Jesus Jara, the Clark County School District’s new superintendent, likes to think of himself as a quarterback.

He’s the leader who directs plays, surrounded by teammates who help make it happen. Except, in his case, the plays are education decisions, and his teammates are thousands of district employees, more than 320,000 students and countless parents and community members.

So it’s little surprise that during a tour Thursday of Del Sol Academy of the Performing Arts — his first school visit as the district’s chief executive — Jara focused on the game plan.

His question to students: “What’s your plan?”

Jara visited students one by one in a summer-school class, crouching to talk softly with a shy girl and patting the back of a gregarious male classmate. His approach differed with each student, but they all received that same question. At the end of his tour, the new leader made it clear why he was so bent on knowing students’ post-graduation plans:

“It’s our job as educators, as adults, to make sure they achieve their goals,” he said.

Jara comes to Las Vegas from Orlando, Florida, where he served as deputy superintendent for Orange County Public Schools. He harped on the importance of teamwork going forward. Jara said he needs “all hands on deck” — students, parents, teachers, principals, lawmakers and community members — to ensure children are receiving the type of rich, engaging education they deserve.

“We’re going to be one team with one clear goal, and that’s to be the No. 1 district in America,” he said.

A seven-page entry plan released by Jara Thursday night outlines how he hopes to achieve his vision. It largely focuses on priorities he mentioned while visiting the high school — acting as a unified governance team, focusing on instruction, improving labor relations and aligning the budget to district priorities.

He also announced the hire of two people he worked with in Orlando: Diane Gullett, an area superintendent in Orange County Public Schools, who will be his deputy superintendent, and Jennifer Cupid-McCoy, principal of Freedom High School in Orlando, who will be his chief of staff here.

“I am grateful that both leaders are eager to join a talented team of administrators in CCSD,” he said in a statement.

Jara’s arrival and lofty goal — turning Clark County into the nation's premiere school system — come at a turbulent time for the district. Within the past year, the district has faced budget deficits totaling more than $120 million. The most recent shortfall, pegged at $68 million, resulted in the elimination of 563.5 school-based positions.

The district’s financial woes have intensified calls for more state funding. But money isn’t the only challenge. The district has been undergoing a massive, state-mandated reorganization, shifting more decision-making power to the school level. On top of that, the seven-member school board has been embroiled in controversy, with disputes among trustees and outgoing Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky on display at public meetings.

Even so, Jara struck an optimistic tone during his third day on the job. He said he has been meeting with trustees, principals, teachers and state lawmakers.

The financial matters aren’t far from his mind, though.

“We need to get our financial house in order, and I think we are doing that,” he said.

Jara said he has “full confidence” in the district’s chief financial officer, Jason Goudie, and will do a deep analysis of the budget with him in the coming weeks.

Another concern high on his radar: teacher morale.

Jara called teachers the “key players” when it comes to student achievement and plans to visit classrooms often. He also committed to 100 community meetings between now and October — a strategy to reach more stakeholders, including teachers.

“I’m going to be approachable,” he said.

Jara moved to the United States from Venezuela as a 10-year-old knowing little English. He credits the nation’s public-education system with shaping his future. His first job after college was as a bilingual science teacher.

Jara is married with three children. His two oldest children are in college. His youngest, a daughter, will remain in Florida to finish her senior year of high school — a decision based on not wanting to disrupt her final year, he said.

“My kids have given up a lot because they understand dad’s commitment to urban education,” he said. “My family has transitioned after me in several locations.”