Public commenters urge cultural-competency education and clearer, faster licensure processes

During two public-comment periods the Nevada Department of Education commission heard three public speakers urging cultural-competency instruction, quicker hiring pathways and clearer licensing communications.

Nisar Asadi, who identified himself as a new U.S. resident and parent of three students in Clark County School District programs, spoke in favor of agenda item 11 — the cultural-competency and social-emotional academic development regulation package. "I think information discussion for possible action. I think the possible action could be, like, try to develop and we call the culture competency," Asadi said, recommending teachers be prepared to invite student presentations on cultural backgrounds and to incorporate multicultural content into classrooms.

Kate Shem, human-resources director for Washoe County School District, addressed agenda item 17 (employment without a Nevada educator license) and urged the department and commission to consider operational flexibility for district hiring. Shem said Washoe had intended to be a local test case but the legislative language was changed to apply statewide. Shem objected to requiring fingerprint-based background checks as the primary licensing hold-up, noting the district uses a contract background check based on name and date of birth that returns results within 72 hours. Shem said the district’s goal was to reduce delays that keep teachers from starting until after fall break and requested the department and commission clarify contradictory provisions in the draft regulation.

Dr. Elizabeth Glover, a doctorate-holder in education, described delays and inconsistent guidance she encountered while seeking an administrative endorsement. Glover said licensing analysts repeatedly requested different documents, that 18 days of no response was counted against a 90-day window, and that a department analyst concluded her doctorate was primarily in higher-education content. Glover said she supplied transcripts and university letters documenting equivalencies and asked the commission to review her case and the department’s processes. "My degree, for the record, is doctor of education in leadership and learning with a specialization in higher ed. It appears that it is being interpreted as a doctor of education in higher ed. Two totally different things," she said.

Commission staff acknowledged the concerns during the meeting and said several rulemaking items on the agenda (including the employment-without-license item) would proceed to workshops to allow for further drafting and stakeholder input. The meeting record shows commissioners thanked the speakers for their remarks and indicated the department would consider the operational issues raised.