Sunday, May 30, 2021 | 2 a.m.
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Many of us grew up with that aunt, uncle or grandparent who recounted a time or a moment that defined their formative years. Maybe they lived through the Great Depression, or sat next to their family radio as they learned of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They may have lost friends fighting in Korea or Vietnam, or they may recall when a news anchor came on TV to tell them that Malcolm X or the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., had been killed.
Today’s children have spent the past 14 months living through one of those moments. They will tell their children and grandchildren about the COVID-19 pandemic. They will speak of their parents losing jobs due to local industries shutting down. They will talk about empty kitchen cupboards and fears that their family would lose their home. They will describe the dark loneliness that comes with not seeing friends and other loved ones for months at a time. In the most unfortunate of cases, they will recall saying goodbye over a video chat to a cherished loved one, before that person perished from the coronavirus.
In the Clark County School District, our students have faced this and much more while working to maintain and excel in academics. I could not be prouder of what our students and staff have accomplished despite this adversity, and I am grateful that the CCSD board of trustees has voted to extend my contract through January 2023. Being entrusted with the academic well-being of the children in this community is the greatest honor I could receive, and I look forward to accelerating our “Kids First” agenda to help our students recover from this pandemic.
We started this school year knowing nothing about what it would hold. Now, we are beginning to see our community thrive again. As Americans receive vaccinations, they are starting to travel, socialize with family and friends, and look for entertainment activities after a year of being in isolation. As this change sweeps the nation, the tourism industry will begin to rebound and people will go back to their jobs.
However, children will still bear scars from the academic and emotional difficulties they faced this year. Although the darkest days of COVID may be brightening, now is when the real work begins. Our actions will determine whether the wounds of this year fester or heal, leaving a scar only to serve as a reminder but not furthering injury.
Our goal at CCSD will shift from mere survival to rebuilding and excelling on behalf of our students. We will make sure our students are not only whole but flourish, grow and advance.
The Council of Chief State School Officers named Juliana Urtubey, of Kermit Booker Sr. Innovative Elementary School, as National Teacher of the Year. There are more than 3 million teachers in the United States, many of whom display excellence and commitment, although it does not surprise me that we have the truly exceptional here in Clark County.
During this school year, we have provided numerous resources to our staff, students and community geared toward improving mental health. This included a forum on youth mental health and suicide prevention in March and an additional forum in April that was entirely in Spanish, as well as joining numerous partners from across Nevada in providing hotlines to help those struggling with mental and emotional issues.
In addition, our Network of Support includes partners such as Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Lutheran Social Services of Nevada, the Community Fund Assistance Program and Three Square providing food assistance. The Clark County CARES Housing Assistance Program, Clean Shot Living, and Home Means Nevada have all helped our families maintain or find housing. CenturyLink, Connecting Kids and Cox Las Vegas have helped households maintain internet access, thus assuring that our students could participate in distance learning.
Our work will continue this summer. In June, our Summer Acceleration program will expand upon our traditional summer learning offerings. Students participating in this optional program will learn for six hours a day, five days a week. Not only will this provide exceptional academic support, but it also will allow students to engage face-to-face with peers and re-form the bonds of friendship.
When students return fully to the classroom for the 2021-22 school year, know that in me you will find a determined and committed educator who will lead students and staff through whatever it takes to reach a new normalcy. I am grateful that our board of trustees and educators trust me in this process, and I will continue to update the community on our efforts and improvements.
We hold within us the power to determine the stories that our children will tell for the rest of their lives. Will they speak only of the tragedies and adversity? Or will they conclude their stories with the support they received from their schools and community, leading them not back to where we were, but forward to a healthier, stronger and more resilient future.
Jesus Jara is the superintendent of the Clark County School District.
