When Nancy Munguia Bowman first started teaching biology at Westlake High School she felt the students needed more. So she created a highly selective, intensive Advanced Anatomy class, where students actually worked on cadavers—one of the only such programs in the U.S.

According to former Westlake High School Principal Ronald A. Lipari, “I have found Nancy to be one of the top three educators whom I have encountered in my 40 years as an educator.”

By leveraging a relationship with Loma Linda University, Bowman was able to secure the human cadavers by creating fundraising projects that benefit the university and the community.

Husband Gary Bowman, who taught in the Oxnard Union High School District, noted in his wife’s Ventura County Educators’ Hall of Fame recommendation that even though she has retired from teaching full time, she is still teaching an Advanced Anatomy class.

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Physician Matthew Zapf, M.D., MSc., said his experience with Nancy Bowman’s class was life-changing. “Nancy Bowman is one of the most influential forces in my life. If you met her you would know that the word ‘force’ is a perfect descriptor. Being selected for her Advanced Anatomy class my senior year of high school (class of 2000) solidified my life path,” he said. “I completed 10 years of medical education and surgical training, yet no experience stands out more prominently than those hours I spent under her instruction and guidance. There is no other course in this country—to my knowledge—which empowers students to dissect, as done in medical training, as a high school student.”

Former Westlake counselor Martha Aggazzotti said the Advanced Anatomy class taught students more than just the science of the subject. “Nancy creates a positive culture and environment in class, not only teaching dissection, but also exposing students to the ethical and moral issues surrounding medicine,” Aggazzotti said.

Author Echo Heron has been visiting Bowman’s class since 1997 as a guest lecturer. “I have been in the classroom when past students come back to visit Nancy, their admiration and appreciation obvious. Many of her students go on to become surgeons of every stripe, nurses, dentists, etc. I have never met another teacher who cares so passionately about the profession of teaching, nor one who cares so deeply about her students, both past and present.”

Among her awards and community involvement are: Amgen Award for Teacher Excellence (1993); Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of Ventura County (1993); UCSD Outstanding Teacher Recognition Program, High School Teacher of the Year (1998); UCSD Outstanding Teacher recognition Program, Award of Excellence (2000); Conejo Valley Unified School District, California Teacher of the Year Nominee (2002); Conejo Valley Rotary Club, High School Teacher of the Year (2003); The Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation Award Finalist (2007); California Legislature Assembly recognition (2007); State of California Senate recognition (2007); County of Los Angeles Congratulations (2007); Organized and supervised fundraisers to donate $4,000 a year to benefit the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital with special emphasis on the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (2003-present); Nurse Appreciation Day at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, provide nutritional treats to nurses to show appreciation for their work (ongoing); Grossman Burn Foundation, contribute up to $500 each year to benefit underage burn survivors (2014-present); contributed $2,500 that was distributed among five charities (2016-17); attend outreach events to promote Donate Life California (2008-2011). Certificated Donate life Ambassador (2009).

While most good educators leave their mark on the hearts and minds of the students they teach, Mary Samples of Camarillo is leaving more. The new Triton Academy, Ventura County’s educational center for students with autism, will be housed in the newly constructed Mary E. Samples Education Services Center.

According to Ventura County Office of Education Superintendent Stanley Mantooth, “Mary was a tireless advocate for all students, especially our most vulnerable. I can think of no one more deserving of the honor of having a Special Education building named for her, or for the honor of being named to the Ventura County Educators’ Hall of Fame.”

Mary began her career in Ventura County teaching at the Hueneme Elementary School District, where she taught all grades from kindergarten through eighth grade before moving to administrative duties. “Her skill and dedication were quickly recognized and she advanced from teacher to assistant principal, principal, special education director and associate superintendent,” Mantooth said.

In 2004, Samples moved to the VCOE where she headed up the Ventura County SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area), the agency that administers special education programs for public school students throughout Ventura County.

“From 2004 until her retirement in 2018, Mary led the Ventura County SELPA with compassion and dedication,” Mantooth said. If anyone had a question about special education in Ventura County, they could go to Mary for an answer. Mary willingly talked to parents, school officials and state legislators alike, explaining the many intricacies of special education programs, and offering help and support. The Ventura County SELPA is the third largest multi-district SELPA in the state, serving 18,000 students with disabilities in the 19 districts in Ventura County.

