Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

A cri de coeur from successful teachers abandoning Nevada

If you want to know why families and businesses are not moving here anymore -- and it has nothing to do with the tax system -- listen to why some are leaving in the current environment. Those on both sides of the ideological aisle should read this passionate, bitter screed from a teacher I received this week. For those who seem to think teachers are overpaid and lazy or that destroying collective bargaining is the answer to Nevada's woes, look upon these works and despair. If only half the colloquies in Carson City were as intelligent as this -- read it and weep:

My wife and I are two young, motivated educators. We've served CCSD and Nevada for a combined 7 years. We were first denied our signing and moving bonus after being recruited out of state. We were then told our salaries would be frozen and our contract not honored to balance the budget. Now, after spending $30,000 combined on our own professional development, earning two Masters degrees each, we are being told our educational advancements will not be honored on the salary schedule. Excuse me? You aren't going to honor our contract again? Really?

Our students' test scores are above the county and national average. Our commitment to education and student achievement cannot be questioned. We love teaching and we love our students, but this madness has pushed us to pack up and move.

Enough is enough. We were told by a Republican businessman who works for the casinos to "leave if (we) don't like it." Well, Jon, we are doing just that. After being "threatened" with our jobs for the second year in a row due to a reduction in force....due to low seniority, we are done. After being lied to multiple times...after being denied the essentials and forcing us to pay out of pocket for basic supplies...after being swindled out of thousands of dollars in educational advancements, we are taking our passion, our combined six degrees, and our talents to another state....one that is not controlled by a gaming and mining...a state that has priorities and treats educators with respect.

By the way, the unions are not off the hook in this one either. Sandoval is certainly the force behind our leaving the silver state, but the teacher's union should be equally ashamed. Instead of working to trim the fat, become more efficient, and become more wiling to hold our administrators and educators accountable, they have protected the ineffective, lazy teachers and congratulated themselves for a job well done. We don't keep employees based on job performance even when study after study has shown the only true effective strategy to improve student achievement is to hire more effective teachers. Yet, the mess our union and our governor have left us in is one that Nevada will not soon recover. Not only have these policies driven away two passionate educators who were ready to serve Nevada for 30 years+, but Nevada will NOT be able to recruit the best and brightest teachers from out-of-state nor can they produce them. Imagine the sales pitch! I imagine it may go something like this:

"We have one of the highest teacher to student ratios in the country here in the 49th best state for education. Oh, and it's getting higher by at least 3 students per classroom. We routinely place more students than any fire marshall would allow and get away with it because most parents are unaware or apathetic. We have contracts that are marginally decent on paper as long as you aren't coming from a state that cares about educators....but they won't be honored year to year. Our contracts are more guidelines and are flexible to the needs of gaming and mining to ensure they get their profits and make their shareholders happy. We have no true industry and higher education is not priority. Here in Las Vegas, you will be expected to perform miracles in our transient district and if a student that you had for a few weeks before a high stakes test doesn't pass, you will be the reason why. It is always your fault and never the parents and you better be prepared to have your schedule modified each count day. You may be hired for one subject, but we will surplus you based on projections that our legislators are too lazy to actually fact-check. So, you'll probably wind up teaching a different subject that you were hired for and likely be asked to split time between multiple subjects. Oh, and we're cutting 8% of your salary starting next year....but really, it's closer to 30% if you are young because you will not be paid for educational advancements despite them being posted on the contract and we are doubling your PERS contributions. Sound like fun? Come to Nevada....hey, we do have casinos, strip clubs, and racy billboards on every corner so your children will be sure to be experts about human anatomy!"

Oh...and with our salaries being cut and our exit out of this backwards state, that also means another short sale for Las Vegas MLS, further contributing to the wonderful economic climate. You still sure that "No Taxes" is the best thing for Nevada residents Sandoval? Enjoy the ripple effect Nevada! You will feel the impact of these cuts in the short term and long term....and sadly, some of you will still applaud!

As a public educator, I can safely say....parents, get your children out of this state as fast as possible. Run. Run as fast as you can. First, bow your heads and take a moment of silence as my wife and I have witnessed the death of public education in Nevada. Watch the pall bearers as they waltz down the aisle: Gaming, Mining, and led by none other than "a pretty smart guy" in Sandoval.

This time, however, we are doing something about it. Since our cries have fallen on deaf ears and the electorate in this state have some serious growing up to do, we are leaving Nevada. Good luck fooling, I mean recruiting, any young professional educators to your state.

Sincerely,

Two (soon-to-be) ex-residents of Nevada!

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