An exterior view of the Clark County School District administrative offices Tuesday, March 29, 2022.
A few Clark County School District schools are renaming rooms in honor of friends and former staff members.
The Clark County School Board last week approved the following:
* The Michael L. Kinnaird Lecture Hall at Advanced Technologies Academy honors the Las Vegas magnet high school's first principal. Kinnaird worked for CCSD from 1970 to 2003, according to meeting materials. He was a history teacher, dean and assistant principal at Bridger Middle School and a principal at three other CCSD schools before opening A-Tech in 1994. He worked at A-Tech for nine years before retiring.
* The Beatrice Womack Health Office at Ronnow Elementary School honors a late nurse at the Las Vegas school. Womack was a licensed practical nurse in CCSD from 2014 until she died in February. At Ronnow, she was a feeding nurse for medically fragile students who required feeding tubes.
* The Virgin Valley High School theater will be called the Susan Bennett Performing Arts Center. Bennett taught theater, English, forensics and journalism at the Mesquite school from 1986 to 2006. She spent 29 years in CCSD in total. She also helped organize the Mesquite Arts Council and was a founding member of the Virgin Valley Historical Society.
* The Virgin Valley High School library will be called the Joseph and Dixie Bowler Student Success Center. The Bowlers were longtime teachers in Mesquite. Joseph Bowler worked at Virgin Valley High from 1979 to 1994 and his wife Dixie worked at Virgin Valley Elementary from 1981 to 2007.
* The Jim Shoop Library at North Las Vegas' Cozine Elementary School honors the widower of school namesake Linda Cozine. Shoop was a longtime teacher in CCSD, teaching various subjects at multiple elementary, middle and high schools. He continues to volunteer at Cozine and read to students.
Coronado students develop winning app
Coronado High School students Samuel Kyong and Jia Li won the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for Nevada's 1st District.
Kyong and Li created an app called "Boundary Buddy," which uses GPS technology to help the families of Alzheimer's patients ensure that their loved ones don't wander and get lost.
"This competition is a unique opportunity to highlight innovative young minds in Southern Nevada while helping students develop their talents and passions," said Rep. Dina Titus, a Democrat who represents Nevada's 1st District, in an announcement revealing the winners. "Our students hold the key to the future, and I look forward to seeing everything that Samuel and Jia will accomplish."
The nationwide Congressional App Challenge is an annual academic competition to promote innovation in the fields of science, technology engineering and math. It is open to middle school and high school students.
Interim not applying for top job
CCSD Interim Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell is not applying to be the district's permanent leader.
Larsen-Mitchell, who has been in the top spot since February upon the resignation of Jesus Jara, said in an email to staff and school board members on Friday that she would stay in the position until the next permanent superintendent begins.
That person has not yet been chosen but is expected to be selected by the school board in the spring.
"Please know this decision did not come easily for me. Throughout my career, I have always prioritized the best interests of our students, employees, and the District," Larsen-Mitchell said in here-mail. "I believe that not applying for the position is the right path to ensure the District can embrace a fresh start with a foundation of unity that builds on its strengths with boundless opportunities in the future."
In September, the school board paused the search for the next permanent superintendent because of the resignation of a board member, the impending election that would replace a majority of the board, and the upcoming legislative session. The board moved its planned selection of a new chief from Oct. 30 to March 27, as recommended by its contracted search firm. Candidate interviews are expected to begin in February.
Larsen-Mitchell has worked as an educator at CCSD for 30 years. She was the deputy superintendent when Jara resigned.
"I have great confidence in the Board of School Trustees as they work to select the next leader who will guide the District with vision and purpose toward its next chapter," she wrote. "My heart will always be with this District, and I encourage everyone to continue to work hard and be kind. I look forward to cheering on the District's continued success and shall forever remain #CCSDProud."