Cheryl & Herb Fischer

The Fischers will be speaking

on the AVID Program. 

AVID = Advancement Via Individual Determination

Herbert R. Fischer, Ph.D.

San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools

Introductory Vita

           With 40 years of service to public education, Dr. Herbert R. Fischer retired as San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools August 30, 2008. He began his third term for the office on January 2, 2007. He was first elected to the office November 3, 1998.

          As County Superintendent, Dr. Fischer oversaw the programs and operations of the County Superintendent of Schools office, which had an annual operating budget of $350 million and a staff of over 2,300 employees. During his tenure as County Superintendent, the County Schools office provided services and support to the 33 K-12 districts countywide to meet the educational needs of roughly 428,000 students in the county.

          Prior to filling the county’s lead educational seat, Dr. Fischer was superintendent of the Colton Joint Unified School District for seven years. He began his educational career in the San Bernardino City Unified School District where he spent 22 years serving in various capacities including teacher, principal and district administrator.

          Under Dr. Fischer’s leadership, the County Superintendent of Schools office prioritized services to support district efforts to improve student performance and accountability. This included closing the achievement and access gaps for underperforming schools and underrepresented students, preparing students for post-secondary education and careers, and ensuring safe school campuses.

          After his retirement he and his wife Cheryl who retired as a School of Education Department Chair at Cal State San Bernardino have established the AVID AMBASSADOR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM supporting San Bernardino County AVID graduates beginning in 2017 which has resulted in nearly 400 AVID scholarships and over $500,000 of donations given from them and their friends, colleagues, community groups including the Phelan Chamber of Commerce and businesses like Mills Hardware. The Fischer’s who had their careers in San Bernardino initiated the AVID AMBASSADOR PROGRAM to pay back for their wonderful opportunities in the County and to support these remarkable college ready students.