THOUSAND OAKS — Sharon Harada was inducted into the Ventura County Educators Hall of Fame at a ceremony at California Lutheran University’s Gilbert Arena on June 22.
Harada retired recently after 32 years of teaching with the Pleasant Valley School District. Her fellow educators praised her “calm ability” for teaching young children, mentoring new teachers and embracing improved techniques and programs.
Harada was instrumental in the start-up in 1994 of Tierra Linda School, which was later named a Distinguished School. In addition, she helped create a literacy program for grades K-3 along with the Bridging the Gap curriculum, which eases the way for preschool kids going to kindergarten.
Other educators honored at the event were Barbara Collins, Juanita Sanchez-Valdez, Dennis Gillette, Joe Peralta, Edward Phillips and Manuel Valdez. Collins, Peralta and Phillips are posthumous inductees.
The Ventura County Educators Hall of Fame was established in 2007. Nominations are open to all educators, administrators, classified personnel and classroom teachers in all of Ventura County, including the Las Virgenes District.