UNLV held the annual Summit on Nevada Education on Saturday where educators from across the state gathered at the university’s student union to collaborate and tackle challenges Nevada’s school systems are facing.

“By taking an apprenticeship approach to workforce development, we’re removing barriers for individuals who are already committed to education in their communities across the state,” said UNLV College of Education Dean Danica Hays. “This program expedites teacher preparation without sacrificing quality and allows students to continue earning a paycheck while they learn. In addition, thanks to grant funding, our students have no out-of-pocket costs and can start their careers debt-free.”

Where’s the best place to look for an aspiring teacher? These days, school leaders are launching talent searches inside their own buildings. In Nevada, districts are increasingly turning to their support staff members – such as bus drivers, substitute teachers, cafeteria workers – as possible recruits.

On Saturday, the 9th annual Summit at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas brought educators, administrators, and community members, all with a shared goal: addressing the challenges facing education in the state.

This is encouraging: Between 2018 and 2022, the number of teachers, assistant principals and paraprofessionals across the Land of Lincoln grew by 7,000, according to a new study by the advocacy group Advance Illinois.

For many of us, the path to a satisfying and life-sustaining career is seldom a direct one. Changing gears mid-career is not for the faint of heart.

Twenty years ago, Lushawn Threats started an elementary education program at the College of Southern Nevada — the first step in the Cheyenne High School graduate’s lifelong dream of becoming a teacher.

Nancy Lough is the driving force behind UNLV’s new sport management master’s degree program. The program, which began in the fall semester, boasts over a dozen students, and Lough thinks it can grow to be one of the most coveted degrees of its kind in the country.