Schools start with ‘Open Hearts’

What does it mean to have “open hearts?”

“Be kind and be positive” were the answers in Meneley Elementary school’s fifth-grade teacher Mikhala Proctor’s class Monday.

Monday was the first day of school in Douglas County and kindness and positivity were seen as students stepped off the bus and onto campus, greeting friends and their new teachers.

This is Proctor’s first year teaching.

Originally from Colorado where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Northern Colorado, Proctor said she heard about the Douglas County School District during a job fair.

“I fell in love with the motto and vision of the district,” she said. “Then I visited and fell in love with the area and just decided, ‘let’s do it’,’ and here I am.”

As the fifth-grade English Language Arts teacher, Proctor hopes to encourage her students to have an open mind and “open hearts” for reading and writing.

“I want to give them a love for reading and writing because it’s not just black and white and ‘oh, this something I have to do for school,’ but to help them enjoy coming to school and have more of a love for reading and writing.”

The Douglas County principal with the longest tenure, Jacks Valley Elementary School’s Pam Gilmartin welcomed students to school for the 25^th year in a row.

She’s been an educator for a third of a century, and said she’s not ready to give it up any time soon. Gilmartin was promoted to principal in 1998.

Over at Douglas High School, English teacher and Activities Director Karen Lamb said she is ex-cited for another school year.

“We have the best students in this district and I am so proud to teach here surrounded by so many incredible educators,” she said.

Lamb said with the start of the new school year, homecoming is just around the corner and with that, the annual Fall Fest.

“We will be having our annual parade and Fall Fest at Minden Park along with our All Time Hall of Fame induction,” said Lamb. “We encourage the community to come out and support our school and have fun as a community.”

The Homecoming Fall Fest is scheduled for 5-8 p.m. Sept. 14 at Minden Park. For more information email klamb@dcsd.k12.nv.us