Democratic gubernatorial candidate Steve Sisolak says he has learned so much from visiting schools that he wants state lawmakers to do the same.

Sisolak, chairman of the Clark County Commission, spent an hour Friday talking with Las Vegas-area teachers who were training to receive their National Board Certification. The Democrat acknowledged that his understanding of the state’s K-12 education system deepened after his daughter spent time as a substitute teacher and after he began speaking with more teachers and touring classrooms.

That’s why Sisolak said he would strongly encourage legislators to spend time in the learning environment as well.

“I think an awful lot of legislators don’t know what you’re dealing with,” he said to the teachers. “And until you go into a classroom, you don’t know what it’s like. You don’t know what it’s like to deal with those kids, to deal with the situations you’re put in. The only way you can do that is by being in the classroom. It shouldn’t just be going into one of our suburban schools; it should also be going into one of our urban schools.”

His comments drew applause from the several dozen educators seated before him. Teachers have long groused that legislation doesn’t always align with the reality they’re facing inside schools, leading to unintended consequences.

Sisolak, who has made education a key issue in his gubernatorial campaign, offered his sympathies to the men and women who peppered him with questions about large class sizes, bureaucratic red tape and chronic budget cuts, among other issues.

“Teachers deserve support,” he said. “You’re making hard decisions and you’re doing tough things.”

Earlier this year, Sisolak vowed that he would not accept a salary as governor until Nevada’s public schools are “turned around.” Additionally, he has repeatedly said one focus will be increasing teacher pay, and he wants to create a separate pot of funding to make that possible.

So one question that surfaced Friday: What would happen to the salary he forgoes as governor if elected?

Sisolak said he plans to donate his salary each month to philanthropic organizations that aid children and seniors.

“We’ll come up with worthy charities every month to give the money to,” he said. “I’m not giving it back to the state. It’s not well spent sometimes.”

Sisolak was endorsed by the Clark County Education Association in the primary race. Last week, he handily beat his primary competitor and commission colleague, Chris Giunchigliani, to secure the Democratic nomination for governor. He’ll face off against Republican Adam Laxalt, the state’s attorney general, in the November general election.

Disclosure: Steve Sisolak and Chris Giunchigliani have donated to The Nevada Independent. You can see a full list of donors here.