Overview of the Forum
On March 11, 2025, a pivotal community forum was held at Rancho High School in Las Vegas, offering students, staff, parents, and other community members a chance to hear directly from the three finalists vying for the position of superintendent of the Clark County School District (CCSD). This forum represented a significant step in the district's selection process as it grapples with pressing educational challenges and looks toward finding a leader to drive meaningful change.
The three finalists—Dr. Jhone Ebert, Nevada State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Dr. Jesse Welsh, CEO of Nevada State High School; and Ben Shuldiner, current superintendent of the Lansing School District in Michigan—participated in a rotating format. Over 45-minute sessions, each candidate addressed a variety of constituent groups, sharing their strategies and responding to pressing concerns about the nation’s fifth-largest school district.
Candidate Presentations and Vision
Dr. Jhone Ebert
As a candidate with deep roots in Nevada’s educational system, Dr. Jhone Ebert brought to the table a wealth of experience spanning 25 years with CCSD and state-level educational leadership. Ebert's message revolved around accountability, transparency, and community engagement.
Ebert outlined her accomplishments in her current role as Nevada’s Superintendent of Public Instruction, emphasizing her commitment to fostering open communication with stakeholders. She made specific pledges to prioritize:
- Enhancing transparency in decision-making.
- Addressing CCSD’s budgetary concerns in a clear, inclusive manner.
- Ensuring equitable access to quality education for all students across the district.
By focusing on a collaborative approach, Ebert painted a picture of a district where administration and community voice align to tackle its complex challenges.
Dr. Jesse Welsh
Dr. Jesse Welsh, with years of hands-on educational and administrative experience in Nevada, focused his pitch on the values of strategic planning, effective leadership, and empowering educators in the classroom. Welsh highlighted his understanding of CCSD's local dynamics and his proactive approach, which includes:
- Open and transparent leadership.
- Hiring strong personnel and equipping them with the resources needed for success, while ensuring autonomy for teachers.
- Developing a revised strategic plan tailored to address existing and emerging challenges in the district.
Among Welsh's key priorities was school safety, which he underscored as critical to creating an environment conducive to learning and growth. His approach offered a structured yet localized blueprint to address CCSD’s needs.
Ben Shuldiner
As an outsider candidate, Ben Shuldiner positioned himself as an agent of change. With successful stints in educational leadership, including his current role as superintendent in Michigan’s Lansing School District, Shuldiner emphasized his track record of achieving measurable improvements. Key points in his presentation included:
- Boosting graduation rates through innovative and targeted programs.
- Implementing effective budget management strategies in resource-constrained environments.
- Tackling low proficiency rates and addressing achievement gaps with rigorous accountability measures and enhanced support systems for students and staff.
Shuldiner’s presentation resonated with attendees seeking bold and consequential leadership willing to tackle the district's entrenched issues.
Community Engagement & Concerns
The forum was an opportunity for community members to voice their concerns and expectations for CCSD’s future. Among the topics raised, several stood out:
- Teacher retention: Parents and educators alike were eager for solutions to the district’s long-standing teacher shortage and high turnover rate.
- School safety: Security and student well-being were prioritized as urgent needs.
- Achievement gaps: With persistent disparities in student proficiency and graduation rates, parents pushed for clear plans on improving outcomes.
The event left many parents hopeful that one of these leaders could rise to the occasion and bring stability and much-needed innovation to the district.
Next Steps in the Selection Process
This community forum marked an essential milestone in the CCSD superintendent selection process. Following the event, all three candidates were scheduled for additional interviews with the School Board of Trustees later on March 11. The final decision is expected to be announced during the board's regular meeting on March 13, 2025.
As CCSD faces one of its most critical periods of transition, all eyes are on the district's leadership to select a superintendent capable of navigating challenges, inspiring collaboration, and ultimately improving educational opportunities for the over 300,000 students it serves.