The Clark County School District, Superintendent Jhone Ebert dedicated her inaugural day to visiting schools, immersing herself in the environment she's vowed to enhance. Ebert, who previously held the role of Superintendent of Public Instruction for the Nevada Department of Education, had a homecoming of sorts, returning to the district where she once taught mathematics. She believes in the necessity of engaging directly with school communities, and used her first day to underscore this commitment. As reported by News3LV, Ebert remarked, "We are about our children. I need to be in schools," confirming her dedication to the district's students and faculty.
Ebert's itinerary included stops at Howard Wasden Elementary and Advanced Technologies Academy (A-TECH) where, in a gesture symbolic of her leadership, she took part in a ceremony to rename the school's lecture hall in honor of Michael Kinnaird, a former principal. This gesture, which links past and future, was noted in her speech when Ebert recalled her own history with Kinnaird, "Mr. Kinnaird was my principal at Brinley," she said, a profound tie to the educational lineage of the district. Ebert's visit to Wasden Elementary also allowed her to observe the specialized instruction offered in the visually impaired program, a unique asset to the district that drew her appreciation, as per News3LV.
Yet these visits serve a dual purpose, providing not only an opportunity for Ebert to reconnect with school administrators and students, but also to align her strategic vision with legislative realities. With the state's Economic Forum on the horizon, Ebert's focus stretches beyond the classrooms to the legislative chambers in Carson City. As the decision-making deadline approaches, this mingling of policy and practice becomes all the more urgent. "The legislators that I have spoken with are all in making sure that we have the resources that we need," Ebert told KTNV highlighting the symbiotic relationship between education strategies and policy outcomes.
Ebert's practical approach to her new role is apparent through her identification of "quick fixes", such as the immediate need for operational air conditioning in schools as summer temperatures loom. This focus on facility conditions, relevant to both students' and educators' well-being, is part of a broader Facility Master Plan, open for community input at forums throughout the district. Reflecting on the structural needs of schools, Ebert emphasized the importance of maintaining high-functioning facilities, ensuring they support the district's educational missions. Her upcoming participation in the Starlight Awards is another indication of her commitment to recognizing the hard work and dedication within CCSD, seeking to honor more than eight hundred district employees.
