Superintendent of Public Instruction Search 

From a pool of 19 applicants through a blind review process, the Board narrowed the search to six final candidates, applicants 1, 7, 8, 11, 16, and 18 (Dr. Lisa Coons, Dr. Sylvia Mitchell, Dr. Heather Sanchez, Amy Suman, Dr. Victor Wakefield, and Dr. Darryl Wyatt). Interviews will be conducted during public meetings on August 28th-29th, and the Board will submit a list of the final three qualified candidates to Governor Lombardo, who will make the final appointment.

The Board also made other key decisions related to the Superintendent search on topics such as interview questions, a performance task, the interview format, and rubrics. A performance task (Task 3) was finalized, focusing on budgeting, serving diverse student communities, and instructional priorities. The interview will reflect values such as instructional and executive leadership experience, innovation, equity & student success, educator recruitment, systems management, and stakeholder engagement. 

As the Student Member, I recommended adding a question about student voice and intergenerational collaboration. The Board agreed this perspective was important, and there was discussion about how to integrate it into the interview rubric. Ultimately, the seven final interview questions prioritized Visionary & Instructional Leadership, Equity and Student Success, Organizational Systems, Educator Recruitment and Retention, and Stakeholder Engagement.

Consent Agenda Approved

The full consent agenda was approved by the board, including: 

• Approval of private school license renewals
• FY25 Q3 CSR Report
• FY24 Condition of School Facilities Report
• Pre-K Social Emotional Standards

Read By Grade 3 Alternative Assessment and iReady

The Board approved the use of iReady as an official alternative assessment for Read by Grade 3 in the 2025–26 school year, with a cut score set at the 40th percentile. This score was supported by a study from Washoe County, which uses both MAP (the current state adopted assessment) and iReady and found high correlation between the tools.

Several public commenters, including Washoe and Pinecrest Academy leaders, supported iReady for its stronger engagement and lower testing time. Member Ford expressed concern about equity for Clark County students, given logistical barriers to adopting iReady this school year. Ultimately, the final decision was to make it so that districts and charter schools may opt to use iReady as an alternative assessment if they were ready and able to fund it themselves. 

New Updates/Developments for Future Meetings

Member Hughes was reappointed to the Commission for Innovation and Excellence in Education. Additionally, the Board discussed its current vision and goals, including the legislative changes regarding the STIP. The Board decided to wait until the new State Superintendent was appointed and clarity around legislative changes were reached, so no action will be taken at this time.

Policy Agenda Looked Into

The Board discussed creating a Policy Agenda to guide its engagement during the legislative session. This would help the Board take a more proactive role in state-level decisions that impact education funding, policy, and reform. They agreed to begin development, likely starting with a subcommittee and future agenda items.

Feasibility of Developing a Nevada-Specific Assessment

The Board held an initial discussion about potentially developing a Nevada-specific statewide assessment. Member Ford brought the proposal forward, however concerns regarding funding and legislative constraints.

The Board agreed to further explore feasibility, including informational presentations. While no action was taken at this meeting, the topic will likely return with more information in a future session.

Public Hearings

The Board held several public hearings on regulations, including:

• Career & Technical Education (CTE): A joint technical skills committee to support access to high-quality career and technical education programming will be established.

• Transition Services for Students with Disabilities: Changed planning age from 16 to 14 to allow for earlier high school transition support.

• Adult High School Program: Aligned NAC language with current state law for clarity and consistency.

• Residential Treatment Facilities: Proposed better monitoring and pre-placement planning for students placed in treatment. This item will return to the Board for further review.

   

You can find the meeting materials HERE, the agenda HERE, and the video recording HERE. The next meeting will be held on September 10th at 9 AM.