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SAN BERNARDINO – In recognition of their contributions to public education in San Bernardino County, 35 nominees in six categories for this year’s Education Medal of Honor have been announced.
The nominees will compete to be chosen for the 25th annual awards, and six recipients of those nominated for the Education Medal of Honor will be announced at a banquet on April 28 in Fontana at the Sierra Lakes Country Club.
Nominations for the Education Medal of Honor were made in six categories: Volunteer in Action/Community Volunteer; Volunteer in Action/Service Group; Partners in Education/Small Business or Franchise; Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency; Excellence in Education/Education Professional; and Excellence in Education/Student Alumni.
The Education Medal of Honor program is sponsored by the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools, the County School Boards Association and the County Communicators Network. School public relations professionals in Riverside County are judging this year’s entries.
For more information, contact the County Schools’ Communications office at 909.386.2413.
San Bernardino County 2016 Education Medal of Honor Nominees
Alta Loma School District
Judith Bach, assistant principal at Vineyard Junior High, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Chaffey Joint Union High School District
Josh Atkinson, student at Los Osos High School, Volunteer in Action/Community Volunteer
Jennifer Nicastro, English teacher and California Scholarship Federation advisor at Los Osos High, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Chino Valley Unified School District
Lisa Lista, teacher, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Robert Mount, teacher at Ruben Ayala High, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Kevin Russell, teacher at Ruben Ayala High, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Colton Joint Unified School District
Bertha Arreguin, director III of Language Support Services, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
City of Colton, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
Mirza Andrade-Martinez, mental health specialist for Mental Health Systems Central Valley Prevention Program, Volunteer in Action/Service Group
Susie Garcia-Torres, parent volunteer at Walter Zimmerman Elementary, Volunteer in Action/Community Volunteer
Colton-Redlands-Yucaipa Regional Occupational Program
Laura Bowden, K16 coordinator for ESRI, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
Conrad Calbes and David Jaffe, recreational coordinators for Redlands Community Center, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
Anita Nava, office manager of Allstate Insurance Co., Partners in Education/Small Business or Franchise
Cherie Towers, director of volunteer services at Redlands Community Hospital, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
Ross Veckey, agency owner of Farmers Insurance, Partners in Education/Small Business or Franchise
Etiwanda School District
Cucamonga Valley Water District, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
Rialto Unified School District
Dr. Cuauhtemoc Avila, superintendent, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Lea Michelle Cash, president and CEO of The Brightest Star, Inc., Volunteer in Action/Service Group
San Bernardino City Unified School District
Assistance League of San Bernardino, Volunteer in Action/Service Group
Erin Freeman, program facilitator and ASB director at Serrano Middle, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Ray Gallardo, vice principal at Arroyo Valley High, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Dr. Richard Hart, president of Loma Linda University Health, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
James McGarry and CR Tetlock, teachers and coaches, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Elizabeth Resmi Kackery, program specialist, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Thinkwise Credit Union, Partners in Education/Small Business or Franchise
Jesse Venegas, teacher at Arroyo Valley High School, Excellence in Education/Student Alumni
Dina Walker, president and CEO of BLU Foundation, Volunteer in Action/Service Group
Brian Willemse, program specialist and Common Core demonstration teacher, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools
Keynasia Buffong, chair of Inland Empire Alliance of Black School Educators, Volunteer in Action/Service Group
Dr. Jane Guttman, librarian media specialist and teacher, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Silver Valley Unified School District
Cynthia Anderson, kindergarten teacher at Newberry Springs Elementary, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
Danica Darden, volunteer at Fort Irwin Middle School, Volunteer in Action/Community Volunteer
Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District
Angie Nett, human resources manager for Sorensen Engineering, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
Travis Paye and team, captain of Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit-Station 552 – Crafton Hills, Partners in Education/Corporation or Government Agency
Jane Smith, Board of Education member, Excellence in Education/Education Professional
