Good morning and welcome to the Indy Education newsletter. I’m Rocio Hernandez, the Nevada Independent’s K-12 education reporter.
This newsletter provides a roundup of the latest education stories and highlights interesting educators, students, programs and other events and resources across the state. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter and receive it by email every Tuesday.
I want to hear from you! Submit questions, comments, or suggestions about what I should cover [email protected].
From right, Washoe County School Board President Beth Smith, Trustee Colleen Westlake and other dignitaries pose for a photo in front of a food truck donated to Reed High School by software company Intuit at a news conference in Sparks on Thursday, Dec. 7. 2023. (Washoe County School District/Courtesy)
👨🍳 Company Launches Food Truck Program at Sparks High School – Software company Intuit has donated a food truck equipped with a full kitchen to support Reed High School’s culinary program. The food truck provides students with a space to practice their cooking skills while learning the financial and business skills needed to run a business.
The food truck features a renewable energy battery system that can power the truck for up to 12 hours a day while significantly reducing CO2 emissions. Intuit has also provided food trucks to school districts in California and Texas.
✉️ Douglas County School Board Trustee Resigns – Douglas County School Board Trustee Tony Magnotta is resigning from his position, citing tensions with other board members and health reasons.
In his Dec. 7 resignation letter, Magnotta said that since January and the installation of new trustees, which include board chairwoman Susan Jansen, board secretary David Burns and trustee Katherine Dickerson, he felt his voice and his voice were not “serious.” have been affected.” He also claimed he was “faced with harassment and veiled threats” to side with the board majority and present a united front to the public.
During a phone call Monday, Magnotta said he felt he should step down from the board for health reasons.
Jansen said in a Dec. 9 statement that no one on the board harassed or intimidated Magnotta, although Magnotta said, “She’s a damn liar.”
Under state law, a vacancy on the school board must be filled by appointment from the remaining members.
💰State invests $15 million in scholarships for teachers — The Nevada Department of Education (NDE) announced last week that the state is investing $15 million in three scholarship opportunities for educators to improve teacher recruitment and retention. The scholarship options are:
- The Teach Nevada scholarships are available to aspiring Nevada teachers to help fund initial teaching licensure programs through state-accredited universities, colleges, or alternative pathways to licensure providers. This scholarship opportunity covers up to the tuition and fees for completing the first licensure program per eligible recipient. The State Board of Education (SBE) has approved $6.1 million to help nearly 1,400 aspiring educators obtain their licenses.
- The Incentivizing Pathways to Teaching Grant program, which provides tuition assistance to beginning teachers in their final year of a teacher preparation program. It also offers scholarships while students gain clinical practice experience in teaching. The SBE approved $7.9 million to support more than 1,300 aspiring educators.
- The Nevada Teacher Advancement Scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition, registration and mandatory fees for existing educators in Nevada pursuing a master’s degree in education or a related field. The SBE approved $1.5 million that will enable nearly 280 educators to earn advanced degrees.
NDE has partnered with the Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation to secure an additional $1.1 million in funding to support the number of requests received for the Incentivizing Pathways to Teaching program. This requires approval from the Interim Finance Committee and the Audit Committee.
Further information about the scholarships and how to apply can be found on the NDE website.
School Spotlight
Jessica Vazquez, a computer technician and club advisor at Dennis Ortwein Elementary School in Las Vegas, gives students advice as they work on their 3D model designs. (Rocio Hernandez/The Nevada Independent)
Students use technology and creativity to help their school community
When Jessica Vazquez, who uses the pronoun they, decided to start a technology club at Dennis Ortwein Elementary School in Las Vegas, she wanted it to be about more than just science, math, engineering and technology. They also wanted to teach students lessons about cooperation, respect, perseverance, tenacity, integrity, inspiration and altruism.
These guiding principles are at the heart of all the work of Ortwein Innovators Club members.
“I was looking for students who wanted to do things from their hearts; They want to do something for an employee,” Vazquez said. “These kids love their employees.”
Fourth and fifth grade club members practice their design skills by developing ideas for problems submitted by school staff. One of the first products the students designed was a watering can for their principal, Traci Halloway. Vazquez chose a work by fifth-grader Tyler Baker as the winning design.
