Piloting the Implementation of the Portrait and its Effects on Relationships, Experiences, and the Environment of School
To ensure that those closest to the work contribute to shaping the Portrait of a Nevada Learner, the Nevada Department of Education brought educators' voices and practitioner expertise into the process. This initial process engaged schools of diverse communities to help us understand the value of the portrait in driving coherent learning experiences. The case studies created by each school team (listed below) are helping inform the long-term strategy of a growing network for educator collaboration statewide.
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At schools representing learners of all ages and grade levels, PK-12, Pilot Portrait Teams focus on an innovation priority that would illuminate what it means to align with elements of the evolving Portrait of a Nevada Learner.
Significantly, these educators also are shaping the pathways for professional learning inside the Nevada Future of Learning Network that will support statewide implementation of the Portrait.
Educator Ambassadors
Connecting the Nevada education community to the future of learning.
With support from Nevada education leader and Nevada Future of Learning Network’s community engagement manager, Dr. Tonia Holmes-Sutton, Educator Ambassadors are focused on engaging educators and community members from across the state in the work to make the Portrait of a Nevada Learner a reality.
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These passionate advocates for learner-centered systems change are working together on public awareness, community outreach and networking opportunities with a continual focus on inclusion, collaboration and connection.
2023-24 Educator Ambassadors
Dillon Booker, Clark County
Deanne Hicks, Washoe County
Jen Loescher, Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
Michaela Marich, White Pine County
Laura Jeanne Penrod, Clark County
Claire Romzek, Clark County
Felicia Rutledge, Special Education Technology Assistance Project Director, UNR
Competency Champions
Competency Champions are moving the Portrait of a Learner and personalized, competency-based learning forward
Competency Champions (made up of at least 2 educators from the same campus) engage with professional learning and coaching, together and with other Champions statewide.
Competency Champions focus on implementing competencies on their campus, refining competencies based on their own experience and field feedback, and supporting the creation of a toolkit of best practices for educators across Nevada to scale the implementation of personalized, competency-based learning.
See Nevada’s Portrait of a Learner Draft Graduate Competencies:
School and District Design Teams
School and District Design Teams are integrating innovative, portrait-aligned practices into the learning experience.
Churchill County Middle School
“The connection of portrait traits to classroom instruction will provide relevance to the student, so that they know why they are learning it."
Lied STEM Academy
“What do students learn through STEM?” This list consisted of words like “collaboration, failing forward, problem-solving, reading for understanding, critical thinking, exploration, communicating ideas..”
Meadow Valley Middle School
“A grandmother reached out to say that her granddaughter learned more this week than she had all year. Several students expressed the hands on experiences were great and they loved Medical School Week."
Mineral County School District
“We are partnering with TNTP to develop a new vision and strategic plan to guide the district. We took the district's motto and used it with students at each school to incorporate learning values."
Lahontan Elementary School
“The characteristics of a learner are intended to help build student agency to empower students with the skills to collaborate."
Lincoln Elementary School
“Our innovation project focused on how we can encourage student reflection to connect what they are learning in the classroom with their future goals and the world around them."
Liberty Peak Elementary School
“Many students are realizing that they can be interested in more than one career field or path. They are excited to explore and learn about careers they might not have previously thought about."
Spring Valley High School
“The project's purpose is to address the lack of academic and soft skills among graduates. It demands critical thinking, research, collaboration, writing, and public speaking skills."
Jerome Mack Middle School
"The values and skills the students
should practice: Accountability, Self-Advocacy, Self-Control,
Self-Reflection, Responsibility, Resilient, Integrity, and Gratitude."
Northeast Career & Technical Academy
“[We] are piloting a school model where all students are put in control of their learning path to shorten the timeline from freshman orientation to revenue generation."
Natchez Elementary School
“Our small school community serves a population of over 98% Native Americans from tribal affiliations. Building a culturally inclusive curriculum that allows students to research and engage in their culture can help improve student identity. "
Southside Elementary School
“Our project was designed to open up conversations between teachers and students, teachers and teachers, and students to students."
Regional Professional Development Program
“The RPDPs innovation project was designed to capture Nevada educators’ perceptions of teacher agency through a statewide survey, seeking feedback about how educators viewed their capacity for agency in curriculum and instructional decision making."
