Washoe County, Nevada
In 2010 WCSD approved a five-year strategic plan (Envision WCSD 2015—Investing in Our Future) to guide districtwide reform efforts. The plan, which is designed to graduate “Every Child, By Name and Face, Career and College Ready,” includes objectives for social and emotional learning. SEL work in Washoe County also addresses equity in specific areas, including racial/ethnic, gender, age and language. Aligned with the strategic plan, the major initiatives guiding district activities are Common Core State Standards; a new assessment system, Professional Growth System (PGS) and MultiTiered Systems of Support (MTSS).
The first year of SEL implementation involves schools from vertical teams. Each team contains elementary and middle schools that feed into a single high school. The teams spent the year in professional development on social and emotional competencies, establishing professional learning communities and shaping how other schools might adopt and implement SEL. Under the guidance of a 22-member SEL Core Leadership Team, SEL planning and implementation has focused on the integration of SEL into academics and the district’s major initiatives. Highlights of the work include the adoption of SEL standards, a cross-walk of these standards with CCSS and use of data to guide systemwide implementation.
The district uses data from the annual Staff, Student and Parent Climate Survey as part of its school profiles, which are reviewed during annual district leadership retreats. The findings are also shared at WCSD’s annual Data Summit, which convenes the district’s board of trustees, community leaders, parents and selected educators to identify accomplishments and future goals. The district’s Department of Accountability uses a variety of additional data, including assessment and behavioral data, to guide its approach to SEL rollout and sustainability.
Superintendent: Pedro Martinez serves as the superintendent of the WCSD. Prior to becoming superintendent, he was deputy superintendent at WCSD between 2009 and 2011 and was at the forefront of the development and implementation of the district’s strategic plan. He previously served as deputy superintendent of the Clark County School District, the nation’s fifth largest school district. Before moving to Nevada, he was a regional superintendent and chief financial officer of the Chicago Public Schools.
Learn more about the Washoe County School District at http://www.washoe.k12.nv.us/.
District Stats
Joined Collaborating Districts Initiative: 2012
Total Student Enrollment: 62,324
- Largest Racial/Ethnic Student Groups: White (49 percent) and Hispanic (36.9 percent)
- Economically Disadvantaged Students: 43 percent
- Students with Limited English Proficiency: 17 percent
- Students with Disabilities (Individualized Education Programs): 13 percent
Total Number of Schools: 91
- Elementary Schools: 63
- Middle Schools: 14
- High Schools: 14
SEL District Lead: Trish Shaffer, Coordinator of the Division of MultiTiered Systems of Support
CASEL Team: Rob Schamberg and Ann McKay Bryson
