Author: Illiana Banuelos

There will be no school for students and CCSD offices will be closed on Friday, October 25, 2024, in observance of Nevada Day. All schools and offices will reopen on Monday, October 28, 2024.

The Clark County School District (CCSD) will participate in National School Bus Safety Week from October 21-25, 2024. This year’s theme is “Driving Safely into the Future.”  Students are reminded they should stay out of the danger zone, a 10-foot perimeter around the bus where the drivers cannot see. Students should also wait off the street for the bus to come to a complete stop before loading. CCSD Transportation maintains the largest owned-operated school bus fleet in the country, with 1,936 buses covering over 7,891 square miles (a size equivalent to Massachusetts!) CCSD brings awareness to drivers in southern Nevada…

The Clark County School District (CCSD) proudly announces that the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) named Mojave High School Principal Gregory Cole 2024 Nevada State Principal of the Year. “Principal Cole is a tremendous school leader and an inspiration to the students at Mojave High School,” said Interim Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell. “His leadership among his peers and the positive and inclusive learning environment he fosters makes him deserving of the State Principal of the Year award.” Cole began his education career at CCSD in 2002 after six years teaching in Iowa. He has served as Principal at Mojave…

Liliam Lujan Hickey was an outstanding member of the Hispanic community. She had always had the desire to serve her community and promoted educational programs throughout Nevada.  Hickey was born in Havana, Cuba in 1932. In 1964 her husband had the opportunity to work in a casino in the fast-expanding City of Las Vegas, so they made the big move.  Hickey established Career Day for high school students, which over the years awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to Hispanic students. She was also one of the cofounders of the Classroom on Wheels which is a program that facilities educational, medical,…

Aldeane Comito Ries’s dedication will always be remembered in the Clark County School District. She dedicated her professional life to our school district and built a legacy with decades of service to various of our schools.  In her 38 years of service as an educator, Aldeane Comito Ries worked in every educational level beginning in elementary school and then moving to the junior high and high school level. She began her career at J. E. Manch Elementary School and later moved to Ruth Fyfe Elementary School.  It wasn’t long before she moved up the ladder and became an administrator at…

Judge John F. Mendoza was born on January 13, 1928, in Las Vegas, NV.  He was a student at Las Vegas High School and the captain of the school’s football team in 1944, leading the team to many victories as a running back. The Wildcats’ 1944 team drew capacity crowds at Butcher Field in downtown Las Vegas, while also setting another high standard with a long list of players who eventually entered the legal profession. Eventually, the team was inducted into the Southern Nevada Sports Hall of Fame.  Judge Mendoza served in the U.S. Army and attended the University of…

Mike Patterson, an educator at CCSD’s Advanced Technologies Academy, has been named the 2025 Nevada State Teacher of the Year!  Mr. Patterson was selected from five candidates who underwent a rigorous application and interview process. He is an educator who has demonstrated constant dedication and compassion to his students. The Nevada State Teacher of the Year program celebrates excellence and strengthens the teaching force by honoring and recognizing exceptional teachers on a school, district, state, and national level. 

The Clark County School District (CCSD) recognizes Indigenous People’s Day on Oct. 14, 2024.  The District celebrates and honors the heritage and contributions of Indigenous Americans and its culture. CCSD provides opportunities for quality educational and cultural programs and services to eligible Indigenous American and Alaska Native students through the preservation of their unique cultures, traditions, customs, and heritages through the Indian Education Opportunities Program.  Additional information on the program can be found online here. 

Estes M. McDoniel was born on April 3, 1919, in Arkansas and went to school in Batesville. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Arkansas where he also received two letters in varsity football and three letters in varsity track. Mr. McDoniel also earned a Master of Education degree at Utah State University. He began his teaching career in Arkansas for a short while before moving to Henderson, Nevada in 1943 where he would soon become the first football coach at Basic High School. Mr. McDoniel left his coaching job in 1944 to serve…

There will be no school for elementary students only for parent-teacher conferences.  Elementary students will return to class on Tuesday, October 15.  Class WILL be in session for middle and high school students on Monday, October 14, 2024.