Fifth-grader Tyler Baker (right) presents his 3D printed watering can to Dennis Orwein Elementary School Principal Traci Halloway. (Jessica Vazquez/Courtesy)
Vazquez set up the club like a workplace. All students begin as junior graphic designers, but more advanced students may be promoted to graphic designers if they feel ready for additional responsibility and demonstrate their competence and leadership skills in an interview with the club’s advisors.
So far, only three of the club’s 22 students have applied and been successfully promoted to the graphic designer level.
“I think it’s because it gives them an opportunity for self-reflection where you say to yourself, ‘Hey, I’m not ready for this yet, but I think I will be soon,'” Vazquez said.
This month, students were tasked with coming up with design ideas for gifts and jewelry for their families.
Fifth-grader and graphic designer Kairi Dionio decided to make a toy for her younger brother and an eight-pointed star ornament to represent each member of her family.
“I love the whole process and I love seeing a smile at the end when you give (the item) away,” she said.
Vazquez said they hope to expand the club in the future by opening it to third-graders who will work as interns. Ultimately, Vazquez said they wanted the club to be entirely student-run.
Do you have a student or staff member you would like us to feature in the next edition of School Spotlight? Let me know your nominations below [email protected].
Reading tasks
Vazquez set up the club like a workplace. All students begin as junior graphic designers, but more advanced students may be promoted to graphic designers if they feel ready for additional responsibility and demonstrate their competence and leadership skills in an interview with the club’s advisors.
So far, only three of the club’s 22 students have applied and been successfully promoted to the graphic designer level.
“I think it’s because it gives them an opportunity for self-reflection where you say to yourself, ‘Hey, I’m not ready for this yet, but I think I will be soon,'” Vazquez said.
This month, students were tasked with coming up with design ideas for gifts and jewelry for their families.
Fifth-grader and graphic designer Kairi Dionio decided to make a toy for her younger brother and an eight-pointed star ornament for each member of her family.
“I love the whole process and I love seeing a smile at the end when you give (the item) away,” she said.
Vazquez said they hope to expand the club in the future by opening it to third-graders who will work as interns. Ultimately, Vazquez said they wanted the club to be entirely student-run.
Do you have a student or staff member you would like us to feature in the next edition of School Spotlight? Let me know your nominations below [email protected].
Reading tasks
The legality of the ban on strikes for civil servants is being discussed in court
A district judge will hear arguments Jan. 10 on whether the state should keep its anti-strike law for civil servants.
Washoe schools can temporarily hire former superintendents
Retired Washoe County Superintendent Kristen McNeill could return to lead the district again — on an interim basis, according to the agenda for the Washoe County School Board meeting scheduled for today.
The North Las Vegas City Council appoints a union employee as temporary trustee
After voting to appoint Clark County teacher and Councilman Isaac Barron as its non-voting representative on the Clark County School Board, the North Las Vegas City Council revisited the decision Wednesday – this time voting to appoint a teacher’s union employee on an interim basis for the role to be given to Barron. Time to end his career as an educator.
Additional credit
Foster children in Colorado are less likely to graduate than homeless children. A new program is trying to fix that.
The Colorado Sun reports on an after-school program that helps foster children regulate their brains and focus on school.
What’s in a name? Students at New York City’s largest freshman school are pushing for change
Chalkbeat New York reports on the push by students with a migrant background to change the name of their school to avoid being targeted by anti-immigrant groups.
Events
🍎 Washoe County School Board Meeting – Tuesday, December 12, 2 p.m
On the agenda is a discussion and possible vote on hiring former Superintendent Kristen McNeill as interim superintendent.
🍎 Douglas County School Board Meeting – Tuesday, December 12, 4 p.m
On the agenda is a letter of resignation from trustee Tony Magnotta.
🍎 Clark County School Board Meeting – Thursday, December 14, 5 p.m
The meeting’s agenda, which will be held in Boulder City, includes presentations on student discipline and the district’s use of American Rescue Plan emergency funds for elementary and secondary schools.
Recommended social media post
Congratulations, students at Eleanor Lemarie Junior High School in Battle Mountain!
