Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 | 12:38 p.m.
Jesus. F. Jara
Jesus Jara has been superintendent of the Clark County School District for less than six months. But he is already starting new initiatives to highlight the district’s successes.
Jara led the first Superintendent’s Honor Roll ceremony this morning at the central valley’s Public Education Foundation building, honoring principals of 62 schools who won 5-star, Shining Stars and National Blue Ribbon awards this school year.
“I wanted our principals to know their hard work doesn’t go unnoticed,” Jara said. “There are so many great things happening at CCSD, contrary to the narrative that we’re failing. These schools are just an example of those great things.”
The Nevada Department of Education’s star rating system evaluates a school’s performance on a scale of 1 to 5, factoring testing scores, student attendance and English language proficiency, among other metrics.
Five-star schools outperformed other schools in every category, and Shining Stars schools are those with four or five stars that serve high-poverty schools where at least 75 percent of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch.
National Blue Ribbon schools are recognized for being among the highest-performing in a state or for closing student achievement gaps over the last five years. Sixteen schools in Nevada earned a National Blue Ribbon award.
James Kuzma, in his 10th year as principal at Rancho High School, was one of the principals recognized this morning. Rancho was named a Shining Stars school.
“To make it here has been quite an accomplishment,” Kuzma said.
Kuzma said an emphasis on performing arts and career technical programs has helped Rancho students stay interested and engaged, and more are graduating.
More than half of the school’s 3,300 students are involved in performing arts, and two-thirds are involved in the career technical program.
Principals from schools recognized this morning received a lapel pin, a banner to post at the school and a certificate for their schools’ achievements.
Jara said he hoped even more schools will be recognized next year.
