Six preschoolers on Monday morning donned tiny yellow hard hats and picked up miniature plastic shovels while digging into a small pile of dirt outside the Lynn Bennett Early Childhood Education Center at UNLV.

UNLV’s College of Education held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for a new project to expand its on-campus preschool. The project is a part of the university’s commitment to meet the childcare and educational needs of families throughout Southern Nevada.

UNLV’s College of Education held a groundbreaking ceremony on Monday for a new project to expand its on-campus preschool. The project is a part of the university’s commitment to meet the childcare and educational needs of families throughout Southern Nevada.

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.