40 Years Later, Teachers are Still Heroes

California Elementary School celebrated educators who made significant impacts on their students' education, lives and futures, reuniting students with the very people they call their heroes 40 years later. On Friday, Jan. 23, students and teachers gathered at Manuel A. Salinas Elementary School on California Street as they conducted the Mrs. Willie Maude James Award Assembly. The assembly, overall, honored Mrs. Willie James for her service in the San Bernardino School District of over 30 years. It has been over 40 years that she has been impacting children’s lives throughout the community. Later that afternoon, at the Days Inn Hotel, all alumni students, teachers and family members gathered for a luncheon with a ceremony to award the 11 educational honorees who have also made the same impact. California Elementary School alum and event host Byron Stringer, as well as other alum students, were instrumental in making the reunion happen. “We all decided that this is the way to celebrate our heroes that made such a big difference in our lives,” Stringer said. “We love you. We can't tell you thank you enough,” he said to his heroes. Starting at noon, as people piled in, lunch was served as old friends caught up and mingled. Alum Donna Overton-Hope then started the ceremony with a prayer as attendees finished their lunch. Prior to bringing the honorees up to the podium, previous students each got a chance to read the honorees' biographies before presenting them with their certificate and award. Honored educators included: George C. Brown, Andrew G. Brown, Ms. Gleda Moss Bridges, Mrs. Mildred L. Geiger, Dr. Mildred Dalton Hampton-Henry, Dr. Margaret B. Hill, Ms. Carolyn Martin, Ms. Victoria Rose Stringer, Ms. Carrie Swanson, Mrs. Mary Ann Vincent, and Mrs. Willie James. Each alum student had the opportunity to come up to the podium to briefly say thanks and reminisce about the times at California Elementary School. “I’ve had a very successful life, a beautiful childhood. I wouldn’t trade it in for anything and Mrs. James was a big part of it,” Walter Parker told the crowd. “I feel so honored to be in your presence today and I just want to congratulate you. I admire every elementary school teacher I come in contact with,” Dr. Margaret Hill humbly told her fellow honorees while at the podium. “And Ms. James, I always liked you but today I have to say I love you,” she added while the crowd chuckled. When it came time to honor the late Ms. Carolyn Martin, her daughter, son and sister came up to accept the award and share a brief speech in her honor. Her son, who is also an alumni of California School, Harold Martin, nearly speechless, said, “On behalf of my mom I’d like to thank all of you. I know she’s here, smiling at all of us right now,” as Stringer wrapped his arms around Martin to give him a hug. The entire luncheon was dedicated to awarding and celebrating every single honoree. “If we could give you a billion dollars, it wouldn’t be enough,” Stringer said to the honorees. Master Artist Charles Bibbs also made an appearance and unveiled two pieces of his own artwork, then given as gifts from the California School alumni to former teachers Mildred L. Geiger and Willie James.