8/17/2020
Education and Outreach
“It’s an experience I’ll never forget,” remembers Rosa Crumpley. Now 15, Crumpley first performed on stage at The Smith Center in just third grade. Side by side in handmade costumes, she and her fellow classmates performed a song-and-dance number from their elementary school’s very first musical production, “Disney’s The Jungle Book KIDS.”
8/13/2020
Education and Outreach
“When I was in 5th grade, my younger sister was getting ready to begin kindergarten, and I spent all summer creating and printing off worksheets to help her trace her letters,” Crystal Massengale remembers. Now after just five years of teaching at E.W. Griffith Elementary School, she makes a tremendous impact.
8/13/2020
Education and Outreach
For as long as William Love can remember, he has looked up to his father as his personal hero. That’s why he followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a Clark County School District (CCSD) teacher. Now teaching at Liberty High School, Love created a Success 101 program to mentor at-risk freshman — with a resulting drop in failure rates.
8/5/2020
Education and Outreach
Belisa Brownlee admits she never wanted to teach. At least, not until she entered law school and realized becoming a lawyer was no longer her dream. When Brownlee observed a close friend entering the teaching profession, she felt the draw of a new career. Now after teaching for 11 years, she has combined her talents with education and the law.
8/3/2020
Education and Outreach
Elizabeth Harris feels nothing but enthusiasm about arriving at school an hour early to coach her Mathletes students. “These kids all have a desire to improve their skills, and bring a positive attitude to class each day,” says Harris, a teacher at Lied STEM Academy. “When kids come to you and ask for more math, the only correct answer to that question is ‘yes.’”
7/28/2020
Education and Outreach
Solan became the second Best Actress winner of The Smith Center’s annual NVHSMTA, allowing her to compete on Broadway in the Jimmy Awards where she placed as a finalist among the country’s top young performers. Now a professional actress and vocal coach, Solan confirms these experiences significantly shaped her performing.
7/27/2020
Education and Outreach
As a young man, Robert Cuccurullo struggled with substance abuse. “It was a tough road there for a while,” says Cuccurullo. But Cuccurullo successfully overcame his substance abuse and at age 41, returned to school to receive a Bachelor of Arts in history and education.
7/20/2020
Education and Outreach
Carolyn Lara, STEM Robotics teacher at Spring Valley High School, didn’t let COVID-19 or the closure of Clark County School District (CCSD) stop her from guiding her students to learn and lead. This is one of many reasons The Smith Center honored Lara as one of the top 20 teachers for its fifth-annual Heart of Education Awards.
7/16/2020
Education and Outreach
As a band instructor, Mark Nekoba gently pushes his students to improve on their musical abilities, teaching students instruments they never thought they’d play, helping them to read music and identify parts of music. But Nekoba says his emphasis in the classroom is always to teach personal conduct above all else.
7/13/2020
Education and Outreach
Last year, teacher Claudia Ahumada hosted a special birthday party. Instead of accepting presents, she asked friends, family and community members to donate birthday gifts for low-income students at her school, Matt Kelly Elementary School.