Author: Michael Campbell

For the fifth consecutive year, the Richard Harris Law Firm supplied thousands of backpacks full of school supplies to students in need from CCSD through its Project Backpack initiative. Project Backpack started in Las Vegas as a Southern Nevada initiative, but expanded to the entire state in 2023. The Richard Harris Law Firm, seeing that thousands of children go without essential supplies they needed to succeed in school, set out to give essential school supplies and backpacks to these students. “​​I’m thankful we’re able to help so many in the community,” said Richard Harris, founder of the Richard Harris Law…

Heart of America, a partner with CCSD since 2023, collaborates with communities and partners to increase access in education.  Heart of America, in partnership with the NBA and State Farm, spearheaded a classroom transformation project at Kenny C. Guinn STEM Academy, receiving a new STEM lab equipped with new computers and virtual reality headsets.  This donation was coordinated through the Community Engagement Department with the help of the Facilities Management Department. A dedication ceremony in July included over 150 Guinn students, staff, families, and community members. Heart of America held STEM activities in the classroom, and the NBA hosted a…

For the 2025–2026 school year, Clark County School District (District) high schools are implementing new procedures to improve traffic flow for students and families entering and exiting large-scale athletic events. Over the summer, school administrators have developed plans to provide separate dropoff locations, parking, and entrances for home and visiting schools during large athletic events. The plans are intended to reduce traffic congestion on campus and on surrounding roads, ultimately creating safer conditions for everyone in attendance.  The main elements of the plans may include:  Separate pick-up and drop-off areas for home and visiting spectators, attendees, and players. Designated bus…

Great news for CCSD – 200 schools improved performance, and 80 saw a rise in their star ratings from 2023 to 2024. Context: The Nevada School Performance Framework rates schools on a 1 to 5-star system, using a 100-point index to measure performance. The big picture: We discovered a consistent recipe for success: strong teamwork, high-quality instructional materials aligned to content standards, data-driven decisions, healthy professional learning communities, and deep community engagement. To better understand why CCSD schools improved their performance, we visited two elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high school. By the numbers: Lee Antonello and Lomie…

Since 2012, the nonprofit EyeCare4Kids has provided free eye exams and corrective lenses to tens of thousands of CCSD students. Robert L. Taylor Elementary School. The nonprofit also has a mobile vision clinic, See-More, that travels to different Title I CCSD schools to extend its reach. This year, it visited 120 schools receiving Title I funding. The mobile vision clinic has provided eye exams to 60,000 students over a decade. EyeCare4Kids’ services include a vision screening process with an autorefractor and a traditional vision screening chart. Once that is complete, the student sees the optometrist on site for a formal vision…

Ruby Duncan Elementary School staff and students recently celebrated their namesake with a “Ruby Duncan Day,” showering Duncan with gratitude for her enduring advocacy that has had a monumental impact on Nevada. Duncan has been a leader in the fight to ensure mothers can provide their children with healthy meals. The big picture: Duncan came to national prominence during the 1970s, which included organizing a march of thousands of protestors down the Strip in 1971, bringing attention to welfare rights and the inequities Black mothers faced in receiving government assistance. Duncan later was a founder of Operation Life, which was…

Red Rock Elementary School’s students and staff experienced an extraordinary start to the new school year: They were welcomed to a new, state-of-the-art campus, replacing their outdated, 70-year-old school that was razed last year. Principal Chantae Readye acknowledged that, in previous years, teachers had to be “creative and tenacious to work around the physical limitations of our old building to deliver a quality education to our students.” Why it matters: CCSD Assistant Superintendent of Construction and Development Brandon McLaughlin said the new school’s design fosters a welcoming and supportive environment that bolsters 21st-century learning. What they’re saying: Tiffany Mata, a…

Middle and high school students are setting aside their cell phones during classroom instruction under a new policy this school year. Cellular devices of students in secondary school will be held in a non-locking, signal-blocking pouch in a safe location within classrooms and accessible in the event of an emergency. CCSD leadership is confident the change – which educators and school administrators encouraged – will create a more focused learning environment. The benefits of using a non-locking, signal-blocking pouch within the classroom, CCSD officials said, will assist students with academic learning, including minimizing distractions, promoting responsible device use, and ensuring…

During its annual New Teacher Kickoff at the M Resort earlier this month, CCSD welcomed over 1,350 new teachers for this school year – much more than anticipated. Jennifer Varrato, director of Employee Onboarding and Development, said the New Teacher Kickoff shows new educators how much they mean to CCSD. Why it matters: “We want to invest in our employees, and we want to make sure they have a strong sense of belonging within our organization and the community,” Varrato said. Retention efforts start right from the beginning and support for teachers continues during their career at CCSD, Varrato added.…