A proud alumnus of Hawthorne Elementary School and Vina Danks Middle School. Mr. Milhiser has been an active member of the community and supporter of education for over 60 years. Mr. Milhiser continues to “pay it forward” in the OMSD community by serving as the elected City Treasurer for the City of Ontario. He has a passion for finance and community service and currently serves on the Board for OPARC, Salvation Army, YMCA Sustaining Membership Campaign, Ontario Chaffey Community Show Band, and was Chairman of the Board of Trustees for San Antonio Regional Hospital. Mr. Milhiser is a strong supporter of a healthy community and preventative medical care. When asked what advice he would give educators, he said, start by building rapport with your students, be patient, learn about new technology, learn new skills, and encourage students to follow their dreams. To students, Mr. Milhiser said, stay focused on school, encourage your peers, set goals, follow your dreams, and give back to your community. Also, practice honesty, be an effective listener, and remember that no one has all of the answers. To Mr. Milhiser, excellence is exceeding the standards. Achieving excellence is possible through hard work. He quotes Steve Jobs who said, “We don’t get a chance to do that many things and every one should be really excellent. Because that is our life.” For these reasons, the Ontario-Montclair School District proudly recognizes Mr. James Milhiser as a 2017 Model of Excellence. His commitment to excellence is evident through his relentless service, dedication, and belief in OMSD students, educators, parents, and community.