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Washoe trustees mark Black History Month; student Black Student Union leaders address board
Summary
The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees presented a Black History Month proclamation on Feb. 11 and heard testimony from Black Student Union representatives from North Valleys and McQueen high schools, who discussed curriculum, cultural spaces and club activities.
The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees opened its Feb. 11 regular meeting with a Black History Month presentation and a proclamation read on behalf of Superintendent Joe Ernst.
Director of Professional Growth Systems Katie Louise Weir introduced student speakers from the district's Black Student Union (BSU). Nala Mickle, a junior at North Valleys High School, described how a teacher's mentorship influenced her decision to pursue teaching and told the board that classroom assumptions harm students: "The talkative black child is seen as rambunctious, but the talkative white child needs a diagnosis," Mickle said.
McQueen senior Eric Burns described the BSU's role as a cross-cultural space that includes students of many backgrounds and discussed the club's plans for potlucks, posters and an approved Instagram account sharing daily Black History Month posts. "In the BSU, we take time out to learn new topics about black history and what we can and have accomplished," Burns said.
Clerk Woodley read the district's formal proclamation declaring February 2025 Black History Month in the district and praising historical and ongoing contributions by Black Americans across fields. Trustees thanked the students and noted principals and teachers from both schools who were present for the presentation and the photo opportunity that followed.
Why it matters: students urged more curricular and extracurricular space for cultural identity and asked the district to support clubs and teacher mentorship that create safe classroom environments. Trustees and district staff highlighted the presentation as part of ongoing engagement with student voice and community cultural organizations.
Ending: trustees and staff posed for a group photograph with student leaders and principals; the board framed the proclamation as an ongoing commitment to inclusion during Black History Month and beyond.
