Many exceptional educators earn accolades from their peers for their outstanding work. One of these was Bob Scheibel, an English and journalism educator from California. Photo credit: Pierce College Roundup.

Many exceptional classroom teachers earn accolades from their peers for their outstanding work. One of these was Bob Scheibel, an English and journalism teacher from  California.

Robert “Bob” Scheibel was born in Youngstown, Ohio. His family moved to Southern California when Bob was only three. When he was a teenager, he attended Hollywodd High School, where he graduated in 1944. By then, World War II was in full swing, and Bob enlisted in the US Navy. Once he completed basic training, he was deployed to the USS St. George, a seaplane tender assigned to the US operation in the Pacific Theater. While serving on that tender, Bob became involved in the Battle of Okinawa

Once he completed his tour of duty in the military, Bob returned to Southern California. He enrolled first in Los Angeles City College, then the University of Southern California, and then San Francisco Valley State College, later known as Cal State University, Northridge.

Bob inaugurated his career as an educator in 1952 when he accepted a position teaching English and journalism at Canoga Park High School. During his 17-year tenure there he advised the school newspaper, the school yearbook, the student government.

In 1969, Bob accepted a position as the journalism teacher at Los Angeles Pierce College in Woodland Hills. Over the 20 years he taught there, he garnered many accolades. In 1981, he earned the Outstanding Journalism Educator Award, given to an educator at the junior college level. In 1983, Bob was named the National Two-Year College Distinguished Magazine Advisor by his fellow college media advisors, and in 1984, he was named California Community College Journalism Teacher of the Year by the California  News Publishers Association.

Additionally, Bob served as the President of the San Fernando Valley Press Club from 1971 to 1972). He was a member of Sigma Delta Chi (Society of Professional Journalists), and was elected President of the Journalism Association of of Community Colleges, Southern Section, a position he held from 1974 to 1975.

Bob Scheibel passed away from natural causes on October 27, 2020, in Woodland Hills, California. He was 94 years old. To read more about him, see this article published by the Pierce College Roundup.