmer Amina Carter (2007), board member (retired), Rialto Unified; Dr. Wayne Ruble (2007), board member (retired), Fontana Unified; Kathleen Campbell (2006), board member (retired), Bear Valley Unified; Dr. Theodore Vick (2005), member (retired), County Board of Education; Dr. Sonja Yates (2004), superintendent (retired), Central School District; Irene M. Newton (2003), superintendent (retired), Rialto Unified; Joan R. Weiss (2003), board member, Central School District; Dr. John Preston Miller (2002), board member (retired), County Board of Education; Dr. Russell R. Reynolds (2002), superintendent (retired), Bear Valley Unified; Dorothy Gibson (2001), board member (retired), County Board of Education; Ann Davis-Schultz (2001), learning support/grants coordinator, Redlands Unified; Ray Abril, Jr., (2000), board member (retired), Colton Joint Unified; Barbara Phelps (1999), board member (retired), Redlands Unified; Dr. E. Neal Roberts (1999), superintendent (retired), San Bernardino City Unified; Brenda Boss (1998), board member (retired), Bear Valley Unified; and Dr. Loren Sanchez (1998), superintendent (retired), Upland Unified.