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

🖍️ Charters’ student enrollment surpasses Washoe County schools — The State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) recently gained six charter schools previously sponsored by the Clark County School District, pushing up its enrollment to about 69,000 students. That’s higher than the enrollment (about 63,000) in Washoe County, which has long held the title of the state’s second largest school district. 

The SPCSA oversees about 80 charter school sites across five counties: Churchill, Clark, Elko, Washoe and White Pine. More than 80 percent are located in Clark County. 
Last month, the SPCSA’s board approved the transfer of the six charter schools — Delta Academy, Explore Knowledge Academy, FuturEdge Charter Academy, Innovations International Charter School of Nevada Odyssey Charter Schools and Rainbow Dreams Academy — that collectively serve about 5,500 students. The schools were in need of a new home after the district said they were no longer going to be a charter school sponsor to save resources.

School Spotlight

New trustee bring an educator’s perspective to the Washoe County School Board

Joining the Washoe County School Board was a full circle moment for Trustee Christine Hull. 

Hull’s kindergarten teacher, Donna Lage, who taught at Lincoln Park Elementary School in Sparks, left a long lasting impression on Hull, and partially inspired her two-decade-long career as educator. Hull invited Lage, who supported her campaign to join the school board, to administer her oath during a symbolic swearing-in ceremony Jan. 14, separate from the private, official ceremony held early January. 

“She was an incredibly supportive person when I decided to run for this and has been my entire career,” she said. “She was the best kindergarten teacher ever. She built a love of learning for us.”

Hull, 43, grew up in Washoe County and was a student in the district until she moved to California before her senior year of high school. Her teachers and her grandmothers who loved storytelling inspired her to become a social studies teacher. Hull, who has a master’s degree in secondary education from UNR, has taught in schools in Sparks, Clark County and Virginia. She was finally able to move back to the Reno area in 2012. 

“I came back because I loved Northern Nevada and it was home,” she said. 

Today, Hull works as the executive director of the Nevada Center for Civic Engagement, a nonprofit that promotes civics education curriculum in schools through programs such as We the People, where students learn about the Constitution and compete statewide and at the national level in simulated congressional hearings in front of a panel of judges. 

Hull has also served as the chair of the district’s zoning advisory committee for three years and has sat on its facility modernization committee. She said these roles helped her prepare for her work as a trustee. 

Hull said she was inspired to run for the Washoe County School Board because she didn’t feel her neighborhood’s previous representative, Jeff Church, was hearing the needs of her community. During her campaign, Hull was critical of legal actions against the district that Church filed or supported, which have cost approximately $345,000.

Hull wanted to bring her experience as an educator and a mother who has advocated for her students when they’ve dealt with bullying or needed to move to a different school due to special education staffing issues. 

“I just wanted to be a part of finding solutions for all kids and ensuring that other children don't have to go through that,” Hull said. 

Her goals as a trustee include ensuring the district’s facility modernization process for schools that might need consolidating or rebuilding is transparent and community driven, and that the curriculum supports students’ needs and promotes academic growth. On the legislative front, Hull plans to advocate for funding for students in special education and English language learners and will support the district’s proposed bill to ease regulatory burdens on becoming a teacher. 

“I am very supportive of streamlining our process to bring teachers to our state and into our classrooms,” she 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

What you need to know about Nevada's state budget debacle

The budget mishaps before the start of the legislative session include concerns about whether per-pupil funding will drop during the next two-year budget cycle. 

Extra Credit

Las Vegas Review-Journal: Nevada governor ‘concerned’ about CCSD’s budget issues

Events

🍎 Clark County School Board work session — Wednesday, Feb. 5, 4 p.m. 

The agenda includes a discussion and possible action on a revised timeline for its superintendent search, optional costs and interview process. 

Featured social media post 

What a cool reward for these dedicated scholars.