CCSD superintendent outlines 'first 100 days,' pledges focus on climate, pre-K expansion and partnerships

Superintendent Joan Ebert told the Clark County School District Board of Trustees on Sept. 3 that her first 100 days focused on improving district climate and culture and laying groundwork for a longer-term strategic plan to make CCSD a “destination district.”

Ebert said the initial work concentrated on four priorities — rekindling staff passion, strengthening communications, growing partnerships, and rebuilding trust — and that the district has added 500 prekindergarten seats for the current year and will pursue further expansion.

The report, presented during a work session, described an organizational effort that Ebert said included staff across the district. “You hired me to guide significant changes in our district to make CCSD the destination district for our students and families,” she said. “This is not a 1 person, work… I would include all 44,000 employees.”

Why it matters: CCSD is Nevada’s largest school district; early actions on climate, communications and pre-K capacity can affect school starts, enrollment and year-one instructional priorities across a large, diverse student body. Trustees voted to accept the report later in the meeting.

What Ebert presented and next steps Ebert described a three-phase approach: the first 100 days to address climate and culture; bridge work during 2025–26 to concentrate on the “core four” academic priorities (prekindergarten, early childhood literacy, middle school mathematics, and workforce/college readiness); and a longer-term strategic plan to be co-designed with the community and released in late spring 2026 so it can inform 2026–27 planning.

On prekindergarten the superintendent said the district added 500 seats for the current school year and is building a countywide strategy to enroll higher-need children. Ebert said the Nevada Department of Education will release state accountability data on Sept. 15 and she expects district-level increases in literacy and math to be reported.

Ebert also described new outreach and engagement efforts: a parent advisory group with its first meeting scheduled for Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. at the Family Support Center; a business-oriented Partnership Action Council designed to match community partners to school needs; and a monthly student-centered podcast, the Destination District podcast, recorded with Vegas PBS and distributed on Spotify. “Our first podcast… had more than 250 downloads,” a staff member said.

Trustees’ questions and staff details Trustees asked for more detail about the parent advisory group’s recruitment and membership; Brad Keating (staff) said the district has a list of about 80 parents drawn from region superintendents, family engagement centers and the family support center and will invite a broad mix of participants. Keating said the first meeting will be held in person and the district will consider hybrid or virtual options based on parent feedback.

On facilities and pre-K expansion, Ebert noted an upcoming facilities master plan to be presented Oct. 1 and said the district has interior building space that can be repurposed for additional pre-K classrooms. She said expansion will require both use of district space and the pursuit of additional funding through the state legislative process in the 2027 biennium.

The superintendent described workforce and career pathways as a longer-term priority with a competency-based approach that will include more internships and industry partnerships; she cited pilot efforts at some CTE programs to allow students to complete work earlier and spend a final week in internships.

Special education and staffing Trustees raised special education concerns. Ebert said special education supports are embedded across the core four priorities and described actions on hiring, retention and professional development: targeted recruiting inside and outside Nevada, legislative efforts to obtain additional compensation for special educators in Title I schools (discussed with union representatives during the recent legislative session), and a restructure to emphasize required professional development and legal support in special education.

Public engagement and transparency Ebert said the district will relaunch the CCSD website and create clearer communications and customer-service standards, and will distribute the full 100-day report to employees, families and community leaders. She emphasized a “trust but verify” approach and said the district will revitalize advisory councils that include principals, teachers, parents and community leaders.

Ending The trustees voted to accept the superintendent’s 100-day report later in the meeting. Ebert closed by saying the team and community are “ready” and that her office stands ready to answer trustees’ follow-up questions.