Tuesday, Sept. 9, 1997 | 9:54 a.m.
SUN STAFF REPORT
In Dr. LeOre Cobbley's mind, a child's only boundary in learning was what a teacher permitted it to be.
This foundation of her education goals saw kindergartners learn how to read, first-graders write research projects, and teachers find innovative ways to reach even the toughest academic challenges.
As word has spread throughout Las Vegas of the 84-year-old woman's death Sunday, civic leaders, fellow educators and thousands of current and former students remain in mourning for the long-time principal and Meadows School headmistress, to whose insight they attribute the betterment of education throughout the valley.
"She was a classic combination of a traditional educator, motivator and visionary," said Mayor Jan Laverty Jones. "What she accomplished was not just getting students to excel, but getting teachers and parents to excel as well.
"Education is not just about solid curriculum. It's about investing in your students, teachers and parents the inspiration to be something,"
Jones said all three of her children were affected by Cobbley's educational wisdom, among them her eldest, who entered college this year. It was through a call from her 14-year-old daughter during Monday's City Council meeting that Jones first learned that Cobbley had died.
"She was upset," Jones said. "She cared enough about (Cobbley) to call and tell me."
A memorial service will be held Sept. 28 at 11 a.m. at the Meadows School in Summerlin. Cobbley and her family requested that donations be made to the LeOre Cobbley Master Teacher Fund at The Meadows School, or to The Meadows School, 8601 Scholar Lane, Las Vegas 89128.
Cobbley, who died of cancer, created and endowed the school's Master Teacher Fund in 1987 to honor faculty for professional and personal excellence in teaching, creativity, continued learning and mentoring. It is an annually renewable award which has been bestowed upon 25 of the school's 70 teachers.
Born in Riverside, Idaho, on Aug. 28, 1913, Cobbley began her career as a primary teacher in 1934 in Aberdeen, Idaho, and completed her bachelor of arts degree from the University of Southern Idaho later that same year.
She earned a master of education degree at the University of Nevada in Reno and her doctorate from Brigham Young University in 1975.
Cobbley moved to Southern Nevada in 1953 and served as the first principal of North Ninth Street School from 1960 to 1984. She opened and headed both Lewis E. Rowe Elementary School and George E. Harris Elementary School.
She was renowned for her strong traditional philosophy in stressing the basics in education, and her schools were consistently recognized as among the top in the country.
She was additionally recognized as an authority and lecturer on elementary education and drew visitors from around the nation to observe her role model programs.
Honored as Woman of the Year in Education for Nevada in 1985 and Las Vegas Educator of the Year in 1984, Cobbley also served in professional organizations including both the state and national Association of Elementary Principals; as president of the Clark County Elementary Principals' Association from 1965-67; and as a member of the professional Standards in Education for the State of Nevada.
It was in the late 1970s that Cobbley teamed up with Carolyn Goodman for what would eventually become The Meadows School.
The goal was to create a nonprofit, nonreligious, independent school, and Goodman sought out Cobbley because of her proven success in elementary education.
The school was incorporated in 1981 and opened as The Meadows in 1984 with 140 students attending kindergarten through sixth grade. Cobbley served as the founding headmistress until her illness, then was appointed to headmistress emeritus.
The Meadows moved to its 40-acre campus in Summerlin in 1988, and graduated its first senior class in 1991 -- all of whom were accepted at four-year colleges.
"Despite the hardships she endured with her disease, chemotherapy, radiation and with a severe case of arthritis, she managed to keep coming in to see the students and the faculty," Goodman said of Cobbley's later years.
"Most of the students never knew she was ill. She was very private. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and a twinkle in her eye. And it meant so much to her to see that we were maintaining the educational model she had established for the school."
Goodman's one regret, though, was that a school was never named after Cobbley whom she comfortably would title a saint for her devotion to Las Vegas's children.
"She never said anything about it, but I think she was terribly hurt that it never happened," Goodman said. "She really did deserve it."
Cobbley never married, but friends were quick to add that she considered the several thousand students who passed through the doors of her schools to be her children.
She is survived by one sister, Evelyn Christiansen, 12 nieces and nephews and over 70 grandchildren.
Private services will be held Friday in Burley, Idaho, and burial will follow in Declo, Idaho. Cobbley's nephew, Bishop Keith Duffin, will officiate.
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