Angels Camp, CA…The Bret Harte Union High School District Board of Education honored Stacey Spence and Cheryl Howard with Parent/Community Volunteer of the Year awards Monday, June 1, at its monthly meeting.
Each year, BH staff members nominate parents and community members who they feel deserve the award. The nominations then go to the school board which chooses the two recipients.

Stacey Spence was nominated by Agriculture teacher Roy Beck for her five years of service to FFA and the Ag program. Stacy and her husband Eric moved to Angels Camp after their children were grown and were asked to help in FFA by 2011 Parent Volunteer Award winner Darrin Mills. Eric graduated from Chico State in Agriculture, and the two of them ride and run cattle on their property. Because of Stacey’s financial background, she took over being Treasurer of FFA Boosters, redid the group’s nonprofit to make it current, and still helps with all FFA events, including Oysters & Oinkers. Beck often asks her why she donates so much time even though she is not a parent of a BH student. Her simple answer is, “Because it’s important.”

Cheryl Howard, nominated by Social Studies teacher Jennifer Truman, will watch her and husband Bill’s third child graduate from Bret Harte this week. With her fulltime work as District Secretary for the Ebbetts Pass Fire District, Cheryl takes the needed time off to support her children and their activities. She has been a participant on Curriculum Committee for a number of years. All of her children participated in Academic Decathlon, and for five years she has attended the regional event volunteering as a runner and a timer. Staff has come to rely upon Cheryl when needing extra adult help, whether it be driving and chaperoning in Los Angeles to the Presidential libraries, Great America, museums, or willingly serving on the latest Principal interview committee.

Board member Gail Bunge, who presented the awards, added that the board recognizes that community volunteers enrich the educational program and strengthen relationships with homes, businesses, public agencies and private institutions. “Bret Harte is fortunate to have such incredibly supportive parents and community members.”
The two women’s names will be placed on a continuous plaque in the school office. Past winners include Hal Dillashaw, Jim Bergantz, Linda Spencer, John Detrick, Art Mills, Steve Lauterbach, Darrin Mills, Wade & Leslie Homuth, Elain Sadler, Sharon Haymond, Mark Seim, Shawn McCamey, Sally Kester, and Barbara Hecocks.