Principal, counselor get $25,000 awards

Thursday, Oct. 5, 2000 | 10:31 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Two Las Vegas educators received $25,000 awards today from the Milken Family Foundation for their work in "furthering excellence in education."

Beverly Mathis, principal at the Kermit R. Booker, Sr. Elementary School and Norita Espinosa, the counselor at the Walter Bracken Elementary School are among the 145 educators nationwide who were cited for their "exceptional" service.

The awards were announced at an assembly of students, faculty and others including Gov. Kenny Guinn, at each Las Vegas school. Mathis and Booker will be able to spend the money any way they want.

Mathis, who has 24-years in education, was cited for leading the educational reform efforts at Booker which was judged as a school in need of improvement after low test scores on a national examination. The school has since achieved a turnaround and is no longer on the list of low performing schools.

Under her direction, Booker has won the overall float for the last five years in the Las Vegas Martin Luther King Jr. Day Parade.

Espinosa, with 16-years in education has been involved in numerous activities including peer mediation and homeless programs.

Two Northern Nevada winners will be announced Friday.

In addition to the $25,000 Mathis and Booker will receive an all-expenses paid trip to Los Angeles in June 2001 to participate in the annual Milken Family Foundation National Education Conference.