Detwiler principal set to unlock inspiration

     By Tina Allen
     View staff writer
      When Gary Namba, principal at the new Detwiler Elementary School, met with his staff to develop a school philosophy, he asked them to reflect on who their favorite teachers were as children.
      "It was just a refocusing for them to remember what those qualities were, and (to ask themselves) are they exemplifying those same qualities in the students they have," said Namba, who was appointed to his new position in February. "Someday, 10 or 20 years from now, they will be those students' favorite teacher."
      Namba, who spent the past two years as administrator of Morrow Elementary, hopes to create an atmosphere at Detwiler that will unlock inspiration, like he found as a youth, in the minds of the 650 pupils expected to enroll in the school.
      "The importance of running a school goes far beyond just instruction for an administrator," Namba said. "It's the whole climate that's created. If we want our students to be caring, sensitive, sharing, cooperative people, then I have to create a climate that exemplifies that. And I can't just state it. I've got to be all of those things, or else my words are meaningless."
      Namba, who has been with the Clark County School District since 1976, had no difficulty remembering the person who influenced him the most -- it was one of his sixth-grade teachers in California, who eventually became a superintendent. Namba later thanked him at his retirement party for the inspiration he provided.
      "For a teacher, there's not a lot of expression by former students of what an impact they make on students' lives, and my visit to him was to show him he really made a difference in my life," he said.
      Namba received his bachelor's degree at California State University Sacramento and his master's degree at UNLV. His first job in the district was teaching math at McCall Sixth-Grade Center, which is now McCall Elementary. He then taught at Beckley and Mount Charleston elementary schools and Robison Middle School, before becoming an administrator more than 10 years ago.
      He was an assistant principal at Deskin, Twin Lakes, Hewetson, Christensen and Squires elementary schools. His first principal position was at Sewell Elementary, followed by Morrow.
      Detwiler, located at 1960 Ferrell St., southwest of Lake Mead Boulevard and Simmons Street, is one of eight schools scheduled to open in the Clark County district this fall, consisting of three high schools, one middle school and four elementary schools. Construction of Detwiler is expected to be completed in early August. The school will draw pupils from Fyfe, Deskin, Hoggard and Booker elementary schools and will operate on a nine-month academic calendar.
      The school's namesake, Ollie Detwiler, came to Las Vegas in 1938 to teach in the Fifth Street Grammar School. In 1941, she transferred to Las Vegas High School -- the only high school then in Las Vegas -- and taught international relations, sociology, ancient history and civics. Sometimes she handled 40 to 50 students in one class. She retired after teaching at Fremont Junior High School.
      The new building will provide 60,000 square feet of room, including four great rooms with individual classrooms around the perimeter of each. Namba said he plans to integrate different grade levels in the great rooms to develop a community atmosphere and help "the kids learn how to cooperatively work together."
      For example, first-grade classes might be adjacent to fifth-grade classes and second-grade classes next to third. At times, the older children will have the opportunity to serve as mentors and role models for the younger pupils, he said.
      "We want to be sure that socialization process comes about," Namba said. "Maybe if we do this in first through fifth (grades), when they do get to middle school, students will be able to interact better together."
      But what is the most difficult aspect of opening a new school? Namba said the hardest part right now is being without the pupils.
      "But I'll soon be back at it, so I'm looking forward to that," Namba said. "I'm having too much fun. I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing than being a principal of an elementary school. It's just the best job in the world, and it's fun to build something." He has two children -- a daughter, Angela, who is a junior in college and a son, Nikolaus, a freshman in college.