Downs, O'Hare Receive Distinguished Service Awards

James Downs, an administrator in the Colton Joint Unified School District, and Robin O'Hare, a teacher in Bear Valley Unified, are the recipients of the 2011 Distinguished Service Award.

They will be honored at the San Bernardino County School Boards Association spring meeting on April 25 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Victorville as the 21st and 22nd Distinguished Service Award recipients.

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 Downs, he has experienced the daily rigors of teaching in the classroom to being a district superintendent in his 38 years in pubic education.

As he prepares to retire in June, his legacy will be the countless co-workers, former students and colleagues he has mentored during his career.

"Mr. Downs has been a tremendous asset to the growth and well-being of all students in the Colton Joint Unified School District," wrote Mike Williford, an assistant principal in the Colton district and a former student of Downs when he was principal at Bloomington High School.

Beginning his career in public education as a band director in 1973, Downs demanded excellence in performance and that was apparent when his later bands at Arlington High School were judged consistently among the state's best.

Keeping that attention to detail and instilling confidence in his group's performers were traits that served him well as he moved into administration, first at Bloomington High School and later at the district office for Colton Joint Unified.

In 2007, when Downs was named superintendent in Colton, one of his first tasks was to devise a strategic plan for the district by reaching out to students, staff and community members for their input. He also was instrumental in getting the construction started for the district's third comprehensive high school in Grand Terrace, which is scheduled to open in 2012.

That has been the final stanza in a beautiful arrangement that has marked Downs' career.

For O'Hare, there's been a perfect pitch to the sound of her teachings at North Shore Elementary at Big Bear Lake.

Having been in education for the past 30 years - and the last 10 1/2 at North Shore - O'Hare is recognized as an innovator in her work as a special education teacher. But it's after the end-of-the-day bell rings at the school at 2:30 p.m. that O'Hare's day crescendos into a chorus of inspiring music.

Providing the energy, enthusiasm and direction of a voluntary choral program at North Shore, O'Hare has fundamentally changed the motivation and outlook of the 250 students who remain after school and some who come from around the district to take part in the program.

Deborah Malz, whose daughter performs in an ensemble chorus, said O'Hare's drive and focus has a profound effect on her students. "The amount of respect these students have for her is amazing," Malz wrote in her nomination of O'Hare.

After taking over the music program on a voluntary basis when the music teacher position was cut at North Shore nearly a decade ago, O'Hare grew the program from one group with 20 students to today with four choral groups, plus a handbell chorus, recorder band and drum corps, in which she brought in her husband, Ken, to instruct.

"It's a fabulous music program that is the envy of other schools around the state. The difference is Robin's focused vision, strong leadership skills and an incredible amount of hard work," said Kevin Amburgey, principal at North Shore.

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: Sharon Nagel (2010), superintendent (retired), Central School District; Dr. Herbert Fischer (2009), superintendent (retired), San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools; 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.

For additional information, please contact: by e-mail or by calling