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 recap of the latest education stories and highlights interesting educators, students, programs and other events and resources throughout the state. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter and receive it each week via email.

I want to hear from you! Send questions, comments or suggestions on what I should be covering to [email protected]. 

News briefs

🏫 New support center for child sex trafficking victims to include school — St. Jude’s Ranch for Children in Boulder City on Wednesday celebrated the grand opening of its new Healing Center, the only residential treatment center in Southern Nevada for child victims of sex trafficking. It’s one of the few in the country dedicated to helping children move from victim to survivor, according to its website. In addition to offering housing, the $30 million center also includes a school in partnership with the Clark County School District. 
CCSD Associate Superintendent Kevin McPartlin said the school will offer online class options and flexibility when students are having a hard day.

School Spotlight

Wooster High School’s new bilingual program immerses students into Spanish 

As a teen, Rene Flores didn’t like speaking Spanish.

He knew the bare minimum to carry small conversations in Spanish with his parents at their home in Reno, but talking with his cousins from El Salvador was a lot harder.

“I just couldn’t,” he said. “I was just embarrassed that I had an accent, or I just got corrected a lot.”

Today, the Wooster High alum turned math teacher helps students feel more comfortable embracing Spanish as part of the school's new bilingual education program officially launched this school year. It’s the only program of its kind offered at the high school level in the Washoe County School District. 

The program includes algebra and geometry, history and Spanish language arts classes taught in Spanish in addition to science, English language arts, physical education and elective classes taught in English. About 120 freshmen and sophomores are enrolled in the classes this year. 

Next year, Wooster is planning to offer a world history Spanish class for 10th graders and is brainstorming what elective classes it can offer 11th and 12th graders, said Wooster High Principal David Kitchin.

The bilingual education program builds on the school’s existing international baccalaureate Spanish program, which offers college-level Spanish language courses. 

The new bilingual classes give students — including those who are learning Spanish as a second language and those who grew up in a Spanish-speaking household but are looking to improve their mastery — more time to be immersed in the language and learn new terms they might not use in everyday conversations. 

For newcomer students who are from Spanish-speaking countries, it gives them a chance to keep learning in their native tongue and retain their Spanish language skills while they adjust to English. 

Kitchin said he got the idea for the program while observing a student from Guatemala who was struggling in her geometry class, not because of the concepts, but because she was struggling with the English vocabulary. But he wanted the classes to be inclusive to both native speakers and students learning Spanish as a second language. 

It’s Flores’ first time teaching in Spanish, so the program is as much of a learning experience for him as it is for his students. 

At the beginning of the program, he said the students, and even himself, felt a little shy about talking in Spanish for the entire class. But over time, he said they've become a lot more comfortable and patient with themselves when they don't know how to say something in Spanish. 

He’s noticed the classes have helped newcomer students get out of their shells. 

“In a normal English-taught class, they're very quiet and shy and timid and … they're just trying  not to be noticed,” he said. “In here, they're just out and about.”

The classes have also been a fun challenge for Flores, who’s in his 14th year as a teacher. He said teaching bilingual geometry has given him the same butterflies he felt as a new teacher. 

“It’s injected more passion and life into my career,” Flores said.

Have a student or staffer who we should feature in the next edition of School Spotlight? Share your nominations with me at [email protected].

Reading Assignments

Report: Nevada’s new education funding formula ‘a huge stride’ but funding needs persist

School funding is still well below what experts think is needed to ensure good outcomes, according to a new report unveiled Wednesday by the Guinn Center on the new K-12 education funding formula approved in 2019. 

IndyFest 2024: A tense debate on whether Nevada scholarships are vouchers

In a 45-minute conversation during The Nevada Independent’s annual conference, panelists sparred about the Opportunity Scholarships program, the performance of the Clark County School District and the best ways to meet the needs of Nevada’s students.

UNLV assistant dean appointed to Clark County School Board

The Clark County School Board voted 4-2 Wednesday to appoint Nakia Jackson-Hale, a UNLV School of Nursing assistant dean, to the vacant District B position.

Extra Credit

From the Reno Gazette-Journal: Washoe school Trustee Alex Woodley says he won't resign from board amid sexting scandal

From The 74: Culture Wars Cost Schools Estimated $3.2B Last Year, Harming Student Services

Events

🍎 State Board of Education meeting — Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2 p.m. 

The agenda includes a summary of the results from the board’s survey on high school start times statewide, results from Clark County School District employee exit surveys and an update on chronic absenteeism within districts. 

Featured social media post

A fun Halloween and Nevada Day.