Educator, community advocate and big sister Luann Cody Schnell Nedrow was born March 19, 1952, in Clarkston, and passed away Sept. 23, 2018.
She is survived by her husband, general contractor Darrell Gene Nedrow of Clarkston; her son, carpentry instructor Lewis Erik Nedrow of Clarkston; her brother, filmmaker Curtis Allen Schnell, and his husband, acupuncturist Michael Fox of Los Angeles; her sister, educator Jean V. Henderson, and husband, educator Harlan Henderson of Cheney, Wash.; her mother-in-law, Lula Nedrow of Lewiston; her brother-in-law, John Nedrow of Lewiston; her nieces, Laura Jean Henderson of Spokane, Lindsey Joy Henderson of Spokane, Nicole Hamrick of Boise, and Leslie Stamper of Pullman; and her nephews, Jason Nedrow of Lewiston and Shawn Nedrow of Spokane.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Verna Louise Smith Schnell, and by her father, Lewis Henry Schnell, both of Clarkston; her father-in-law, Les Nedrow of Lewiston; and her sister-in-law, Barbara Nedrow of Spokane.
As a child, Luann was one of the very few students who accomplished perfect attendance for her entire matriculation through the Clarkston schools, graduating high school in 1970. Her first degree in education was from Lewis-Clark State College in 1974, and she later earned her master’s degree from Grand Canyon University. Luann started her teaching career at Holy Family School for five years. She delighted in telling humorous stories of how her own Lutheran upbringing collided with Catholic traditions as she learned the art of teaching there. In 1980, she began teaching second grade at Grantham Elementary and taught there for 39 more years before her 2018 retirement.
Luann was exuberantly active in Alpha Delta Kappa, an international teaching sorority, where she served multiple terms as co-president and secretary of the local chapter Beta Beta. She served on the Washington State Board of Education as vice president and corresponding secretary. Her career accomplishments included numerous educational grants and innovative programs, including a blended-grades program at Grantham. She was known for her strengths in academics while nurturing and encouraging her learners into confident pupils.
It wasn’t just elementary schoolers who Luann taught; she contributed prominently for 20 years to LCSC’s Teacher Education Division. As an onsite teacher educator, she participated in four NCATE accreditations as a school district representative, supervised student teachers, taught clinical experience classes and was a member of the advisory board contributing ideas from the public schools directly to the LCSC Teacher Education Division.
She was the director of Clarkston School District’s Elementary Summer School Program for 16 years and worked with the LCSC’s Elementary PACE Program for 15 years. LCSC’s partnership with Clarkston’s Schools allowed interns an opportunity to teach Clarkston students for eight weeks in partnership with LCSC education faculty. This program was nationally recognized in 2007. Luann’s contribution and supervision of student teaching methods was outstanding. Her expertise as a practicing educator helped LCSC students prepare for their own career as educators.
Outside of work, she was an avid dart enthusiast who loved puns and wordplay.
At her request, cremation has taken place and her ashes will be placed beside her parents at Pines Cemetery in Spokane. A memorial celebration of her life will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at CrossPoint Alliance Church, 1330 Powers Ave. in Lewiston. A light meal will be served afterward in the Fellowship Hall. A graveside service in Spokane is being planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made in her memory to The Grantham Boosters, care of Grantham Elementary, 1253 Poplar St., Clarkston, WA 99403.
