More than 100 days have passed since my final board meeting as the superintendent of the Clark County School District. This time has given me the opportunity to reflect on the state of education in Nevada.
It’s crucial for families to understand the obstacles our school system faces in serving our children. I was brought on board in 2018 with a clear mission: to elevate the educational experiences and outcomes for our students. I was hopeful, encouraged and up for the challenge. Despite efforts by me and the team, however, we encountered significant resistance from various groups that hindered our progress.
Many interested parties — including the teachers union, administrators union, some community leaders, local elected officials and some members of the School Board — often prioritized personal interests over the necessary reforms that could have propelled our students forward. This resistance has contributed to the persistent challenges in student outcomes, keeping Nevada behind in national educational rankings.
In my previous roles in Massachusetts and Florida, I was part of high-functioning teams that implemented successful reforms and improved the lives of students. I came to Nevada hoping to replicate those successes. Here, the potential for improvement is vast due to the state’s size and the capabilities of our students, and we were poised to capitalize on this limitless potential.
The core issue does not involve the structure of our school district or the process of selecting a superintendent. The real challenge lies in the lack of a unified, unwavering commitment to student success at all levels of leadership, both state and local, and how the system is manipulated by special interests.
We need to look to other successful models such as the District of Columbia, Tennessee, Texas, Massachusetts and the Florida A+ Plan, which former Gov. Brian Sandoval considered for inspiration. Unfortunately, political obstacles — particularly from figures financially backed by the Clark County Education Association, such as Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Cannizzaro — have stifled similar initiatives here. It’s critical to understand that, while teachers unions play a vital role, their focus must be aligned with clearly articulated student achievement and accountability, not merely their own interests.
Examples from other states show us that with a dedicated commitment to reform, it’s possible to leap from the lower echelons to top national rankings within a decade. These states prioritized early literacy, empowered parental choice and implemented stringent accountability measures for student progression and graduation, alongside substantial funding.
To achieve similar results, we must enforce a rigorous accountability framework for teachers, administrators and students, while expanding parental choice and offering financial incentives for educators. Gov. Joe Lombardo’s recent historic funding for education is a significant step forward, but it must be accompanied by a firm commitment to these proven principles.
Each and every student in Clark County, including our own children, deserve educational choices just as much as others across the country do. It has been a successful model for increasing engagement, raising graduation rates and developing a healthy workforce. Let’s not allow power struggles overshadow our duty to them. We must rally behind initiatives that place the success of our children first and elect leaders who will support these efforts in partnership with Gov. Lombardo.
Together, we can transform our educational landscape and ensure our children’s future is bright.
Jesus F. Jara is the former superintendent of the Clark County School District.
Mojave (Nev.) head football coach Wes Pacheco announced on Sunday morning that he’s stepping down from his position, according to a social media post.
Pacheco announced his resignation after six seasons at the helm of the Rattlers, putting together a 29-22 overall record from 2020-2025.
“I have officially stepped down as Head Coach of the Mojave Football Program,” Pacheco said in his social media post. “Thank you to Principal Cole for giving me the opoortunity make an impact on the lives of Mojave Student-Athletes. I am grateful and blessed to have labored through a 6-year journey of successes, failures, life lessons, character building and growth with the student-athletes myself and my coaching staff have served. I will forever love my Mojave Family, the Mojave Community and believe in the notion that SUCCESS can be attained by showcasing character, treating everyone with respect, and always have the courage to dream big and trust that “ATTACKING THE HARD WORK” & “HIGH MOTORING EVERYTHING” can yield SUCCESS that you want to achieve in life!”
During Pacheco’s half dozen seasons leading Mojave, his best record came in the 2024 season when the Rattlers finished with a 12-1 record. Located out of North Las Vegas, Mojave had to compete against the likes of national high school football powerhouse Bishop Gorman during the regular season.
Mojave ended the last season with a 4-6 record and as the state’s No. 23rd ranked team, according to the final 2025 Nevada High School Football Massey Rankings.
Mojave High School, located in North Las Vegas, NV, is a dynamic public high school that fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and community involvement. Home of the Rattlers, MHS offers a wide range of academic programs, athletics, and extracurricular activities. With a strong commitment to student success, Mojave emphasizes leadership, college and career readiness, and a supportive school culture that prepares students for life beyond graduation.
For Nevada high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Silver State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the high school football excitement across Nevada.
A recent Review-Journal letter to the editor mischaracterized Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto’s Southern Nevada Economic Development and Conservation Act, also known as the Clark County Lands bill. As the former executive director of the Nevada Conservation League, I wholeheartedly support this legislation, so I wanted to set the record straight.
Sen. Cortez Masto has been working on this bill for years in partnership with state and local governments, conservation groups like the NCL and local area tribes. It’s true that the Clark County lands bill would open 25,000 acres to help Las Vegas grow responsibly, while setting aside 2 million acres for conservation. It would also help create more affordable housing throughout the valley while ensuring our treasured public spaces can be preserved for generations to come.
What is not correct is that the money from these land sales would go to the federal government’s coffers. In fact, the opposite is true.
The 1998 Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act is a landmark bill that identified specific public land for future sale and created a special account ensuring all land sale revenues would come back to Nevada. In accordance with that law 5 percent of revenue from land transfers goes to the state of Nevada for general education purposes, 10 percent goes to the Southern Nevada Water Authority for needed water infrastructure and 85 percent supports conservation and environmental mitigation projects in Southern Nevada. This legislation has provided billions to Clark County and will continue to benefit generations of Southern Nevadans. Sen. Cortez Masto’s lands bill builds upon the act’s success.
So here’s the good news: All of the money generated from land made available for sale under Sen. Cortez Masto’s bill would be sent to the special account created by the 1998 law. Rather than going to an unaccountable federal government, the proceeds would continue to help kids in Vegas get a better education, bolster outdoor recreation and modernize Southern Nevada’s infrastructure.
I know how important it is that money generated from the sale of public land in Nevada stay in the hands of Nevadans, and so does the senator. That’s why she opposed a Republican effort last year to sell off 200,000 acres of land in Clark County and other areas of the country that would have sent those dollars directly to Washington.
Public land management in Nevada should benefit Nevadans. We should protect sacred cultural sites and beloved recreation spaces, responsibly transfer land for affordable housing when needed and ensure our state has the resources it needs to grow sustainably. I will continue working with Sen. Cortez Masto to advocate for legislation, such as the Clark County lands bill, that puts the needs of Nevadans first.
Paul Selberg writes from Las Vegas.
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Las Vegas High’s baseball team claimed a 3-2 home win over Coronado on Friday.
Las Vegas (9-13-1) next hosts Rancho at 10 a.m. Saturday. Coronado (13-14) hosts Chaparral at 3:30 p.m. Monday.
Contact Alex Wright at awright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AlexWright1028 on X.
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