Three finalists have been recommended to Governor Joe Lombardo for the position of Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction, following a selection process by the Nevada State Board of Education. The finalists are Dr. Sylvia Mitchell, Dr. Heather Sanchez, and Dr. Victor Wakefield.
Dr. Sylvia Mitchell has 25 years of experience in education, beginning as an elementary and secondary teacher before moving into roles as principal, vice president of schools, and superintendent. She emphasized preparing students to be “future-ready” so they can thrive in today’s world.
Dr. Heather Sanchez, born and raised in New Mexico, has spent over 20 years in education as a teacher, instructional coach, program coordinator, school principal, and is currently a chief operating officer for a school district. She highlighted her record of translating policy into practice to drive excellence and innovation for all students.
Dr. Victor Wakefield has served as an educator and adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins, and has held leadership roles with Teach For America. He was appointed to represent Congressional District 1 on the Nevada State Board of Education in 2015. He noted his commitment to high standards in education, developed through teaching and leading teacher preparation efforts in Clark County.
The finalists were chosen from a pool of 19 applicants through a blind review process, following interviews conducted by the State Board of Education in Las Vegas. Governor Lombardo will review the recommendations and make the final appointment.
