Eleven people serve on the Nevada State Board of Education. Four members are elected by voters, one from each congressional district. The remaining seven of her members are appointed by the governor or various public bodies.
The terms of all four elected directors expire this year, but elections will be held for only three and only two will be on the June primary ballot.
For District 4, current director only Tim Hughes That means he will automatically secure a second term. Hughes, who works for a national education nonprofit called TNTP (The New Teacher Project), was first elected to the board in 2020 representing District 1. The district anomaly occurs because his 2021 political redistricting process after the last State Board of Education election cycle moved Hughes to a new district.
In District 1, only two candidates have filed, so there will be no primary election, and both will advance to face off on the general election ballot in November. Those candidates are tim underwood and tricia braxton. Mr. Underwood said: the current He plans to launch a campaign website this week.
In Wards 2 and 3, five candidates are seeking to oust the two current board members. If any candidate receives more than her 50% of the votes in the June primary, that candidate will be declared the winner. If no one receives a majority of votes, the top two finishers in each race will advance to his November general election.
district 3
René Cantu He currently represents District 4 on the State Board of Education, but due to the political redistricting process, it is currently underway in District 3. His campaign website is currently not public.
Cantú is the founding executive director of Jobs for Nevada's Graduates (also known as J4NG and JAG Nevada), which helps vulnerable youth graduate from high school. It's a mission that hits close to home for a once-vulnerable young man who earned a doctorate in higher education while graduating last in his high school class.
Cantu secured his seat in 2020 by defeating the incumbent board member. This year, he will have to worry about two other challengers trying to do the same to him.
daniel ford A former Clark County Board of Education trustee, she served one term from 2018 to 2022 before being unseated by Eileen Bustamante Adams. During his time on the school board, Mr. Ford was one of the most outspoken members of the board against then-Clark County School District Superintendent Jesus Jara. She continues to be outspoken and involved in education even after her retirement. She currently runs a podcast called “Unraveling Education.”
about her podcast, Ford made clear she had no intention of challenging Cantu, whom she called a “solid board member.” She said she ran because the seat was supposed to be vacant. The currently elected board member representing District 3, Felicia Ortiz, is term-limited and she cannot run for re-election.
Ford added that he is nonetheless pleased with the opportunity to serve as state commissioner. In response to Opportunity 180's candidate survey, Mr. Ford emphasized how his experience and knowledge as a trustee provides much-needed insight at the state level.
“I learned exactly what there is and is a lot of disconnect between the Nevada State Board of Education and the local school districts whose policies and mandates are set by the Nevada State Board of Education,” she wrote. “I would like to begin by addressing the state board’s unnecessary and arbitrary reporting requirements, which impose extra workload on teachers and administrators and contribute to the teacher shortage.”
Jasmine Curis This is my first time running for public office. She told the Veterans Politician that she is running because she wants to “start addressing the root of the problems we have as a country.”
Curis told Opportunity 180 that her vision for success is to “ensure that children have access to nutritious foods, comprehensive nutrition/health education, and a curriculum that prioritizes practical life skills.” ” he said. This includes, for example, classes and programs that focus on mental health, sewing, cooking, basic carpentry, breathing techniques, gardening, mechanics, and using technology as a tool. ”
She continued, “STEM education is not the only path to success, and proficiency in STEM subjects alone does not adequately prepare students for real-world challenges.”
Candidate Curis' financial disclosure report lists her as working at a grocery store chain and a farmers market, and her professional website lists past work in stage productions.
district 2
angela orr He was appointed by Governor Joe Lombardo in October 2023 to represent District 2 on the Board of Education. The vacancy was created by the resignation of Katie Coombs in July. Coombs won the seat by default in 2020 when he was the only candidate running.
Mr. Orr is the principal of Doral Academy Northern Nevada, a charter school, and previously taught social studies and leadership. In her candidate survey for Opportunity 180, she calls her education a “lifelong commitment and passion.”
“My vision for success in this role is focused on improving Nevada’s students and transforming the state’s education system into a model of excellence,” she wrote. “I am determined to shift the narrative from Nevada, which consistently ranks last in education rankings, to a state that is a beacon of educational success.”
Orr said on his campaign website that one of the three pillars of his campaign is to fight for resource equity in schools, which “might be necessary in southern Nevada, but not in northern Nevada.” “We stand against blanket policies and practices that don't serve students and families.” Nevada. ”
dozel king jr. A former early childhood educator, I am currently a full-time substitute teacher and work in business. He cites classroom proportions, student and teacher safety, career development, and administrative efficiency as top priorities for his campaign.
Paul “Doc” Davis does not have a campaign website, and candidate disclosure statements do not list sources of income.
“I am running for this position because of my great passion for education of all types,” Davis wrote in response to Opportunity 180's candidate survey. Nevada. ”
Matthew R. Buehler He does not have a website for the school board election, but has previously identified himself as an Air Force veteran with two master's degrees in business administration and biology. In 2022, Buehler ran for State Senate District 13 as a Republican, but lost to Democrat Skip Daley. Buehler ran for office in 2020 and 2018. washoe county treasurer As a Democratic Party. He lost both races to Republican Tammy Davis.
of the current We will update this story with campaign links and additional information about the State Board of Education candidates as they become available.