Baseball has one. Football does, too. Rock and roll got one in 1995. Now Ventura County educators have their own Hall of Fame, which inducted its first 10 members in a ceremony Saturday night in Oxnard.

The inaugural Hall of Fame class, as well as eight Teachers of the Year from across the county, were feted by about 350 of Ventura County's education elite and their supporters.

"Looking around the room, you can see the history of education in Ventura County," said David Hansen, who retired from teaching art and photography after more than 30 years in the Pleasant Valley Unified School District.

The creation of the Ventura County Educators' Hall of Fame was the brainchild of Darrin Parrent, a Camarillo man who remembered all that his public school teachers had done for him and who wanted to give something back.

Along with the office of the Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, Parrent created an organization to take nominations and to decide on the inductees.

"The goal of the Ventura County Educators' Hall of Fame is to elevate professional educators to the level of sports figures in Ventura County," said Cary Dritz, associate superintendent of education, in his introductory remarks. "The odds are against children becoming sports heroes but very good for becoming education heroes."

Among the five men and five women who make up the first class are classroom teachers, administrators and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, who grew up in Oxnard and who taught government at Oxnard High School.

While introducing O'Connell, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Charles Weis drew loud applause and cheers when he announced that O'Connell would be running for the state governor's office in 2010.

In his remarks, O'Connell said that some of his most important mentors were coaches and teachers at Oxnard High School.

"They taught me to prepare in lessons, to prepare in work and to work very, very hard," he said.

Close to the end of a long evening of speeches, inductee Barbara Wagner gave a talk that invigorated the crowd.

"My goal is to inspire, to create a spark," said Wagner, who said she always wanted to be a teacher. "I have had so many people inspire me. This award is for you. I'm proud to be one of you."

"Attention Jack O'Connell: a possible Cabinet member?" joked master of ceremonies and former Star publisher Tim Gallagher as Wagner left the stage to loud applause.

Parrent said he looks forward to next year's event and that he thought that these inductees were an impressive bunch. "It was a first-class first class."

10 inductees selected from 60 nominees

The first 10 inductees for the Ventura County Educators Hall of Fame, selected from among nearly 60 nominees, are:

Marilyn Bjork, a retired teacher who spent most of her career at Los Altos Middle School in Camarillo.

James Cowan, Ventura County superintendent of schools from 1969 to 1993.

Javier Gomez, a retired Oxnard teacher and founder of the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center.

Lynell Hankins, a math teacher at Buena High School in Ventura who died last year.

Elmont Michaelson, principal of Rio Mesa High School from 1966 to 1984.

Jack O'Connell, California's state superintendent of public instruction, who grew up in Oxnard and taught government at Oxnard High School before entering politics.

Thomas O'Neill, a Ventura College biology teacher who died in 2005.

Wilma Turchik, a retired teacher, principal and curriculum director in Santa Paula schools.

Barbara Wagner, a former teacher and administrator in the Pleasant Valley School District.

Rose Wisuri, a retired teacher and administrator in the Moorpark Unified School District.