Former students, coworkers offer kind words as Valley High principal bids adieu

Photo by Jummel Hidrosollo/Special to the Sun

“Mr. Montoya always believed in me”

Zhan Okuda-Lim first met Montoya as a freshman signing up for student council. Okuda-Lim came to Valley for its International Baccalaureate program, a rigorous academic program for high-achieving students.

With Montoya’s encouragement, Okuda-Lim became the class and student-body president, and served with Montoya at the Governor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Education.

Okuda-Lim and Montoya often discussed Nevada’s school funding issues during their student council and state education meetings.

In April, the School District — facing $400 million in budget cuts — told Montoya he would have to lay off 18 employees and perhaps eliminate some elective programs. Although Valley was able to save most of those positions, Okuda-Lim said he remembers a shaken Montoya.

“You could just look at his face, and you could tell just how upset he was,” Okuda-Lim said. “That showed me how much he cares about us as students, because he wanted to ensure that we had adequate teachers in the classroom.”

Okuda-Lim graduated from Valley in June and will be attending Princeton University this fall. He said he plans to return to Nevada and run for public office.

“Mr. Montoya always believed in me,” Okuda-Lim said. “He has always been like a cheerleader to me, encouraging me to go the extra mile. He leaves behind a legacy that will be difficult to achieve again.”

Photo by Amanda Finnegan

A school of innovation

During Montoya’s tenure, Valley High School became known as a place of innovation. It was the first school to have artificial turf fields, the first school to have an on-campus medical clinic (although it no longer exists) and the first high school to implement a self-funded free and reduced-priced lunch program.

The current principals at Centennial, Rancho, Clark, Palo Verde and Mojave high schools taught under Montoya, who counts 18 administrators as products of his turnaround efforts.

A former Valley dean of students, Amy Stepinski was recently hired to become an assistant principal at Chaparral High School to help transform the struggling school. She credits Montoya for shaping future leaders in the School District.

“He has an uncanny ability to train administrators,” she said. “I don’t believe that I would be as prepared for the jobs I’ve had without having worked for him.”

Photo by Steve Marcus

A welcoming principal

Jodi Brant, social studies department coordinator and 20-year veteran at Valley, said Montoya was an administrator teachers could trust. Montoya always had an open door, she said.

“I think he was one of the best principals to work for in Clark County,” she said. “He’s focused, but not micromanaging. That has made all the difference.”

Science teacher Patty Hey said Valley became like a family under Montoya, who was there for students at every school function and fundraiser.

Hey recalled one Senior Football Night that recognized student-athletes, band members and their parents. One cheerleader was crying because her parents didn’t show up, Hey said.

“Ron just stepped right up, walked her out, took the picture with her and gave her a hug,” Hey said. “The little cheerleading girl was just tickled pink because she was being escorted by the principal. He doesn’t want any student to feel abandoned.”

Photo by Justin M. Bowen

Supersized dreams

Hope was all Stevenson Sylvester had when he graduated from Valley in 2006. The 23-year-old had received just one scholarship offer to play football for the University of Utah.

Through hard work and perseverance, Sylvester blossomed into a breakout linebacker, and realized his childhood dream last year when he played in the Super Bowl for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He credits his unlikely success to his teachers, coaches and Montoya.

“He was a very active guy,” Sylvester said, recalling Montoya pacing by the gridiron at his high school football games. “He was really involved in all the sports, all the activities and clubs, all the programs. I remember him always asking and making sure things were running right.”

It’s Montoya who keeps Sylvester coming back to Valley to speak to students about his improbable road to the Super Bowl.

It’s a story of never giving up despite long odds, and Sylvester makes sure to throw in a few words of wisdom he has heard often during his time at Valley.

“You’re the best.”