From left: County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre, LVUSD Director of Academic Programs Aaron Jones, school board member Tom Courtney (who founded the program), Superintendent Peter Livingston, Assemblyman Tom Lackey, LVMHS teacher and veteran Cynthia Parker, school board member Jessica Risler, County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, Congressman Jay Obernolte field rep Corrine Mora, school board president Chelsea LaGrange, Assistant Superintendent of Business Olga Fisher; (front row) LVMHS Principal Jason Story and school board Vice-President Jason Hansen, both veterans of the U.S. Navy. Photo by Peter Day
LVUSD Report
The High Desert region’s top elected officials came together Monday morning to personally recognize Lucerne Valley Unified School District’s 10 veterans of the U.S. military, each of whom were awarded stipends of $1,000 for their service.
Third District Supervisor Dawn Rowe, State Assemblyman Tom Lackey, and County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre were on hand, along with Corrine Mora, the field representative of Congressman Jay Obernolte, who is in Washington, D.C. to resolve the budget stalemate. The officials joined an entourage of LVUSD officials headed by Superintendent Peter Livingston to present notifications of the $1,000, an engraved plaque, and commendations from the officials to each veteran at their work sites.
“It’s nice what the district does for the veterans, and including community leaders,” said Rowe. “We appreciate Peter Livingston and what his district is doing.”
“This is wonderful, especially doing it at the school site,” Alejandre said. “I haven’t seen anyone else doing anything like this honoring their veterans.”
“It’s important that we remember to recognize our veterans,” Lackey stressed. “This is a great way of doing that.”
“We extend our sincere thanks to all the elected officials who joined us today to visit and recognize our veterans,” Livingston said. “Their presence underscores the shared respect our community holds for all who have worn our nation’s uniform.”
Assemblyman Tom Lackey presents commendation to bus driver Larry Kennedy.
THE RECIPIENTS
The day began with the group gathering at Lucerne Valley Elementary School to recognize bus driver Larry Kennedy who served in the Air Force from 2003-2005. Then the group caravanned to Lucerne Valley Middle High School where they presented commendations to Principal Jason Story (U.S. Navy, 1993-1994), Cross Country Coach/campus security Joe Gallardo (Navy 1992-2013), and Maintenance & Operations team member Edward Carter (Navy 1988-1992) in the quad.
Two members of the Lucerne Valley USD school board who were on hand also were recognized for their military service, board Vice-President Jason Hansen (U.S. Navy 1999-2001) and longtime board member Tom Courtney (U.S. Navy 1968-72 — USA Oriskany VA 192, World Famous Golden Dragons).
Next, they visited the classrooms of Rangers teacher Jacob Klinger (U.S. Army 2005-2010), math teacher Cynthia Parker (Army 2024-2017), teacher Gary Cope (U.S. Marine Corps 1995-2000), and teacher Louis Madrid (U.S. Marine Corps 2010-2014). (Katelyn Miller accepted the award on the behalf of Mr. Madrid, who was not in attendance).
The caravan continued back to the elementary school where they made presentations for teachers Chris Jennison (Navy 1986 - 1992) and Sheri Immel (U.S. Air Force, 1991-1995).
County Supervisor Dawn Rowe presents a commendation to U.S.Army veteran Jacob Klinger, who teaches the Rangers cadet program at the Middle High School.
A PATRIOTIC TRADITION IS BORN
The idea for the annual $1,000 stipend for school district veterans came when Courtney, the longest serving elected official in Lucerne Valley with 30 years, and a group of other school board members and educators from a number of school districts throughout the U.S. shared ideas on how to acknowledge and reward their veterans.
“Our dream is to bring our veterans back into our classrooms, maintenance, bus drivers, custodians, management, and all areas of our district,” Courtney said. “These folks served our country and now deserve our respect and acceptance back into our communities with the honor they deserve.”
The Lucerne Valley USD first implemented the annual $1,000 stipend program prior to Veterans Day in 2023. The district held an emotion-packed ceremony on November 9 to honor nine current employees for their service to our country. The inaugural event featured the high school band performing the National Anthem and its Ranger cadets presenting the colors, and the ceremony was held on hallowed ground — the Sgt. Brian Walker Memorial Gymnasium, which was named in memory of 2005 Lucerne Valley High School graduate Brian Walker. Walker died after his vehicle hit an improvised explosive device on May 13, 2012.
County Schools Chief Ted Alejandre talks with longtime school board member Tom Courtney, who helped start the district's $1,000 stipend program for military veterans.
‘DEEPLY GRATEFUL’
Thanking veterans for their service to our country by putting an extra $1,000 in their pay checks is done happily every year, according to the LVUSD superintendent.
“At Lucerne Valley Unified School District, we are deeply grateful for the veterans who continue to serve—this time in our classrooms, offices, and campuses,” Livingston said. “Their courage, leadership, and dedication to country embody the very values we strive to instill in our students every day. Providing a $1,000 stipend to every veteran working in our district is a small but heartfelt way to honor their service and acknowledge the sacrifices they and their families have made for our freedom.”
Also part of Monday’s veteran’s stipend presentation crew were Assemblyman Tom Lackey’s district director Anna Zarley and Congressman Obernolte’s field representative Corrine Mora. Lucerne Valley USD school board members present were president Chelsea LaGrange, vice-president Jason Hansen (a veteran), longtime school board member Tom Courtney, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, and school board member Jessica Risler.
District administrators included Superintendent Peter Livingston, Assistant Superintendent of Business Olga Fisher, Director of Academic Programs Aaron Jones, Director of Student Services Dr. Elaine Nelson, Middle High Principal Jason Story, Assistant Principal Jessica Haecker, Assistant Principal Chris Watkins, Lucerne Valley Elementary School Principal Joanna Mora and Assistant Principal Suzie Manley.
Lucerne Valley Elementary School teacher Sheri Immel and her class welcomed the special visitors to their classroom on Monday, November 10th. The teacher was presented with commendations from all the elected officials.