On February 7, CCSD Superintendent Dr. Jesus Jara tendered his letter of resignation to the Clark County school board, requesting his remaining contract be bought out for $395,000. After a week of negotiations, Dr. Jara and the board agreed to a lump sum of $250,000. On February 23, Dr. Jara announced his resignation to teachers and staff.
Dr. Jara began his job as the superintendent of the United States fifth largest school district in 2018. Dr. Jara had a bright vision for CCSD – making it the number one school district in the United States. As quoted in Review-Journal, “When I came to this country as a 10-year-old, I didn’t speak English. I was that kid with the mom with a sixth-grade education but (who) knew that education was going to be the ticket to the American dream.”
As reported by the Las Vegas Sun, Dr. Jara noted that his mother passed away only a month ago in January, 2024. “She ran out of fight and so did I,” he said. “I just didn’t have it in me anymore.”
Educators subject Dr. Jara to enormous amounts of criticism – primarily over his approach on curriculum and behavior. The teacher’s union lamented his strongman approach to negotiations. CCSD employees and parents even criticized Jara’s resignation, believing his “golden parachute” was too much money for such a financially struggling district. Stephanie Valdez, a parent of school district students, argued that “The superintendent has cost this district
too much money already. He’s not owed, nor does he deserve more money.” Six years later, Clark County School District is still considered one of the worst districts in the United States. Dr. Jara’s top deputy and Chief Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Officer, Brenda Larsen-Mitchell, will fill the role of interim superintendent until the district board hires a new one. In an email to CCSD employees, she wrote, “I promise to continue leading each day with the dedication and urgency our students and you deserve. With a deep sense of kindness, courage, and compassion, I look forward to continuing our work together.”
