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Superintendent unveils academic reorganization to align leadership, prioritize elementary and specialized instruction
Summary
Superintendent Joe Ernst presented a reorganization of the district’s academics office to better align leadership with the district strategic plan, retitle roles, and reassign functions; the changes are due to be implemented July 1 and are intended to reduce duplication and increase site resources.
Superintendent Joe Ernst told the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees on Jan. 28 that he plans an organizational realignment of the academics division for the 2025–26 school year to sharpen leadership, reduce duplication and better support student outcomes.
“Most importantly, it's about improving the quality of education that we're providing for our students,” Ernst said as he described a methodical review during his first 100 days. The plan realigns like functions into clearer supervisory structures and retitles roles to reduce confusion in schools.
Key changes Ernst described include retitling associate chiefs as area superintendents (who will directly supervise principals and schools); converting the previously vacant Chief Accountability Officer role into an Elementary Chief Academic Officer to focus on elementary academics and early childhood; and reclassifying the associate chief of specialized instruction to a chief academic officer for Student Development and Success to centralize behavioral health and specialized school leadership. Ernst said athletics and activities will report to the Office of Secondary Education; student records will move under secondary education; volunteer services will move to Human Resources; and grants and Title functions will report to Business and Finance.
Ernst named staff involved in the work and thanked them by name: Chief Human Resources Officer Doug Owen; Chief Financial Officer Mark Mathers; Deputy Superintendent Tiffany McMaster; Chief Student Services Officer Paul LaMarca; Chief Student Development and Success Jen Van Tress; and Chief Academic Officer Troy Parks. He said the changes were developed with chiefs and leadership through multiple iterations and that the initial phase will be part of the FY 2026 budget discussions.
Ernst told the board the alignment is intended to improve operational efficiency and said the reorganization “will have no associated cost” while anticipating cost savings through streamlined services. He described July 1 as the formal implementation date and said transitions and change‑management work will occur over the following months.
Trustees praised the analysis and expressed support for the principles of financial stewardship, alignment with the strategic plan and staff engagement.
The board received the presentation for discussion; no formal vote was required or recorded.
