Carson teachers welcomed ahead of new year

Carson City’s educators received a musical welcome back Thursday from Carson High School’s Blue Thunder marching band and cheerleaders at Senator Field.

Classes begin Monday.

Julie Tuttle, a sixth grade teacher at Carson Middle School starting her 11th year in the district, caught the spirit and borrowed a pompom from one of the cheerleaders.

“I feel very blessed to be a part of this district,” Tuttle said. “It has a small-town family feel, and I feel the people in charge of the district and admins really care about us as a staff and teachers, and they care about more than just what we’re teaching, but they care about us as people.”

Ali Cooper, who graduated from Carson High and worked at Small Blessings Preschool the past 10 years, will start as a district’s pre-kindergarten and special education teacher this year.

“I love the small town, I love knowing everybody and I love knowing my kids are safe here,” Cooper said. “And I like being a part of things, and I like having a direct impact on my family and my children.”

She said special education is needed in the district and will be a “new path” for her.

“I haven’t been in special ed, so I’ll be taking more classes to help those kids,” she said.

Superintendent Andrew Feuling said he hoped Carson’s educators had an opportunity to rest or escape this summer. He shared his own “cathartic” getaway with his family.

“I took vacation, I tried to treat myself to exotic places, so we drove to Wisconsin,” he said, evoking laughter.

Feuling’s focus was on Gov. Joe Lombardo’s willingness to provide a greater investment into Nevada’s education and while he initially had been excited, he said he has been battling an “incredible weight.” He referred to Lombardo’s State of the State address in January when he announced he was adding $2 billion, a 22% increase, for public schools.

“‘Along with funding, I expect results,’” Feuling read from Lombardo’s speech. “ ‘I don’t accept a lack of funding as an excuse for underperformance. I’ll be working with the state superintendent to ensure our systems of accountability and transparency are robust and enforced.’”

“So I take some issue with that, specifically the word ‘underperformance,’ and I sure wish there was a way to bring in so many of those people into our schools to see all the work that is happening every single day,” Feuling said. “However, there are certain realities, and that is an ongoing project I’ll say all the superintendents today are trying to bring an understanding of what is happening in our schools and what accountability means.”

He said he thought ahead to 2025 when the next session of the Nevada Legislature begins and the state’s representatives reflect on what was achieved with the funding provided this year and whether districts are being judged fairly.

“The only data point they’re going to have is did anything happen, and I don’t know if that’s realistic,” Feuling said. “There’s a lot of great work that can be done.”

He encouraged staff members to work together and smarter to keep schools’ departments sustainable. He also inspired them to take the opportunity to make a difference for students.

“I’m very excited to see you all, and I hope you are all just equally excited to be back and in a couple of days you are going to have some kids in classrooms,” he said. “Have a spectacular year.”