By: Las Vegas Now Staff
Doris French Elementary School is celebrating an important milestone — its 30th birthday. A lot has changed at the campus. For one thing, it used to be on the outskirts of town but is now an inner-city school with big city challenges.
Back in 1978, when Doris French first opened its doors — Jimmy Carter was the president, the average price of a new home was about $50,000, and gas cost only $.65 a gallon. But what hasn't changed is that Doris French is still an amazing school.
To get a sense of how much has changed in the past 30 years, Eyewitness News spent the morning with second-grade teacher Pam Monaco — who's been at Doris French Elementary since the day the school opened in 1978.
“There were no houses around here, it was just a dirt road on Hacienda,” said Mrs. Monaco.
Mrs. Monaco says the biggest change has been in technology — remember those purple ditto machines?
“You'd get it all over your clothes and hands, and you could always tell where all the teachers had been that day because of all the purple hand prints. Now we have copiers.”
And telephones, TVs, CD and DVD players and computers — right in the classroom. But in those 30 years — not all changes have been positive. Monaco says she's noticed the rising obesity rates and violence among students.
Last year, six weapons were confiscated from students and 17 violent acts resulted in discipline at the school, which is why school principal Amy Graham says Doris French emphasizes the importance of a bully-free environment.
“This visual helps kids remember that there are many ways to resolve conflict,” said Principal Graham.
“We really love each other and respect each other and that comes through to our students,” said Mrs. Monaco. “We're a family here.”
Which explains why so many of Mrs. Monaco's students call her Mrs. Mom-aco. “I'd have to say that when I became a parent, I became the best teacher I could be,” said Mrs. Monaco. “I teach from my heart. I am their mother, their counselor and their nurse.”
Monaco believes teaching is what she was born to do — and the fact she's chosen to teach for 30 years at the same school says a lot about her and Doris French Elementary.
“If you're in it for the money, then you're in the wrong occupation. It's all about the kids and their families,” said Mrs. Monaco.
Doris French has also achieved the rare exemplary designation under the federal No Child Left Behind Act. The school is hosting a 30th birthday party celebration there from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday night on campus — the community is welcomed.
Email your comments to Reporter Alyson McCarthy.
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