Photograph of group of women at their bat Mitzvah, including Sharon Sigesmund Pierce (front, center-right), and her mother Sara Schwartz (front row, third from right), at Temple Beth Sholom.
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In this interview, Goldman discusses the impact of strategies for addressing segregation in schools, including desegregation lawsuits, as well as anti-Semitism within the district. He also talks about his push, as region superintendent, for K through 8th grade configurations in schools as well as his opening of West Preparatory Institute, a K-12 school in Westside. Goldman discusses the politics of school naming and goes through the various community members who have schools named after them. In addition, he reflects upon how his job as a Clark County School District central office administrator has morphed over the years, and the different issues that demand his time over the years.
Edward ?Ed? Goldman was born in Rochester, New York in 1951, and spent his childhood in Jerusalem, Israel as well as Cincinnati, Ohio. He received his first bachelor?s degree in political science from Columbia University and a second in Jewish Studies from the University of Judaism. Goldman later received a master?s degree in political science from California State University, and then a doctorate in education and higher administration from UNLV, focusing on educational law. Goldman first moved to Las Vegas while on a leave of absence from his job in Los Angeles to finish his Ph.D. dissertation, working as a math teacher for the Clark County School District. However, it was not until 1981 that Goldman took a full-time position with the district, and moved with his wife, Susan, to the city. After the move, his first job was at Von Tobel Junior High School. Three years later he served as dean at Woodbury Junior High School. From 1989 until 2000, Goldman led recruitment for the school district, and subsequently, he became the Southeast Regent Superintendent. He then was asked to create a new division, Educational Services, which he oversaw for five years. He then took a break from central office administration, returning to the school environment, until he was asked to come back to his previous job as Associate Superintendent for Employee Management Relations.
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Multicultural advancements in Las Vegas cannot be mentioned without speaking on the monumental contributions of Dorothy Eisenberg. From 1971 to 1998, she was involved with over 25 local organizations and committees and had the honor of having an elementary school named after her. Eisenberg’s beginnings start in the midst of the all American melting pot experience though immigration. Her mother came to the United States from Russia at age twelve and her father from Austria at age sixteen to go upholstery school. Upon marriage, they settled down in Philadelphia after the World War II. They raised Dorothy and her siblings to contribute to the community despite the anti-Semitism that was displayed there on a regular basis. Signs that said, “No dogs and Jews allowed” were common place. After her first husband died, leaving her as a single mother of four little girls, she didn’t allow herself to be trampled by her circumstances by enrolling in Temple University to be a teacher at a time when the university had stigma towards older students. Upon her marriage to her second husband, the family moved to Las Vegas where she found a spiritual home for her family at Temple Beth Sholom, where her children went learned to deeply appreciate their Jewish heritage and attended Hebrew school. Having always been involved with politics in Philadelphia, she faced personal discrimination due to her religion when she was searching for organizations to involve her time. She eventually found a home with the League of Women Voters in 1965 and became involved with the Observers Corp and became aware of what was going on with the African American community from community based research and dialogue. She played a key role as president of the organization and faced heat for her involvement in the desegregation of sixth grade centers with the Kelly vs. Guinn decision in 1972 and was involved with the Welfare Rights Movement. She met Ruby Duncan and Jane Fonda, and she even showed up to the march with her daughters. Eisenberg was heavily involved with her namesake school through meetings with principals at least once a year, reading to students in the classroom, and bringing latkes to the school on Hanukkah. She continues the intergenerational legacy of educational involvement set forth by her parents with supporting her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren in the school as well. Dorothy Eisenberg is a true role model for Nevada and a pioneer for equal education in Las Vegas.
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