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The Washoe County School District proudly recognized 52 exceptional educators during this year’s Parent Teacher Home Visits Conference, honoring their extraordinary commitment to building meaningful connections with students and families across the district.

The group includes teachers, counselors, deans, principals, and Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Liaisons who each completed 20 or more home visits during the 2025–26 school year. In recognition of their dedication, each honoree received a commemorative plaque.

“Family partnerships are at the heart of student achievement,” said program leaders at the event. “These educators have gone above and beyond, stepping outside the classroom to meet families where they are, creating relationships that truly make a difference.”

Through the Parent Teacher Home Visits program, educators connect directly with families in their homes or community settings. These visits go beyond academics; they focus on listening, understanding, and building trust. The result is a deeper connection that helps students feel supported, valued, and ready to learn.

The 52 educators recognized this year demonstrated exceptional dedication by completing a high number of visits, going the extra mile after school hours and on weekends. Their efforts reflect a shared belief that strong relationships with families are essential to student success.

Participants in the home visits program frequently report stronger classroom engagement, improved attendance, and more open communication with families. For many parents, these visits provide an opportunity to share their hopes and goals for their children in a comfortable, welcoming environment.

The awards ceremony was a highlight of the conference, bringing together educators and leaders to celebrate the impact of this important work. Each of the 52 recipients was acknowledged for their leadership, compassion, and commitment to fostering meaningful family partnerships.

Their dedication reflects the best of WCSD’s commitment to supporting every student and building strong connections that help them succeed.

 

Deputy Superintendent Tiffany McMaster M.Ed. has been selected to serve as superintendent of schools for the Washoe County School District (WCSD). At a public meeting, the WCSD Board of Trustees heard public comment and voted unanimously to select McMaster pending contract negotiations with the district. Those negotiations will be discussed and voted upon at a future public meeting of the Board.  

Tiffany McMaster earned her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Nevada, Reno and went on to earn two master’s degrees in teaching and education administration. After joining WCSD, she served as a middle school math teacher, assistant principal, dean of students, math assessment coordinator, and mathematics department lead from August 1998 to June 2013.  

She has gained experience at every education level during her time at WCSD: she served as principal of Westergard Elementary School in 2013, then as principal at Traner Middle School and AACT High School before becoming an area superintendent in 2022 and lead area superintendent in 2024. She was named deputy superintendent in July 2024 under the leadership of current Superintendent Joe Ernst, who announced his retirement earlier this year, effective July 7. 

“It’s a good day for the Washoe County School District, hiring a superintendent who has spent her entire professional career at this district,” said Board President Adam Mayberry. “She is somebody who will bring continuity and stability during a time that this district needs it the most.”

“Working the past two years alongside Superintendent Ernst has given me a front row seat to the work being done,” said McMaster, who will begin her new role on July 8. “I’m so excited about all we’ve accomplished, yet there is more to do. And I know we will do that together as a community as we reach new heights and look at things in new and innovative ways.”

 

Tiffany McMaster, M.Ed.

 

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is saluting 20 graduates as part of its 2026 Countdown to Graduation celebration. These students were selected by their principals, counselors, and teachers for their courage, perseverance, and dedication to achieving their goal of earning a high school diploma. 

Beginning Tuesday, May 12, and continuing each weekday through June 9, Countdown graduates will be featured in individual videos that will be posted on the district website at www.washoeschools.net/countdown. In the videos, students discuss their separate journeys that brought them to the graduation stage, the obstacles they have overcome, the high points and challenges of their academic careers, and their plans for the future.

“Our Countdown graduates serve as inspiring examples to us all,” said WCSD Board President Adam Mayberry. “They have accomplished academic and personal goals, often in the face of serious obstacles, and achieved the academic milestone of earning their high school diploma. On behalf of my fellow trustees, I congratulate this distinguished group of graduates and all of the members of the Class of 2026.”

A schedule for graduation ceremonies for all schools is available at https://www.washoeschools.net/graduation The page also includes a link to the site where the community may watch live streams of each graduation ceremony.

Strict safety measures will be observed at Lawlor Events Center for these large public gatherings. Events Center staff members enforce limits to the size and type of bag allowed inside the venue to expedite entry into the building. For further information, please visit https://www.unr.edu/lawlor/visit/bag-policy

Congratulations to our 2026 Countdown Graduates! We are proud of you!

 

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is expanding its Pre-Kindergarten programming, thanks to funding from the Nevada Department of Education.

WCSD is offering approximately 200 more seats to students who will attend classes four days per week—Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday— for a total of 900 Pre-K seats in schools. There is no cost for qualifying students who are accepted into the program. Whenever possible, Pre-K students will be placed at their zoned school.

The expanded Pre-K eligibility criteria include students who are:

• Living in rural, frontier, remote areas or tribal lands
• Living in foster care, kindship care, or with a parent who is incarcerated
• Experiencing homelessness
• Assigned to one- or two-star rated schools
• Members of migrant or refugee families
• Living in single-parent households

School sites that will host expanded Pre-K classes include:

• Desert Skies Middle School
• Nick Poulakidas Elementary School
• Hunter Lake Elementary School
• Jesse Hall Elementary School
• Jerry Whitehead Elementary School
• Hidden Valley Elementary School

“We are excited to offer this option to our families and look forward to welcoming these young learners to our schools this fall,” said Don Angotti, Chief Academic Officer of Elementary Education for WCSD. “Early exposure to high-quality learning opportunities for our youngest students is critically important to their success later in school, and the expanded Pre-K programming is designed to support students who are facing challenges that could adversely impact their learning.”

Families may begin the application process by visiting www.washoeschools.net/prek. If demand exceeds available seats, families will be placed on a wait list.

Students from Florence Drake Elementary School joined city leaders, fellow students, and school staff members today in the Ride for Reading event. The caravan of bicycles and motorcycles, led by Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson, rode from Sparks City Hall to Drake Elementary School where they were greeted by several hundred cheering students prior to attending a schoolwide assembly where they learned about bike safety.

The group also delivered brand new books for each student in the school, donated by Spread the Word Northern Nevada to support literacy.

"We look forward to this event because it’s so warmly and enthusiastically received not only by students, but by our community leaders,” said Jennifer Iveson, coordinator for Safe Routes to School. “The warm spring months are a great time to remind students to get outdoors and ride their bikes while following all of the safety precautions like wearing helmets and learning traffic safety rules. We are grateful to Sparks and Washoe County leaders, WCSD School Police, Sparks Police Department, and RTC Washoe, among many others, for supporting this message for our students.”