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The Washoe County School District (WCSD) Board of Trustees has been recognized with the first-ever President’s Award from the Nevada Association of School Boards (NASB)—a significant honor that highlights measurable improvements in governance, student achievement, and public trust.

The President’s Award recognizes school boards that demonstrate growth and leadership through continuous improvement. According to NASB, the WCSD Board stood out for its commitment to strengthening governance practices, navigating challenges with accountability, elevating student voice, and fostering a reputation centered on transparency and student success.

Board President Beth Smith said the recognition reflects purposeful work by trustees and district leadership to learn from adversity, bring student perspectives into decision-making, and remain focused on long-term outcomes for students and families.

“As a board, we have worked hard to use challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, while also being intentional about listening to and elevating student voice,” Smith said. “This recognition reflects the foundation we are continuing to build together—one that supports future success for our students and our community. While we are proud of this honor, we also know the work continues.”

NASB leaders noted that WCSD’s progress demonstrates how strong governance—grounded in collaboration, student-centered practices, and community trust—can positively impact district culture, decision-making, and outcomes.

The award underscores the WCSD Board of Trustees’ ongoing commitment to responsible leadership, meaningful student engagement, and ensuring the district continues moving forward in service of students, staff, and families across Washoe County.

 

Elementary students across the Washoe County School District (WCSD) received an unforgettable holiday surprise thanks to the generosity of the Grand Sierra Resort (GSR). The resort donated hundreds of complimentary tickets to Santa’s Top Talent, giving selected students—and every performer in the Depoali Middle School Honor Choir—the chance to enjoy a festive, family-friendly holiday show.

At GSR’s annual Tree Lighting event, the Depoali Honor Choir performed for the community, helping kick off the holiday season. In recognition of their performance, every choir member was gifted a family four-pack of tickets to the show. Additional elementary schools were also invited to send students and their guests, creating a joyful opportunity for families to experience the magic together.

Board of Trustees President Beth Smith expressed deep appreciation for GSR’s continued partnership and support of WCSD students:

“The GSR's generosity comes at a time when so many need it most. Their gift allows hundreds of families to spend time together at the holidays without the worry of cost. I am so grateful to the GSR for always being there for our kids and giving what they can every time they can.”

 This donation reflects GSR’s long-standing commitment to the community and to supporting local students. WCSD is grateful for their partnership and proud to celebrate the joy they brought to so many families this season.

 

Amber Bass, a longtime WCSD Nutrition Services employee, was recently honored with the Nevada “Recognizing Inspiring School Employees” (RISE) Award by the Nevada Department of Education and Governor Joe Lombardo’s office.

Bass prepares daily meals for 70 delicate and vulnerable students who have complex medical conditions, life-threatening allergies, unique nutritional needs, and feeding styles that require careful and consistent monitoring in the kitchens and at school sites to protect their health and safety. She was nominated for the award by WCSD Board President Beth Smith.

“Amber brought me over to her kitchen workstation and showed me her large board of smiling student photos—a personal reminder of the children whose meals she is entrusted with preparing,” wrote President Smith in her nomination. “These students’ parents send their precious children to school each day in the Washoe County School District with absolute trust that Amber has prepared a meal that is safe, delicious, and – very importantly—as similar to their classmates’ meals as possible… Parents know that when their child eats at school, Amber has safeguarded every detail as if they were her own.”

Amber Bass has worked for WCSD since 2006 in the special programs department of Nutrition Services. She received a phone call from Governor Lombardo on Friday, informing her of her award. She will now apply to the U.S. Department of Education for the National RISE Award to be determined next spring.

 

Three WCSD Schools Honored for Excellence in Parent Teacher Home Visits

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is proud to announce that Lemmon Valley Elementary School, Mamie Towles Elementary School, and Jerry Whitehead Elementary School have been honored with top awards for their outstanding work in the Parent Teacher Home Visits (PTHV) program.

Parent Teacher Home Visits are not about academics: they happen outside the school day. They are about building trust, creating connection, and strengthening relationships between families and schools so students feel safe, valued, and empowered to succeed.

This week, Superintendent Joe Ernst, along with several representatives from WCSD leadership handed out award plaques to help our leading schools celebrate:

Gold Award School of the Year – Lemmon Valley Elementary School

Lemmon Valley Elementary has been participating in Parent-Teacher Home Visits for more than a decade. In the 2024–25 school year, staff completed 201 visits with 156 families—177% above their goal.

