Speaking Volumes

Barbara Simmons, librarian at Channel Islands High School, said Friday she isn’t sure what she will do with the $25,000 a Santa Monica foundation plans to give her. In fact, she isn’t sure her work deserves such recognition.

Nonetheless, the Milken Family Foundation selected Simmons and gave her a truckload of praise Friday morning during an assembly at her school in Oxnard that included all the trappings of a pep rally--up-tempo marching band, screaming kids and a rousing speech from the school’s principal.

Simmons, Channel Islands High’s librarian for the past 11 years, nearly fell over when Milken Family Foundation representative Richard Sandler called out her name.

Shocked and seemingly breathless, her eyes glazed with a hint of tears, Simmons made her way to the front of the gymnasium on Principal Michael Martinez’s arm where her husband, Bill, waited.

“I don’t know that I deserve any special recognition at all,” she told a crowd of hundreds of students who yelled out when her name was called. “I love it here. I love working with all of you.”

State Sen. Cathie Wright was among the politicians who attended the one-hour event, which also drew city officials--including Oxnard Mayor Manuel Lopez--as well as several school board members.

The foundation’s National Educator Awards Program approved giving a total of $4.3 million to 172 educators in 41 states earlier this week, though the checks won’t go out until next year. Teachers can spend the money however they choose. They will also get a chance to attend an upcoming national conference in Los Angeles.

The money comes from a foundation inaugurated by brothers Lowell and Michael Milken of Santa Monica. It’s the same Michael Milken who revolutionized Wall Street in the 1980s with junk bonds and eventually served time for securities fraud.

The awards are designed to recognize outstanding work in the classroom--or in this case, the library--and encourage young people to become teachers.

Simmons’ selection for the award may have been Oxnard Union High School District’s best-kept secret. Virtually no one knew exactly who would receive the honor. Even her husband, who learned Monday that Simmons would get some kind of recognition, didn’t know there was cash involved. All the same, his lips were sealed.

“Usually, if it’s a secret, she knows it,” Bill Simmons said.

But the idea that Barbara Simmons was chosen was no surprise to the students and educators around her every day.

“She goes the extra distance to help,” said senior Christopher Lam, 17, who has been a student worker in the library since last year. “She will just go around and see what everyone’s doing. She offers her assistance to anyone.”

Simmons, with the help of a district technology coordinator, established the school’s library and computer network. She is teaching students how to create multimedia presentations. And she has taught seminars where teachers learn about using computers in education.

In addition, Christopher said he has worked with Simmons to develop a Web site for the library, complete with teacher-recommended links to leading research sites.

“The library speaks for itself,” said Steven Gama, the district’s risk manager, who attended the ceremony.

Over in the school library, virtually every seat was filled during the lunch hour. Students hammered away at keyboards. Others read.

“Look at these kids,” Simmons said, surveying the crowd. “This is the way they are. Aren’t they sweet? You have to be in education to know [it’s] not always like this.”