Danville Special Education Teacher Receives Prestigious Lifetime Excellence Award

From the San Ramon Valley Unified School District: San Ramon Valley High School (SRVHS) special education teacher, John Blake, was honored with the 2017 Lifetime Excellence in Service award on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at a banquet hosted by the Developmental Disabilities Councils of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties.

John Blake has worked as a special education teacher at San Ramon Valley High School for over 20 years. He started as a paraprofessional health aide in 1990-91, yet he has been a part of the special education program at SRVHS since 1981 as the first student Teacher’s Aide when the program arrive. At that time, SRVHS had programs from P.E., music, choir, art, English, math, language, foods, science and others who opened their doors to special education participation.

About 5 years ago, he helped bring the Special Olympics Program to SRVHS to compete as one the home schools for some of the events.

Blake always strives to make sure students get the chance to participate and be involved with anything on campus that may bring learning and enjoyment to his amazing kids. He and his educational team do their best to ensure that they respectfully go through the correct avenues so students can safely and appropriately participate.

"We are never going to be perfect and catch everything out there but we always do our best, and we always try to look at things as half full...and how we can fill it up a little more next time," said John Blake.
Blake feels that it is most important to reach out to all staff and students on campus so that Special Needs students can attend as many things on and around campus as possible. Providing the chance to know, help, work together, and learn from each other as they grow.

“Caring for these very special young individuals takes a unique person. John Blake is that person. John shows such compassion, patience, caring, and kindness for his students, yet his natural ability to make those around him feel comfortable and included is what I believe to be John's greatest gift. Mr. Blake shows us that everyone belongs. He inspires me daily and brings positive energy into every room he enters,” said colleague, Samantha Libby.

Photo courtesy of the San Ramon Valley Unified School District