While there may be disputes about what makes a good or bad teacher, the Ventura County Educators’ Hall of Fame’s debate is over choosing the most worthy candidates among the best, brightest and/or the most beloved.

For this round of annual inductions, five educators of varied talents were selected, representing a historical look at the human foundations of Ventura’s educational system.

They are: Jim Lane of Oxnard, Andy McEuen of Oxnard and three who are being inducted posthumously, Leslie (Les) Meredith Jr. of Camarillo, Charles Mozley (Fillmore High School) and John Devine (Isbell School in Santa Paula).

All will be honored at a county-wide fete Friday, June 17th at the Courtyard Marriott in Oxnard, along with the Ventura County Teacher of the Year, who is chosen separately by the Ventura County Office of Education.

In contrast to the Teacher of the Year award, the Hall of Fame’s scope casts a wider net, as it may also honor administrators and classified employees, and takes in to account those working in higher education.

The idea for an Educators’ Hall of Fame was initiated in 2005 by Darrin Parrent, who was inspired by the experiences he had going through the local Ventura County school system. He contacted a number of prominent educators – notably former Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Chuck Weis – and together they formed a committee of 15 education and civic leaders to hammer out the details for the first induction in 2007.

“The Hall of Fame selects individuals to be honored for their outstanding contributions to the field of education,” Parrent said. Details about this year’s selections are:

√ John Devine literally lived education, going so far as bringing kids home and ensuring others that they had lunch money or decent clothes.

He spent much of his career at Isbell Middle School in Santa Paula, where he taught industrial arts and organized trips to sporting events. He passed away in 1982.

√ Jim Lane was born and raised in Oxnard, and he stayed local, becoming a business teacher and coach at Hueneme High School where he helped set up a student mentor program. His experience converted well into writing articles on education for the Ventura County Star.

Although he retired in 2002, he stays involved in the community, such as helping out the mentor project at Hueneme and developing a boys and girls club at Meiners Oaks Elementary School in Ojai. Aware of school cutbacks, he also helps raise money for athletic programs.

√ Andy McEuen began as a business teacher at Oxnard High School after serving in WWII in a combat battalion. His administrative skills as a principal were later tested and he was so good that he became principal of the new Hueneme High School in 1959, and later became superintendent of the Oxnard District until his 1980 retirement.
Under his direction, Hueneme became a state model for parent and student involvement.

√ Les Meredith Jr. was a teacher-principal at the Santa Rosa Elementary School and prior to that, an assistant principal at Los Altos Intermediate School, both in Camarillo. He developed 7th and 8th grade programs at Santa Rosa that included vocational and science instruction, the latter from grades 2-8.

He also became versatile in creating counseling and disciplinary plans and helped with teacher evaluations. Beyond the school, he was an instructor in scuba diving who ran oceanography workshops and served as a long-time member of the county sheriff’s Underwater Search and Rescue team. He passed away on July 17, 2009.

√ Charles Mozley taught at Fillmore High School, adult education in Ventura and Oxnard and even had a stint as teacher in the Youth Authority. Known affectionately by some as “Mr. Moze,” his grasp of issues was wide as he taught politics, journalism, psychology and consumer issues.

Clearly beloved, he was also well known as the announcer at football games and involved in pep squads, plays, graduation ceremonies and as an advisor. He passed away in 2007.

The Educators Hall of Fame dinner event Friday, June 17th at the Courtyard Marriott opens at 5 p.m. so that friends, colleagues and family members can converse before a dinner around 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 per person; the best way is to log on to the website, www.vceh.com, or you can call 805-482-1492 or email president@vceh.com.