The Alan Cummings Research Files (1974-2004) are comprised of research files compiled by Cummings, an elementary school teacher for the Clark County School District (CCSD) in Southern Nevada. The files represent Cummings's work to persuade the Teacher's Health Trust, the employee benefit plan for the school district, to consider domestic partnership benefits for CCSD educators and administrators. Materials include personal correspondence, newspaper clippings, magazines, and court cases.
Oral history interview with Lucille Wright conducted by Cheryl Reed on February 23, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Wright talks about her personal life and experiences in Las Vegas, Nevada. Wright also talks about her experiences as a school teacher in the mid 1950s, teacher pay, and school activities.
Oral history interview with Jacqueline Locks conducted by Jennifer Schulz on May 01, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Locks reflects upon her 32-year career as a teacher and administrator with the Clark County School District (CCSD) from the 1970s to the 2000s. She discusses her upbringing, and how she knew since she was a child that she wanted to be an elementary school teacher. She describes the process by which she became an elementary school teacher, and eventually principal. She discusses her approach to educational leadership, and offers suggestions for individuals interested in pursuing school administration. She also discusses the importance of working relationships between teachers and administrators, and mentorship programs to assist new teachers.
Oral history interview with Vaughn M. Higbee conducted by Mark Vandamme on March 31, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Higbee reflects upon his career as a sports coach, teacher, and administrator in Idaho and in Nevada’s Lincoln County School District (LCSD). He describes the process by which he became a coach, and then explains how his coaching experience shaped his approach to school administration. He describes his regular responsibilities and challenges as principal, and discusses his working relationships with teachers, fellow administrators, and the Board of Education. He also discusses how he chose to retire after serving as LCSD’s superintendent.
On the corner of Eastern and Stewart, inside the East Las Vegas Community Center, lies an oasis of creativity and art. The halls ring with the sound of harmonious music coming from the meeting rooms, where children move violin bows up and down in a synchronized motion. They stare with concentration at the music sheets in front of them. They gracefully play together and fill the empty halls with classical music. For most of them, they are the first in their family to learn how to play an instrument. Like many in their neighborhood, they are also first-generation Americans. The students are rehearsing for their recital with the Las Vegas Philharmonic at the Smith Center in a few weeks. In the back of the room there is a man gleaming with pride and joy. The Foundation to Assist Young Musicians (FAYM) provides the rehearsal space, violins, and music lessons at the community center and allows these children to flourish despite their economic, social, or racial background through, “Building
Oral history interview with Beverly Minnear conducted by Regina Goings on April 15, 2003 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Minnear reflects upon her more than 30-year career with the Clark County School District (CCSD) as a speech therapist and school administrator from 1970 to the time of the interview in 2003. She describes the process by which she began working in special education, and eventually became principal at John F. Miller and Variety Elementary School. She discusses the responsibilities that she faced as principal, and how her school operations compared to different schools within CCSD. She discusses the importance of working relationships between teachers, administrators and parents, and how such relationships impacted the learning environment.
Oral history interview with L. J. Bowman conducted by Lidia Sedano on October 11, 2004 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Bowman discusses his upbringing and path to becoming a teacher during the 1970s. He discusses his experience as a teacher in Wisconsin and in Montana, but highlights his 17 years as principal in various Montana school districts prior to becoming a teacher in the Clark County School District in the 1990s. He discusses his personal philosophy of education, and how it influenced his career as an administrator. He also discusses highlights and challenges of his career, and provides suggestions on what makes a successful principal.