The 8th Annual Nevada Association for Positive Behavior Support (NV APBS) Conference took place from Feb. 3-5, 2025, at the University of Nevada, Reno. With 224 participants gathered at the Joe Crowley Student Union, the conference provided a platform for educators, administrators, community members, mental health professionals and behavioral specialists to engage in discussions centered on fostering positive climates in schools and community settings through evidence-based frameworks.
The conference was hosted by the board of The Nevada APBS Network along with board president Brooke Wagner, MSC-SC, M.Ed., BCBA, LBA. The Nevada APBS Network is housed in the Nevada Center of Excellence in Disabilities at the College of Education & Human Development.
Erika McDowell, Ed.D., delivered an inspiring keynote address, emphasizing the importance of love and support within educational settings. She spoke about the challenges of showing up authentically in schools and the necessity of kindness and honesty—both toward students and oneself. Her message resonated with attendees, setting a reflective and encouraging tone for the conference.
“Our Lovelock Elementary School and Pershing County High School team members enjoyed the keynote speaker and the many learning opportunities offered in the variety of sessions,” Sarah Hannonen, Pershing County School District (PCSD) MTSS director, said. “Our school board member that attended loved the keynote and digital safety workshop as she thought it provided her the opportunity to learn about a subject she is concerned about for our district. Our PCSD superintendent was very impressed with the University campus and the awards luncheon. Also, our students appreciated having the opportunity to participate.”
Over the three-day event, participants attended a variety of talks and workshops that covered pressing topics such as suicide prevention and intervention, academic Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS), cybersecurity in schools, interconnected systems for school mental health, leveraging school psychologists within MTSS, addressing chronic absenteeism, inclusion and assistive technology, substance use prevention and intervention and the importance of the students’ voices in shaping educational practices.
One of the most impactful moments of the conference was the student voice panel, where five students from Lyon and Pershing Counties shared their perspectives on mental health and well-being. They discussed how technology, social media, news cycles and peer expectations affect their mental health and emphasized the crucial role of trusted adults in schools.
Director of the Nevada Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports Technical Assistance Center, Ashley Greenwald, Ph.D., BCBA-D, LBA, highlighted the significance of this panel, “Of all the outstanding conference presenters, listening to the student voice panel is always my favorite. It is so meaningful to create a platform to elevate the voices of our student leaders. Within the Nevada APBS Network and MTSS project, we emphasize the importance of identifying, responding to and meeting student needs and there is no way to better understand those needs than to hear it from the youth themselves.”
The Nevada APBS Network continues to foster new partnerships with school districts, community agencies and other stakeholders, working to build the capacity of families, schools and organizations to provide sustainable and meaningful behavior support. By expanding awareness of Positive Behavior Support in Nevada, their ultimate goal is to improve the quality of life for Nevadans with disabilities and challenging behaviors through evidence-based instruction, consultation and systematic change.
Through initiatives like the NV APBS Conference, Nevada’s educators, community providers, mental health professionals and behavioral specialists are building supportive, inclusive and effective school environments that empower both students and staff to thrive.
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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