New Global Focused Education and Policy Fellowship Launches Virtually

LAS VEGAS, August 10, 2020 /3BL Media/ - Continuing its focus on developing an aligned vision for state education policy that ensures all learners have what they need to thrive, NV Succeeds in partnership with Las Vegas Sands launched the InspirED Global Fellowship in July 2020. The original intent of the program, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, was to bring the inaugural cohort of fellows to Singapore during the summer of 2020 to investigate that region’s high-performing education systems, and develop solutions to be implemented back in Nevada. 

“We originally designed the fellowship to bring Nevada educators and administrators from all layers of our system together in the spirit of new learning and action both in policy and practice,” said Jeanine Collins, Executive Director of NV Succeeds. “While COVID-19 has limited our capacity for direct travel, it has also opened up our world to greater collaboration and connectivity. Our fellows are seizing on this opportunity to investigate change virtually with a strengths-based mindset. We’re meeting our objectives, and like all of public education right now, we’re doing it in a new way.” 

The fellowship embraces a human-centered design framework where fellows focus on defining the unique needs and aspects of deeper learning for students and then begin to unpack the layers of adult actions - from teaching and learning practices to state policy - that impact those outcomes. Bound together by the common challenge of beginning to design the next iteration of a successful Nevada education system, fellows will conduct empathy interviews across contexts with learners, educators, policy makers, and business community leaders, and participate in virtual immersions in Singapore and United States schools and systems to frame and reframe opportunities for action. 

Design Team 1 is comprised of 17 Southern Nevada educators from the elementary, middle, and high school levels; building and central office leaders; and an administrator with the Nevada Department of Education. “Showing up in the spirit of learning together, with diverse scopes of practice, experiences, and perspectives, enhances our ability to collaborate for change,” Collins said. “Our fellows represent new and experienced teachers, and both emerging and seasoned leaders. When we think about opportunities for action related to human talent development to improve learner outcomes, we know we need everybody at the table with open minds and hearts to move learning outcomes forward.” 

Las Vegas Sands, the world’s largest Integrated Resort company, with properties in Las Vegas, Macao, and Singapore, has partnered with NV Succeeds to fund the 2020 cohort and support its mission of developing real educational solutions for Nevada’s public schools. “Making our home communities better places to live and work is a core tenant of our corporate responsibility platform,” said Ron Reese, Senior Vice President of Global Communications and Corporate Affairs for Las VegasSands. “With the InspirED Global Fellowship, we’re able to help build a bridge between two of our business regions, study the successful practices that have made Singapore a model for education around the world, and bring those strategies back to Nevada to affect real, lasting change.” 

To engage the wider Nevada education community and help implement the virtual Singapore immersions, NV Succeeds has also partnered with Tom Vander Ark of the nationally recognized innovation firm Getting Smart, to facilitate a Community Call on September 2nd; renowned education practitioners and experts Dr. Michael Fullan, Dr. Mary Jean Gallagher, and Dr. Marion Smith Jr. will talk 

with the fellows to get collectively curious about what it could look like to move from inspired learning to action in this moment. 

“There is much uncertainty and ambiguity about the future of learning right now. That is an invitation for creativity, to look at what is and isn’t working and breathe new life into our values and action steps. Our fellows want to lean into the possibilities this moment holds for us, not just the struggles,” said Roxanne James, one of the fellows and principal at Jerome Mack Middle School. “By inviting educational leaders, policy makers, and the business community to the table with practitioners, we know we can create a container for a new conversation that inspires the best from all of us,” Collins added. 

The following list includes the Design Team 1 Fellows by name, role, and site: 

Nicole Delgado, Assistant Principal, Coronado High School Ursela Garvin, Middle School Teacher, Bridger STEAM Academy Lloyd J. Goldberg, Student Success Advocate, Jerome Mack Middle School Cheryl Heldt, Elementary School Teacher, Futuro Academy Roxanne James, Principal, Jerome Mack Middle School Dallas Johnston, High School Teacher, Mission High School Michael Lang, Elementary Technology Specialist, Laura Dearing Elementary School Jaynie Malorni, Programs Professional, Nevada Department of Education Jordana McCudden, Project Facilitator, CCSD ELL Division Amanda Ruth, High School Teacher, Green Valley High School Dr. Felicia Rutledge, Project Facilitator, CCSD Curriculum & Instruction Division Laura Jeanne Pennrod, High School Teacher, Southwest CTA Jessica Sneek, High School Teacher, Clark High School Jeanne Sulse, Elementary School Teacher, Elaine Wynn Elementary School Sheila Weathers, Elementary School Teacher, Tanaka Elementary School Camille Wesson, Elementary School Teacher, Sunrise Acres Elementary School Tracy Wilking, Coordinator IV, CCSD Region 1 

Nevada Succeeds is an education nonprofit dedicated to maximizing the human talent in our system, ensuring education professionals are empowered to operate at their highest levels. We work with educators, school districts, government officials, and our business community to overcome systemic barriers to catalyze improvement, innovation, and success. By linking educator-produced research to policy and practice, we’re creating a container for user-centered policy development. Grounded in research, Nevada Succeeds recognizes that learner outcomes change when adult actions change. How might we define and redefine success together? 

For more information, visit nevadasucceeds.org 

Contact: Jeanine Collins, NV Succeeds, jeanine@nevadasucceeds.com