In Conversation with Nevada’s Superintendent Wakefield: What Students Should Know

Ever wonder what the Superintendent of Public Instruction actually does – or how their decisions affect your school, teachers, and daily life?
We sat down with Superintendent Wakefield to get real answers about student safety, teacher support, career prep, and how your voice fits into Nevada’s education future.

 So… what does a Superintendent do?

Wakefield explained that while most school changes happen at the local level (like dress code or class schedules), state leadership creates the policies, funding, and conditions that make those changes possible.

He summed up his job in three main parts:

1. Being a partner — and being present

He wants to work directly with districts, schools, and communities instead of staying hidden behind policies. Currently, Superintendent Wakefield is on a listening tour to better understand the current state and perspectives surrounding our public education system right now!

2. Setting a clear direction for Nevada’s education

Right now, he says, statewide initiatives can feel scattered or unclear. He wants to build a shared direction that everyone – teachers, students, and families – understands.

3. Leading the Department well

A lot of the work is behind the scenes: managing staff, overseeing programs, and making sure the Department of Education actually supports schools effectively.

What issues in education matter most right now?

Without hesitation, Wakefield said: “Literacy is the foundation”.

Nevada’s current literacy rates are too low, as too many students are behind grade level in reading. “Everything builds upon these academic foundations,” he emphasized – especially coming from someone who’s a former teacher. Improving literacy is one of his top priorities.

Supporting Teachers (Because Their Job Is HARD)

If you’ve ever seen your teacher juggling grading, planning, supervising, coaching, and somehow still managing their personal life, Superintendent Wakefield gets it.

He’s a former teacher himself and also ran a teacher preparation program (Teach for America). His focus:

• Providing better tools and resources
  
  
• Improving working conditions
  
  
• Ensuring strong and fair compensation
  
  
• Making the job “actually manageable”
  
  

Ultimately, he believes that helping teachers helps students!

 School Safety, Mental Health, and Student Well-Being

How Nevada prepares for emergencies

Wakefield said the state’s job is to make sure every school environment is safe – not just physically, but emotionally. This includes:

• Ensuring discipline policies are fair
  
  
• Reviewing discipline rates and disproportionality
  
  
• Working with districts to balance safety with community needs
  
  

Safety for immigrant students

With fear and misinformation circulating about deportation and ICE, he emphasized:

“Young people need to be able to go to school without fear.”

The state is working to ensure:

• Clear communication with families
  
  
• Policies from the recent special legislation session increased protection and consideration surrounding sensitive information
  
  
• Schools don’t spread misinformation
  
  

 Student Voice: More Than a Checkbox

Superintendent Wakefield is very passionate about promoting student voice in education, emphasizing the need for intergenerational partnership. “Students are the end users of the school system,” he said. 

He’s works with:

• Including students on committees
  
  
• Bringing student representatives into decision-making
  
  
• Expanding student involvement in the Nevada SAGE initiative
  
  
• Encouraging students to use public comment, advocacy, petitions, and organizing responsibly
  
  

Advice for Student Leaders

Want to make change without instantly clashing with administrators?

His biggest advice: Be informed – really informed.

Understand why rules exist before trying to change them.
Be proactive instead of reactive.
Work with systems, not against them.

Preparing Students for the Future

Wakefield talked about what college and career readiness should look like across grade levels:

• Elementary: Build strong foundations – especially in literacy, math, and critical thinking.

• Middle School: Give students early exposure to different career paths.

• High School: Expand work-based learning, apprenticeships, and real-life experiences so students graduate with meaningful options.

He also mentioned learning from the pandemic, including hybrid models, tech access, and new ways to create opportunities for students everywhere.

“Opportunity should be universal.”

A Final Message to Nevada Students

Wakefield ended with a message directly for you:

“Being well-informed and persistent magnifies your chance of making an impact.”

Whether you’re advocating for change, planning your future, or trying to understand the system – knowledge and persistence matter.