By Mary O’KEEFE

The James R. Brown Award was presented to Linda Evans at Tuesday’s board meeting of the GUSD.
Evans, who retired this year as the principal of Crescenta Valley High School, told the board she was accepting the award on behalf of the staff and students at her former school.
The award’s namesake, James Brown, is a respected former Glendale superintendent. Each year the award is presented to a certified or classified administrator for “exemplary leadership skills and significant contribution to advancing the quality of public education.”
Looking back at Evans’ tenure at CVHS, it was obvious to the school board that she personifies these leadership skills.
As demonstrated during a later portion of the meeting, CVHS leads the district in students taking Advance Placement classes with a high percentage of students not only taking the AP tests but receiving a passing grade. This has been Evans’ emphasis on the “A-to G-bus.” These are the requirements students must achieve to qualify for entrance to a four year college or university.
“Linda has invested 36 years at GUSD. She has a passion for learning and has taught that passion to her students,” said GUSD Board President Greg Krikorian. “She has given her life to our kids.”
He went on to praise Evans for her work with CV CAN (Crescenta Valley Committed to Athletic Needs) and the resulting new track and field.
“And the remodeling [construction at the high school] – she has been there through thick and thin,” he added.
Evans said she had a real passion for instruction. She added that her husband Mark’s high school teacher was Jim Brown and how to now accept the award felt like she came full circle.
“Thank you. It means a lot to me,” she said. “I feel this award belongs to everyone in CV … What we have achieved we have achieved as a team.”

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