Six seek spots on education board

Terry Webster

Monday, Oct. 23, 2000 | 11:29 a.m.

Five Clark County School District employees and a businesswoman are vying for three open seats representing Clark County on the state Board of Education, the panel responsible for the state's new curriculum standards and proficiency tests.

In District 2, Subdistrict A, the race is between Tracey Lewis, 31, a teacher family aide for the School District, and Marcia Washington, 47, a 19-year School District employee.

Lewis, 31, a School District employee for seven years, says proficiency testing and remediation, the proper implementation of technology in all schools, the Safe Schools site-based initiative and programs for English Language Learners are her key concerns.

Lewis earned a degree in business administration from Phillips Junior College and had a social work major and education minor at the Community College of Southern Nevada.

Community organizations Lewis has been involved with include Child Haven, the Community Partners Family Resource Center, Agassi Boys & Girls Club, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the city of Las Vegas Community Development Block Grant Board.

Washington, 47, says the issues of greatest concern to her are proficiency testing, zoning, more local control, public participation and improving the overall education of all Nevada students.

She has been involved in the Nevada Power Community Advisory Panel, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee, the NAACP, city of Las Vegas Community Development Block Grant Board and the Women's Democratic Party of Clark County.

Patricia G. Smith and Theresa Malone, 48, are the two competitors for the District 2, Subdistrict G seat.

A mathematics instructor at Molasky Junior High School, Smith earned a bachelor of science degree with a math emphasis and a master of education degree in educational computing, both from UNLV.

Smith, who invented the "I Love Math" game, volunteers to teach the game to former students and other children interested in acquiring math skills.

She says she and her husband are the adoptive parents of a 4-year-old girl who is "the single greatest reason I am running for the State Board of Education."

Her other experience includes being a member of the Nevada Math Council and serving as a former judge and emcee for the Junior Varsity Quiz, a program that she says "provides a challenging and entertaining experience for local youth."

Malone's background includes experience as a computer lab instructor at the Community College of Southern Nevada and 20 years of experience as a businesswoman, including management of properties.

Her educational experience includes being a secondary education student at UNLV.

One of Malone's key issues is finding a way to increase state per pupil spending.

"Increasing per pupil spending in grades kindergarten through 12 will bring Nevada in line with the national average and will help to increase teacher salaries as well as provide for the educational needs of our children," Malone says.

She also suggests that incentives may help prevent students from dropping out of school.

"Incentives may need to be encouraged for students' good grades and willingness to commit to finishing school," she says.

Finally, Edward Goldman, 49, the assistant superintendent of administrative services for the School District, and John Hawk, 26, a Green Valley High School mathematics teacher, are squaring off in the race for the District 2, Subdistrict D seat.

An advanced placement and honors math teacher, Hawk says his top concerns are school safety, accountability and growth.

Goldman, who holds a doctorate degree in education, is concerned with restoring power to the State Board of Education. He also is vowing to oppose unfunded state mandates.

Merv Iverson is running unopposed for a fourth seat, District 2, Subdistrict F.