Ruble Honored with Distinguished Service Award

They have done so much for the students of San Bernardino County, as well as for public education.  But on April 30, they were the recipients of accolades and awards at the San Bernardino County School Boards Association spring meeting where recipients of the Education Medal of Honor and Distinguished Service Award were recognized.  The Fontana Unified School District is especially proud to announce that one of this year's Distinguished Service Award recipients is retired FUSD Board Member Dr. Wayne Ruble.

Over the last 48 years, Dr. Ruble has served the Fontana Unified School District as a teacher, administrator and board member.  After coming to Fontana in 1958, Dr. Ruble taught English and special education at Fontana High School, where he established the first programs in the district designed to serve the needs of exceptional students.  He became the district's first coordinator of special education and served as president of the county's Council for Exceptional Children.

According to FUSD Superintendent Jane Smith, Dr. Ruble has built a rich educational legacy both for the local community and across the county.  "Truly, Dr. Ruble's entire career has exemplified educational values, made a lasting impact and serves as a role model to all of us who follow in his footsteps," Smith wrote in her nomination.

After retiring from FUSD as an administrator in 1985, Dr. Ruble was elected to the Fontana Board of Education where he served 21 years.  He was inducted into the County Museum's Teachers Hall of Fame in 1985.  He continues to serve the Fontana community as chairman of the Fontana Cultural Arts Commission and as a member of the Fontana Parks and Recreation Commission, the YMCA Board of Directors and the county's Mental Health Advisory Board.

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.

Along with Dr. Ruble, Wilmer Amina Carter was honored as a Distinguished Service Award recipient.  Carter is a former Rialto Unified Board member who now serves in the State Assembly.

In addition, this year's Education Medal of Honor recipients are: Miles Petroff, community volunteer for Chino Valley Unified School District; Madelene Handy of the Assistance League of Redlands for Redlands Unified; Buck Goodspeed of R.E. Goodspeed and Sons Distributing, Inc., for Hesperia Unified; Johan Gallo of Bridgestone/Firestone for the County Schools' Regional Occupational Program; and Evangeline Molina, a teacher in Colton Joint Unified.

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