Sen. John Ensign honors NLV principal at school assembly

By Paul Takahashi

Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2010 | 5:18 p.m.

A local principal was named Nevada’s most distinguished elementary school principal at a ceremony attended by Sen. John Ensign on Wednesday.

Ensign (R-Nev.) congratulated Lucy Keaton, principal of Halle Hewetson Elementary School in North Las Vegas, at an assembly at the school, 701 North 20th St.

The National Association of Elementary School Principals recently named Keaton a National Distinguished Principal.

“I’m really proud of what you’re accomplishing here,” Ensign said, addressing the crowd of more than 400 students and teachers sitting on the cafeteria floor. “This (award) reflects what goes on here. You can accomplish a lot if you have great leadership.”

Choir students sang “America the Beautiful” and “Fifty Nifty United States” before Ensign entertained questions from the first- to fifth-graders on topics such as immigration, what President Barack Obama is like in person and what it takes to become a senator.

“You have to be 30 years of age and convince a lot of people,” Ensign said. “It’s not an easy thing to do.”

“It’s phenomenal he took the time to talk (to the students),” said Robert Alfaro, associate superintendent of Clark County School District’s Area Service Center 2. “He answered questions and talked to students in a way they can understand.”

Ensign, who was given a red lunchbox and T-shirt emblazoned with the school’s logo, also presented an American flag that flew over the capitol to Keaton.

“It made us very proud we’re getting this kind of recognition,” said Keaton, who is starting her sixth academic year as principal of Hewetson. “It means a lot.”

Keaton will be traveling to Washington, D.C., in mid-October to attend the association’s award ceremony.

“We’ll get a chance to share ideas,” Keaton said. “It’s such an honor for me to be selected.”