Gary Thomas, Ed.D. County Superintendent

Superintendent's Message

County Schools Recognizes Those Who Make Difference

Around this time each year, we honor many groups who make a difference in public education. On May 6, it was National School Nurse Day. On May 13, it's the Day of the Teacher. Toward the end of the month on May 18-22, it's Classified School Employee Week. Even before we recognize those deserving celebrations, there's another highlight as County Schools helps in honoring individuals and groups who make a difference for our students and schools in San Bernardino County.

On April 27, the San Bernardino County School Boards Association held its annual spring meeting and recognized those in public education deserving of the Education Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Award. These two countywide honors allow us to celebrate those who have gone above and beyond in providing support and volunteering their time to our K-12 students.

Below is a list of this year' honorees in six categories for the Education Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Service Award recipient.

• Volunteer in Action/Community Volunteer: Barbara "Bobbi" Cummings, a community volunteer for the Redlands Unified School District. Barbara is a tireless volunteer throughout Redlands, serving on multiple parent-teacher boards. Annually, she chairs the district's popular Reflections program that promotes the arts, and she also has started choral programs at two elementary schools.
• Volunteer in Action/Service Group: Delta Rho Chapter of the National Sorority of Phi Delta Kappa for San Bernardino City Unified. The group stimulates professional growth among teachers while promoting the highest ideals of the profession. Its annual Black History Bee for the past 26 years has drawn several hundred elementary and middle school students annually.
• Partners in Education/Small Business or Franchise: Shakey's Pizza for the Redlands Unified School District. Restaurant owner Chuck Wilburn has been a longtime supporter in the district through his Lunch with the Principal program, which includes a free lunch for 10 students monthly from 15 elementary schools. Chuck is a two-time recipient of the award, having been first honored in 1994.
• Partners in Education/Corporation: Gottschalks for the Colton-Redland-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program. Behind the leadership of Eileen Gallardo, the human resources manager of the Redlands store, Gottschalks has been an important contributor to the Workability program, which helps high school students with special needs find employment in their communities.
• Excellence in Education/Education Professional: Thomas Nalbach, teacher at Cucamonga Middle School in the Central School District. As a music teacher, Nalbach has influenced generations of students in the district with his passion and exemplary skill in teaching music. His former students tell him that they share with their children their love for music that the parents learned from him.
• Excellence in Education/Student Alumni: Roger Kowalski, former administrator in Colton Joint Unified. The '65 Bloomington High graduate returned to the district as a teacher, site administrator and district administrator before retiring in August 2008. He has inspired many former students to follow his path in returning to the district as educators.
• Distinguished Service Award: Herbert Fischer, former county superintendent. In his 39 years of service in public education, Fischer made his mark as a leader and advocate for county students and their peers statewide. Even though he retired in 2008, Fischer's legacy as an educational leader remain in the strong programs he founded during his 10-year tenure as county superintendent.