LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Nevada State University hosted its first-ever Education Summit Wednesday.
The event was part of a partnership between the university’s School of Education and a Las Vegas Valley nonprofit, Opportunity 180. The group works with area schools to “to launch, sustain and/or replicate great schools that ensure every kid, especially those most underserved, has access to a high-quality education,” according to its website.
Representatives from local schools also took part in the summit. It focused on what’s changing in education and the top issues educators say need to be addressed.
“We still have a teacher shortage,” said Melissa Mackedon, the executive director of the State Public Charter School Authority. “We’ve closed the gap significantly, but we still have a teacher shortage, and that directly impacts our kids. Obviously, we’ve made huge gains, too, in our spending towards education, but we’re still significantly behind other states.”
Keynote speaker Michael Franco, vice president of The New Teacher Project, said it will take collaboration to get students what they need.
“We know that across the United States of America, especially post-COVID, students have fallen further and further behind,” Franco said. “To close these academic gaps, we have to work together to create more coherent, stronger instructional programs for students all across the state so that they can continue to grow in their academic journey.”
Dr. Bernnell Peltier-Glaze, dean of the School of Education, agreed.
“We need to talk about collaboration and how to ensure that wherever a student lands, whatever building they’re in, they will receive a quality education,” she said.
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