“Throughout her tenure, she shared her knowledge with her colleagues as an active participant on the State SELPA Administrators Committee, and her expertise led her to address the State legislature on many issues affecting services for special education students,” Mantooth said.

“Mary was competent in so many ways, but at the core, she was always about the kids,” said Mantooth, explaining why the decision was made to name the new dedicated special education facility after Samples.

The new building in Camarillo that will house educational programs for Ventura County students with special needs will be called the Mary E. Samples Education Services Center. This 29,944-square-foot, two story building built adjacent to the VCOE offices will become the new home of Triton Academy, which serves students with autism in third through 12th grades. The building is expected to open sometime during the 2019- 2020 school year.

Among the awards Samples has received are: California Teacher Instructional Improvement Program (CTTIP) grant recipient (1974); California Outstanding Young Educator (1985-86); Hueneme School District Mentor Teacher (1985-87); Guest Speaker, National Geographic Society, Washington, D.C. (1988); 1990, Guest Speaker, IBM National Convention, Atlanta, Georgia (1990); Williams School PTA Honorary Service Award (1993); Autism Society’s Awesome in Autism (2009); Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Special Education Administrator of the Year, Region 13 (2013).

While never an educator by profession, John Walker nonetheless devoted untold hours and boundless energy supporting local schools. From his 29-year term as a board member of the Ventura Unified School District, to volunteering in the community, John still held down a full-time job with Verizon for 34 years.

According to Velma Lomax, a fellow school board member and colleague, John Walker was dedicated to the community, especially when it came to education.

“When I think about the Educators’ Hall of Fame, John Walker immediately comes to mind,” Lomax said. “Since becoming a parent, John has dedicated his life to public education. He served on many committees at the schools of his daughters, and he served on several PTA boards.” Walker also worked at the Ojai Unified School District for 12 years as a risk manager and human resources director before retiring in 2014.

According to former VUSD Superintendent Joe Spirito, “John served with a sense of integrity. He voted what was best for the student, even when the decision was hard or unpopular for students. John was a frontiersman and took the path least traveled so long as it was best for students. His leadership style made a difference.”

“He has earned our highest honor, the WHO Award on multiple occasions,” Nelson said. “He has earned these honors because he has always treated us fairly, even when it was difficult or it went against the rest of the school board. We could always count on Mr. Walker to be fair and to listen to all sides of an argument. This can be rare.”

Members of the staff of the Ventura Adult and Continuing Education program said their experience with Walker was positive. “John is exceptional working with people. He communicates a high level of caring for students and staff by being supportive of innovative ideas and programs that promote diversity and specific training opportunities that benefit both the individual and the community as a whole,” according to a letter signed by Denise McMillan Transtad, Barry Transtad and Carolyn Vang-Walker.
Velma Lomax said, “I served with John for 25 years. He was a true mentor, confidante and friend. His integrity is above reproach and he is the most deserving person I know to be inducted into the Ventura County Educators’ Hall of Fame.”

Among the awards Walker has received over his professional career are:
Ventura County Office of Education, Meritorious Public Service Award for School Board Members, (1993, 1997, 2001, 2005, 2009, 2013, 2017); Outstanding Citizen Award, GTE (1974); 1966, Freedoms Foundation Award, presented by the Marine Corps for submitting a winning essay, “Preserving Freedom Safeguards America;” California School Boards Association, resolution commending 28 years of services commending his exemplary record of accomplishments in the field of education and stating that John Walkers has championed education (2018); The Board of Supervisors of Ventura County, recognizing John B. Walker for 29 years of service to the Ventura Unified School board and the community and county of Ventura (2018); California Legislature Assembly recognition, Monica Limon, for John Walker’s untiring commitment to public education (2018); California Interscholastic Federation in recognition of outstanding service to California High School Student athletes (2018); Ventura Unified Education Association and Ventura Education Support Professionals association recognition of tireless services, thanking John Walker for his hard work, honesty and integrity, (1989-2018); City of San Buenaventura, Certificate of Recognition for 29 years of services to the community and Ventura Unified School District (2018).