Henderson principal named Nevada’s best

Lamping Elementary School Principal Michael O’Dowd recognized by national group

Erin Dostal

Principal Michael O’Dowd sits in his office at Lamping Elementary School in Henderson. O’Dowd was named National Distinguished Principal for Nevada and will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to accept the award.

By Erin Dostal (contact)

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

National Distinguished Principal

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Lamping Elementary School

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Lamping students react to their principal's award
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Mr. O’Dowd goes to Washington. Or, at least, he will next week to accept honors as the best principal in Nevada.

Michael O’Dowd was selected by the National Association of Elementary School Principals as the state’s 2009 National Distinguished Principal for Nevada.

For the past eight years he has been the principal at Lamping Elementary School on Summit Grove Drive in Henderson. During that time, the school has undergone a transformation.

“This is a really happy party, isn’t it?” said Frank Lamping, a retired administrator for whom the school is named, during an assembly in the school’s gym on Wednesday. “We have the best principal in the state of Nevada, but we knew that all along, didn’t we?”

The more than 1,000 children in grades K-5 at the school yelled back in agreement, some throwing their fists in the air.

O’Dowd said he thinks his pet initiative, the school’s William McCool Science Center, a 4,200 square-foot facility that opened in 2005, is the main reason why he was chosen.

Since it opened a few years ago, O’Dowd said, science scores at his school have increased by about 20 points. An increase of five points is considered significant.

“If kids are gonna be excited about science as adults, research tells us that it’s going to have to be something they get excited about all the way back in third grade,” O’Dowd said in his office before the assembly. “Our science scores have just skyrocketed.”

The center, which includes a replica of the space shuttle Columbia, a desert garden and a paleontology area, is designed to pique young people’s interests. The foundation that runs the center funds a college scholarship for Lamping alumni going into a science-based field. The first scholarship award was awarded last May.

“We love this school,” said Karen Wilson, 47, of Henderson, while walking her daughter home from school. “The teachers are all wonderful.”

Johnson’s daughter, Christine Wilson, a first-grader who turns 7 on Thursday, said she enjoys going to the science center because it’s where “you can discover stuff.”

For O’Dowd, this is the goal: Get children to see that science is fun and it will become an intrinsic part of their young passions and curiosities.

O’Dowd said part of why he won had to be the support of the teachers and community.

“He is really devoted to improving students’ education,” said Tara Imboden, the vice principal at the school and one of the people who nominated O’Dowd for the honor. “He puts kids first...and that doesn’t always happen.”

O’Dowd will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to attend a convention with the best principals in the country. The Nevada principal said he’s most excited about getting to tour the city and go inside the White House.

For O’Dowd, the trip will serve a dual purpose. He’s getting married to his fiancé, Lisa Vodicka, on Saturday.

“In a way then, it’s kind of serving as a honeymoon, too,” he said.

O’Dowd will also dine with Sens. Harry Reid and John Ensign next week as part of the award. The five-day event, which starts on Oct. 22, ends with a ball and a banquet to honor the principals.

This week, O’Dowd won’t be dining with any politicians or donning a tux, but on Wednesday, he received the red-carpet treatment from his home community.

“Three cheers for Lamping, our school so fine and dear,” the kids sang at the assembly. “And don’t forget the Great Mr. O’! Our Principal of the year!”

Discussion: 4 comments so far…

By ecm

10/15/09 at 7:40 a.m.

Suggest removal

Well deserved, outstanding teacher also. Congratulations Mr. O'Dowd!!
By dodgerchuck

10/15/09 at 10:41 a.m.

Suggest removal

likewise congrats.nice neighborhood also
By afveteran

10/15/09 at 10:58 a.m.

Suggest removal

Great part of town with overachieving kids will get a principal noticed in any place, any situation. Kind of like driving on cruise control on a NASCAR circuit and reaping all the Nextel Cups along the way.
By kevjandon

10/22/09 at 9:25 a.m.

Suggest removal

It is nothing like NASCAR at all and this man certainly is not on cruise control.

All kids can be overachieving. It takes leadership from Principals who motivate, involve and expect excellence from parents, teachers, PTA's, the community and most importantly the kids to bring out the best in each and every one of them.

That is what Mr. O'Dowd does. Did you happen to notice the enrollment at this school, 1029 kids? That is what most Jr. Highs have for enrollment! The schools official capacity is 611. So he runs a school that is 68% over its 9 capacity. It is a year round school that is full of portable trailers on the playground.

The deck is completely stacked against him, but you would never know it. He runs the school like a conductor runs a Symphony.

Way to go Mr. O'Dowd. You deserve this and have earned this award. Contragts on the wedding and have fun in Washington. The kids at Lamping can't wait for you to come back and tell them about your trip.

Thanks for all that you do. The Donovans