Father’s bond with daughter goes from home to classroom

Father's Day marks that special bond between dad and offspring. Mia Gugino, 8, and her father, Lee, are never far apart, night or day. When he goes to work, he takes her with him.

That's because Gugino, a northwest Las Vegas resident, is Mia's physical education teacher at Tarr Elementary School, 9400 W. Gilmore Ave.

When Mia was born, he decided to quit the hospitality business and earn a teaching degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. By the time Mia was ready to go to school, he was ready to teach.

"I've had her in my class since she was in kindergarten, and I loved it, especially at that age," Gugino said. "She was so cute, seeing her walk in with all her little friends."

Being a teacher, Gugino is off on the weekends and all summer long. His mother, Judy, was a teacher at his elementary school. Unlike him, she made sure he was not one of her students. Now, he's sure he knows why.

"She must have known ... sometimes little boys can do things without thinking," he said with a grin.

What's it like having your dad for P.E.? A giggling Mia was nothing if not forthcoming.

"He makes fun of me, but in a fun way, and he doesn't spank me in front of (the class)," she said.

After school, when she has soccer practice through the Rainbow Youth Soccer League, he is her coach there, as well.

He calls her nicknames - Mia Macacheena or Mia Pia - in school, but otherwise, she said, he doesn't treat her differently. Dad's opinion tends to differ.

"I try to treat everyone fair, so, if anything, I tend to be a little tougher (with her)," Gugino said.

Gugino admits that as soon as he gets home, he locks his bedroom door to ensure 10 minutes of peace.

Mia recalled a night when she was frightened by a strange commercial.

"He let me sleep in his room on the floor," she said. "And it was a school night, so he wasn't that excited about it (being woken up)."

When her father fell down a flight of stairs and broke his arm recently, it was Mia who ran to his aid, found him in pain, his wrist at an unnatural angle. She hurried to call for an ambulance.

"I kept saying, 'What's the code? What's the code?' " she said, about trying to frantically unlock his phone to call 9-1-1.

He's still in a cast. It's black and decorated with googly eyes and a smile.

Contact Summerlin/Summerlin South View reporter Jan Hogan at jhogan@viewnews.com or 387-2949.