CCSD Welcomes New Superintendent

On April 14, 2025, Jhone Ebert earned the title of next Superintendent of the fifth largest school district, Nevada ranks 47th in education, and according to Ebert reports, “Our 8th grade students [lag] a year behind in their mathematics from the pandemic and our fourth-grade students are half a year behind in reading.” During a media conference held on Thursday March 13, Ebert points out that Nevada ranks near the bottom of the states for time spent in education. Ebert observed a decline in education during and after COVID-19, which led to decreased teacher and student attendance.
Following a major leadership shift, former superintendent Jesus Jara resigned in February 2024 after nearly six years in the role, creating an opportunity for Ebert to step in as the new leader for CCSD. During the search process for a new superintendent, Dr. Brenda Larsen-Mitchell led the district as interim superintendent while the board interviewed several candidates, including former Sierra Vista principal John Anzalone. Ebert began her career spending 25 years as a math teacher while working toward roles as a magnet school director, chief innovation officer, and assistant superintendent then later advanced to the new superintendent of Clark County School district in March 2025.
However, parents like Dirks Garcia, a mom who runs a Facebook parent group with nearly 20,000 members and Ebert are not opposed to extending the day or year. The decrease in education rates in Clark County has pushed Ebert to argue, “It takes more than just one summer school session to get [students] back on track.” While Ebert sees extended school days as a necessary step to increase education, not everyone agrees with this idea.
Many students and teachers worry about the mental strain and time management that extra hours create. It not only interferes with their education but students who participate in extracurricular
activities like sports, clubs, and work worry it causes even more drainage. One former CCSD teacher disagrees with this idea and says, “These students already [feel] overworked, which could lead to burnout.” However, a current teacher in Clark County agrees with Ebert but worries about ripple effects disrupting daily life, including family schedule.
As discussions continue about whether extending school hours will be beneficial, the debate intensifies. Ebert sees it as a step up to increasing education in CCSD, many students, parents, and teachers worry about the effects that could potentially happen. Many believe there are other solutions like better tutoring programs and balancing classrooms that can help resolve this big issue. As CCSD moves forward, improving education in Nevada will take more than just extra time in classrooms. The school board continues to look into solutions that focus on academic recovery and time management hoping to find the right approach for long term success.