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Art Teacher Celebrates Retirement

By CYNDI GRAHAM

Moapa Valley Progress

Grant Bowler Art teacher Clint Brill (center) gathers with a group of former students who attended his retirement party last month. PHOTO BY CYNDI GRAHAM/Moapa Valley Progress.

Bowler Elementary recently said farewell to longtime art teacher Clint Brill with a retirement celebration held at the school on Tuesday, May 21.

Brill got his first job teaching with Clark County School District at the age of 32. He came to the Moapa Valley by requesting to not work in the city.

With that request, Brill said that the district representatives told him, “Great! We have the perfect place for you.” And his 32 years of teaching began.

Brill grew up on a 350 acre farm in western Nebraska where he worked the land with his father and brother. When he decided to continue his education, he enrolled in Colorado Christian College in Denver to study art and become a graphic artist. While he was getting his bachelor’s degree he met his wife. They knew they didn’t want to live in a city so after receiving his teaching license, working outside of Las Vegas was the perfect place for them to raise their four children.

Bowler art teacher Clint Brill performs with his puppet friend Timmy Tom during his farewell retirement party last month. PHOTO BY CYNDI GRAHAM/Moapa Valley Progress.

Brill taught art at Bowler Elementary for 29 years and sparked a love of art in many students over the years.
“He can make anything out of paper,” Bowler staff member Barbara Trombly said. “You want a horse? Zip Zip. Here’s a horse. He exposed so many kids to the arts and the kids just loved him.”

Timmy Tom is a puppet character that Brill brings to life for students telling fun stories of his adventures. Timmy Tom makes regular guest appearances in class throughout the school year. Unlike Brill, Timmy Tom said that he has no plans to retire and hopes to stay active in telling stories at community events and at his church.

When asked about a few highlights of his career Brill was especially grateful to the students.
“I love art so I loved digging into the depth of the arts with the children,” he said. “And I got a masters degree in art. I never dreamed I’d have a masters degree”.

Brill thought he was ready to retire three years ago. But then he asked Bowler Principal Shawna Jessen, if there was a classroom position available. To his delight he was placed in the school’s Special Education program.

“The special education children were the kindest kids,” Brill said. “I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to teach special education and be on the SPED team. I would have loved to keep doing it but I ran out of time.”

Displays of past art projects lined the tops of bookshelves in Bowler Library at Brill’s retirement party. Art ribbons, Master Money Dollars, past Bowler Elementary School staff photographs, projects entered in the Clark County Fair and Rodeo Fine Arts Exhibit, Timmy Tom-signed portraits, still life forms, display of the mural project on the front of the building, the committee plan for the exploration mural on the portables, five minute portraits and many more.

Brill is also a local businessman and his family currently owns and operates Graphx in Overton. Brill said that his daughter is the “front man” for the business and does the artwork while his wife does the bookkeeping. With his retirement, Brill said that he has plans to get more involved in the family business.

He also wants to spend more time learning the guitar, a hobby he only recently picked up in the last few years.

“I’m going to take stock on what life has given me and then I’ll do more painting, take care of my house and yard, do Timmy-Tom performances, get more involved in the church, hike and read a lot,” Brill said. “It’s been a real honor to teach in the valley.”

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1 thought on “Art Teacher Celebrates Retirement”

  1. I was a student of his, I am now 27 with two children of my own. I still remember him and he was a beyond amazing teacher. I just wish my kids had an art teacher like him. Thank you for being such a wonderful teacher Mr. Brill!

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