Regional PDP outlines teacher supports, math academy and leadership cohorts for Elko County
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Summary
Annie Hicks of the Northeastern Nevada RPDP summarized programs provided at no charge to districts, including RISE mentoring, a Math Academy linked to a reported 12% MAP gain for participating students, and a Hope Cadre leadership cohort; board members sought capacity and sustainment details.
Annie Hicks, director of the Northeastern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program, told the Elko County School District board on Jan. 20 that the RPDP is a state‑funded regional service providing targeted professional learning at no cost to districts.
Hicks described three pillars of regional support: responding to district requests, helping districts meet legislative mandates, and providing coaching and mentoring to teachers and leaders. She highlighted the RISE program (mentor support for new teachers), a Math Academy pilot for third and fourth grade teachers and families (reported average student MAP growth of 12% among participants), and the Hope Cadre leadership cohort aimed at embedding evidence‑based “hope science” in schools.
Hicks explained the RPDP serves six districts and is governed by a regional board and a statewide coordinating council; funding comes from the Nevada legislature and the RPDP can partner with external agencies when a request falls outside its in‑house expertise (for example special education transition work supported through the Nevada Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services).
Trustees asked about cohort sizes, mentor sourcing and sustainability once grant or state incentive funding ends. Hicks said mentors are school‑based and the RPDP supports them monthly; some programs initially used grant stipends and the RPDP is working to identify sustainable funding models. The board welcomed opportunities to expand Math Academy participation, noting transportation and parent availability as barriers for Saturday programming.
Hicks invited trustees and administrators to continue collaboration as the RPDP scales programs in Elko County.