On February 7, 1977, collector Enrico Messina interviewed Edith Leavitt (born April 12th, 1924, in St. George, Utah) at her home in Las Vegas, Nevada. In this interview, Mrs. Leavitt talks about teaching in Southern Nevada, including in the Virgin Valley and in Las Vegas. She also discusses the changing education system in Southern Nevada during her time as an educator.
Oral history interview with Jerri Mausbach conducted by Jim Cox on October 02, 2007 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Mausbach reflects upon his experience as a teacher and administrator with Nevada’s Clark County School District (CCSD). He describes the process by which he became a teacher and eventually administrator, his experiences working with special education, and elements of his training that he believes were most useful for his career. He also discusses his approach to school administration and administrative issues that he has dealt with as the Director of Leadership Development.
Oral history interview with Juliana Urtubey conducted by Nathalie Martinez and Barbara Tabach on May 24, 2021 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project.
Born in Colombia, Julia was able to immigrate with her family to the United States when she was six years old. The family lived in Chicago, Illinois and later in Phoenix, Arizona. Juliana moved to Las Vegas in 2013 and taught learners with special education needs at the elementary level. In 2021, she was named the National Teacher of the Year, the first Latina and the only Nevadan to ever hold the distinction. Juliana personally received the award from Dr. Jill Biden.
Subjects discussed include: Colombia, Chicago, Illinois, National Teacher of the Year, and bilingual education.
On February 20, 1979, Keith Thomas interviewed Dr. Holbert H. Hendrix (born 1914 in French Lick, Indiana) about his life in early Las Vegas, Nevada. The interview takes place at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Room 312 of the Education Building. Dr. Hendrix first discusses his personal background and interests, as well as his occupational background in teaching. The two discuss changes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, including construction, when the university began awarding degrees, and Dr. Hendrix’s reasons for moving to Las Vegas. Dr. Hendrix then describes changes to the Strip and how the hotel industry has changed since he first arrived in Nevada. The two briefly discuss how problems with prostitution may have increased since Dr. Hendrix arrived in Nevada. The interview concludes with Dr. Hendrix contemplating new problems that may arise in Las Vegas as a result of an expected population boom and his hopes that the Nevada state government would invest more into funding for education.
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Ann Clark Kanie, elementary teacher, exemplifies the love of teaching in Clark County. Her mother, Marie Larson Clark Dane, taught elementary school at Lincoln Elementary School for 35 years. Ann attended Lincoln Elementary with her mother, Jim Bridger Junior High, Rancho, and then graduated from UNLV in elementary education. She also began teaching, like her mother, at Lincoln Elementary in North Las Vegas but later changed to Wasden Elementary which she obviously admires. Ann recalls growing up in Las Vegas and the fun that she and her friends enjoyed: participating in Helldorado Week, renting horses at Tule Springs or Old Nevada, riding bikes to the Meadows Mall and the Black Hole at the Springs Preserve, sliding down Becker’s Super Slide on Decatur Avenue, watching Disney movies at the Huntridge Theater, playing miniature golf and ice skating at Commercial Center, and going to Lake Mead and investigating the Potosi Mines. Ann married, continued teaching at Wasden. Her only son has chosen to follow his mother’s footsteps, graduated from UNLV in English education and teaches and coaches at Cimarron-Memorial High School. Even though she admits that teaching has become a very difficult, time-consuming job, it is obvious that Ann Kanie loves educating students and has passed this love on to her son.
Oral history interview with Julie Rae Kasper conducted by John Barela on April 08, 2005 for the Public School Principalship Oral History Project. In this interview, Kasper reflects upon her career as a teacher and school administrator in Pennsylvania and Illinois during the 1980s and 1990s. She discusses how she started volunteering to teach special education when she was in eighth grade, and how this experience inspired her to become a teacher. She then describes the process by which she served as an elementary school principal in the Waukegan School District in Illinois and worked with early childhood special education programs. She discusses her approach to educational leadership, how her approach has changed over the years, and responsibilities that she faced as principal. She also compares working in the Waukegan School District with working in the Clark County School District (CCSD), and describes the different approaches of each school district.
Oral history interview with Pablo Macias conducted by Elsa Lopez, Monserrath Hernandez, and Claytee D. White on December 07, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Pablo Macias was rasied in the small town of Carlin outside of Elko, Nevada. His father and mother met in Ogden, Utah where his father was working on railroad in Nevada and Utah. After finishing high school, he got a job at Elko Blacksmith Shop, where he learned to weld. After attending Northern Nevada Community College, he enrolled and graduated from UNR. After graduation, he took a position at Von Tobel Middle School in 1990 teaching Spanish and Physical Education. While working as a Spanish teacher in Rancho High School he enrolled in a Master's program at Nova Southeastern University, completing the program in education administration. He currently serves as the Associate Director of Corporate Work Study Program Operations for Cristo Rey St. Viator College Preparatory High School. Subjects discussed include: Education, Rancho High School, Von Tobel Middle School, Barrick Mining, and Cristo Rey.