Author: Illiana Banuelos

The Clark County School District (CCSD) celebrates and honors our 18,000 dedicated licensed personnel. Our educators are the backbone of the District and make an impact on the lives of students which extends beyond the classroom.  During Teacher Appreciation Week, our educators are celebrated for showing up and educating the children of Southern Nevada. We encourage everyone to take an extra moment to tell educators how special they are to the Clark County community or give them a shout-out on social media using the hashtag #TeacherAppreciationWeek.  Monday, May 6 Mrs. Kacie Madec from Hayes Elementary School was surprised by the…

Shadow Ridge High School is proud to present Aaron Coverdell Jr. as the Star Graduate for the Class of 2024. Aaron challenges himself both in the classroom and as an athlete. As an Advanced Honors diploma recipient, Aaron has taken Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses as well as completing the Furniture & Cabinet-making CTE program. The hard work he has put in has not only paid off in the form of college credits, but also college acceptances and scholarships. His dependability and tenacity make him a leader on the football field and the wrestling mat, helping him to be…

Chaparral High School takes great pride in spotlighting Jacob Kamalani, an exemplary senior and valedictorian candidate for the esteemed Class of 2024. Jacob’s multifaceted achievements encompass academic excellence, athletic prowess, and dedicated community involvement. As a three-sport athlete, Jacob embodies the spirit of determination, leadership, and teamwork both on and off the field, setting a shining example for his peers. His active participation in Key Club underscores his commitment to serving others and making a positive impact in the community. Academically, Jacob’s impressive pursuit of knowledge is evident through his enrollment in five challenging AP courses, culminating in an exceptional…

Kate Espinoza embodies the epitome of academic excellence and leadership. Ranked among the top ten in her class, Kate’s commitment to excellence is unmistakable. Not only does she excel academically, but she also is an active leader on campus. Kate is the Senior Class President and President of the Future Business Leaders of America. During her time at Desert Pines High School, she has been involved in the National Honor Society and Student Organization of Latinos, displaying her dedication to both her studies and community. Kate’s relentless work ethic, determination, and unwavering commitment to her responsibilities make her an inspiring…

Indian Springs High School is proud to recognize Miguel Angel Coto-Gomez as our 2024 Star Graduate. Miguel arrived in the United States in January 2022 and during his time at Indian Springs High School, he has been able to maintain a cumulative weighted GPA of 3.0 while taking a full load of courses as an English Language Learner. Miguel was born in Honduras and traveled to the United States in search of a better future and better opportunities in his life as well as to be with his mother. After graduation, he plans to work in the mechanical field. …

Eva Toplak is West CTA’s Star Graduate. She has excelled in her high school career and will be graduating near the top of a very competitive senior class. Throughout her years at West CTA, she has been involved in the National Honor Society as well as Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica where she served as secretary. Eva was first chair saxophone in the orchestra and played tennis for the Palo Verde tennis team where they won two state championships. She has persevered through many struggles and her journey has taught her interpersonal and professional skills that will undoubtedly help her in her…

Happy School Lunch Hero Day! Today we celebrate our school nutrition professionals who have the important duty of keeping our students focused and energized for the school day with a nutritious meal. Did you know that last school year the Clark County School District served an average of about 244,000 meals daily? We couldn’t have done this without the hard work of our Food Service staff. Make sure you thank your school lunch hero and show us how you are celebrating them by tagging us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Thank you for everything you do!

When Edgar Thomas is present, school officials know everything will run smoothly at athletics events. From assisting with visitor check-in procedures to escorting game officials, Thomas is the unsung hero of District athletic events and activities.  He was honored as the Unsung Hero at the Las Vegas Sun newspaper Standout Awards. This award is reserved for those who work behind the scenes to ensure events run smoothly and are a memorable experience for student-athletes and the audience.  Thomas has been with the District for more than 20 years. Outside of his duties as an Attendance Officer working to resolve the…

The Clark County School District celebrated the distribution of 100,000 books to our students!  The Book Bus was launched on the first day of the 2023-2024 school year with the goal of giving away 50,000 books. Today, that milestone was surpassed as a lucky student from Katz Elementary School selected the milestone book.  Last year, the CCSD Engagement Unit converted a school bus to carry hundreds of books that our community partners provide.   The Book Bus makes multiple stops a week and allows our students to select two free books each. 

The Robotics team from Barbara and Hank Greenspun Junior High School was recently honored with the Vex World Championship Award for Sportsmanship. The team embarked on a journey to Dallas, Texas to participate in the Vex World Championship, the largest robotics competition in the world.  The Robotics team was one out of 500 teams at the World Championship and one of 12,000 teams that participated in the Vex IQ Worldwide. For three days, the team competed in the Vex World Championship representing Las Vegas in gold blazers.  Their story would not be complete without some unprecedented hardships. When the team…