Tanaka, Wayne N., 1948-

Known for his remarkable service in the Clark County School District, Wayne Tanaka has made brilliant impacts in the lives of his students, colleagues, and the Las Vegas community as a whole. He was born in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, as a second generation Asian-American to a Japanese father and a Japanese-American mother. He grew up with a strong sense of community and attended Kamehameha III School and Lahainaluna High School. Tanaka eventually went to University of Utah majoring in geography and minoring in political science and history.

Upon pursuing a master’s degree, he arrived in the Clark County School District in 1972. He began his teaching career at many schools such as Bonanza High School, Clark High School, other major schools in the district, and eventually Andre Agassi College Preparatory Academy—a charter school founded by Andre Agassi and his philanthropic foundation. Tanaka’s many feats in the school district have inspired an elementary school to be named after him as well. He is married to Sadie Tanaka and has three daughters named Katherine, Karen, and Kimberly. Tanaka holds the values of his parents, wife, and life experiences dear to his heart and these have shaped him into the educator he is today.