Parents say the impact is life-changing.

One Lemmon Valley Elementary mom of two shared:

“Participating in home visits allows us to build relationships and communicate better so we can be there for our kids. It opens so many windows.”

Program leaders describe the atmosphere as one of “excitement, hope, and passion—and we’re not stopping now.”

Silver Award – Mamie Towles Elementary School

At Mamie Towles Elementary, Parent Teacher Home Visits are affectionately known as “Superstar Hangouts.” Teachers and families come together in relaxed, meaningful ways to strengthen bonds that go well beyond the classroom.

Families describe the visits as transformative:

“Home visits helped my son feel more comfortable with his teachers and made our school feel more like a community. Now he feels confident and able to ask for help.”

These Superstar Hangouts aren’t about assignments or grades—they’re about students knowing that their teachers care about them as whole people. That sense of connection, families say, makes a world of difference.

Bronze Award – Jerry Whitehead Elementary School

At Jerry Whitehead Elementary, 84% of staff members are trained in PTHV and the school surpassed its goal by 189%.

Parents described the visits as memorable and deeply meaningful:

“As parents, it gave us a chance to share what’s most important for our child’s growth.”

One student summed it up simply:

“The home visits made me feel more comfortable with my teachers.”

Teachers say these connections transform classrooms into safe, supportive learning spaces that make a lasting difference.

Students echoed that sense of connection. One child said:

“I was very happy when my teacher came to my house. We got to talk about my family, and I’d like another home visit.”

Others remembered simply having fun:

“I liked playing Mario Kart with my teacher.”

Staff say these moments build confidence for students, making them feel valued and empowered to learn.

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About Parent-Teacher Home Visits

The Parent-Teacher Home Visit program is rooted in trust, respect, and collaboration. By spending time together outside of school walls, families and educators strengthen their partnership, which in turn helps students feel supported, safe, and ready to learn.

This year’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze award winners demonstrate the incredible impact of PTHV across WCSD. Congratulations to Lemmon Valley, Mamie Towles, and Jerry Whitehead Elementary Schools  for leading the way in building a stronger future for students—one visit at a time.

To learn more about Parent Teacher Home Visits at WCSD CLICK HERE

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is celebrating an historic academic achievement with the single largest one-year increase in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math scores in the Smarter Balanced Assessment test since the 2015-16 school year.

In ELA, the district posted a 3.4 percentage point gain in proficiency from the 2023-24 school year. In Math, the district posted a 2.7 percentage point gain in proficiency over the same period.

“Proficiency is so important,” said WCSD Superintendent Joe Ernst. “When a student demonstrates proficiency and grade level standards, it’s an indication of progress they’ll have going forward. And they are not just proficient or meeting standards: these students are exceeding standards! When you achieve these proficiency levels, you’re more likely to have success in school and you are more likely to attend school every day.”

WCSD also launched innovative programs to combat chronic absenteeism rates that soared during the pandemic and have long-term detrimental effects on a student’s education. Chronic absenteeism is defined as a student missing 10 percent or more of the school year.

Some of these programs included: a dramatic increase in the number of athletic programs, clubs, and activities for students; Student Advisory Councils established at all middle- and high schools; expanded systems of tracking data to drive individual interventions; and community partnerships to increase awareness, including the “Good Things Happen When You Show Up” campaign with PBS Reno.

In addition, The Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce supports the "Attendance Matters" campaign, a partnership between The Chamber, United Way of Northern Nevada and the Sierra, and Strengthen Our Community, a nonprofit group whose overall mission is to raise awareness about barriers to opportunity and bring partners together to identify and implement solutions.  

As a result of these efforts, 71 percent of WCSD schools recorded a decrease in habitual absences among students.

“When chronic absenteeism decreases, it means more kids are coming to class every day,” said Superintendent Ernst. “When more kids come to class, the better they’re learning, and the more success they achieve. We want to make sure our instruction is improving and that we’re working in close partnership with our families. When teachers, schools, and families are working together, we can find specific ways to support the child, and they can benefit from that.”

While the district celebrates these milestones, Superintendent Ernst says the district is committed to continuing its work on behalf of children in the Washoe County School District.

“I would say there’s a lot to be proud of,” he said. “We’re definitely proud of these historic gains in proficiency levels, and we recognize there’s still plenty of work still to do. We embrace continuous improvement. We’re going to keep working to get better for the benefit of our students, and we’re excited to build on the momentum going forward into this year.”