The 22-23 and 23-24 school years saw a lot of change for Nye County Schools. Two new Board of Trustees were elected and sworn in, in January 2023. After nearly a year of debating, the Board voted to revoke the extension of Dr. Warren Schillingburg’s Superintendent contract, completing his previous three year contract in June 2023.
This upheaval led to three Board of Trustees resigning and three new members to be appointed. Assistant Superintendent Laura Weir stepped in as acting Superintendent, at the request of the Board, and kept things moving smoothly until a new Superintendent could be appointed by the Board.
Mrs. Weir excelled in managing three roles simultaneously, truly keeping our district afloat as we navigated new challenges.
BRYAN WULFENSTEIN, BOARD PRESIDENT
In September 2023, interviews for a new Superintendent were held and the Board selected Dr. Joseph Gent. He took the reigns October 6, 2023. We set down with Dr. Gent to discuss his first year and his goals for the future.
Dr. Gent’s extensive educational background and tenure within our district are noteworthy. He holds a K-12 special education degree, an elementary education degree (K-8), and a reading specialist endorsement, which he began at BYU and completed at Western Washington University. Additionally, he earned a master’s degree in elementary reading and literacy, another master’s degree in educational leadership, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Walden University, Nova Southeastern University, and the University of Phoenix, respectively.
Dr. Gent began his career in the Nye County School District in April 2001, starting as a substitute teacher while completing his student teaching. After finishing his student teaching, he returned to his home state of Washington, where he taught for a year and a half before being called to serve in the Iraqi War as a Marine. Following six months in Iraq, he returned to Nye County and was hired by NCSD in 2003 as a self-contained special education teacher in the intellectually disabled multiple impairment unit at the middle school. He held that position for three years before transitioning to general education, teaching eighth-grade math for a year.
When a district administrative coordinator position in special education opened, Dr. Gent applied and was hired, serving in this leadership role for eleven and a half years. He then became a site administrator at Floyd Elementary, filling the position for nearly two years. After his tenure at Floyd Elementary, Dr. Gent oversaw pre-K and Pathways Innovative Education programs until 2022, when he focused solely on Pathways Innovative Education. In October 2023, he was hired as the Superintendent.
A Season of Change
Since his appointment, Dr. Gent has overseen numerous changes in the district. When asked about these changes and their progress, Dr. Gent highlighted the most significant shift overall is a move from focusing on employee evaluation to enhancing instructional practices. This shift aims to ensure that all teachers and administrators are dedicated to implementing research-based practices proven to boost student achievement. The goal for this shift is to change the mindset and culture of the district, as a whole.
This prompted his second significant change by establishing an extended leadership cabinet. The aim of this cabinet was to dispel the perception of a closed-off leadership committee and invite district members to speak directly to leadership, ensuring that everyone in the district has a voice and a vision in making significant decisions. Additionally, an anonymous feedback box was introduced for all employees to contribute their input. Dr. Gent is very pleased with the feedback received and believes it will continue to drive the district in a positive direction.
Another notable change at the upper level involves reassigning certain responsibilities of site administrators to employees who are better suited for those tasks. The district comprises a diverse workforce, including para-professionals, custodians, bus drivers, food service workers, librarians, lunch aides, and more. The aim is to ensure all employees have the resources needed to excel in their roles, ultimately driving continuous improvement. These changes will enable the right individuals to advocate for each school site’s needs and allow the district to standardize practices for maximum efficiency and create truly shared leadership.
Top Goals for 2024-2025 School Year
These changes are being implemented, as part of the Strategic Plan, with the ultimate goal of fostering a learning-focused culture and improving instructional practices to achieve the district’s top five goals for the 2024-25 school year:
- Curriculum Alignment: Every school will use essential standards and learning targets to identify a viable and guaranteed curriculum that can be taught and mastered within a year. Dr. Gent clarified that the curriculum isn’t just textbooks; textbooks are resources to teach state standards for specific subjects. The focus is on narrowing the state’s standards to a manageable set that can be covered comprehensively in a year. This year’s goal focuses on ELA (English Language Arts) and Math, with plans to extend this approach to other subjects in future years.
- Data Collection: The district will implement a universal data collection tool, Mastery Connect, across all schools. This tool will provide a comprehensive view of student performance, enabling teachers to collaborate effectively and ensure student success.
- Common Lesson Plans and Assessments: The district will encourage schools and grade-level or subject-specific teacher teams to develop and use common lesson plans and formative assessments. These short assessments, taking three to five minutes, will provide near real-time feedback on student understanding and lesson effectiveness.
- Research-Based Teaching Practices: The district will follow research-based practices to enhance the teaching and learning cycle. This involves teachers working with their PLC teams to determine what will be taught and expected learning outcomes. Through common lesson plans and assessments, teachers will aim for all students to score at least 80 percent on assessments by the end of each standard taught.
- District Efficiency: By creating shared leadership and standardized practices across school sites, the district aims to provide a consistent experience for students, teachers, and families. This approach will enhance efficiency and collaboration within the district.
These goals underscore the district’s commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education.
In line with these goals, Dr. Gent and his team have devised a plan to enhance student achievement across the district. The core of this plan involves eliminating unnecessary distractions, utilizing research-driven data, and maintaining a narrow focus. By concentrating on essential standards, teachers will collaborate more effectively, fostering a unified effort and generating positive peer pressure.
Narrowing Achievement Gaps with Enhanced Instruction
Student achievement isn’t the only concern for the district. Shortening the achievement gap between students groups is a concern that has been brought up at several school board meetings throughout the last several years. The plan to shrink these gaps involves a strong focus on general eduaction instruction.
Dr. Gent emphasizes the importance of this, with the core lesson plan focusing on essential standards. High-quality instruction is proven to meet 80 percent of student needs, ensuring mastery for the majority. General education teachers also address gaps identified through formative assessments. This approach helps an additional 5-15 percent of students reach mastery.
Dr. Gent notes that districts investing heavily in general education instruction outperform those focusing on lower-tier interventions. While intervention support is necessary for 5-10 percent of students including some in special education, the primary focus remains on strengthening general education to ensure overall student success.
Improved Communication and Transparency Efforts
The district has long struggled with transparency and communication. A good example demonstrating these challenges would be during past lockdown events. To address this, Robert Williams has been appointed as the Chief Communications Officer. He is working with all school sites to develop and implement a plan to provide parents with timely and accurate information, reducing confusion and concern. Additionally, the district plans to hold Town Hall meetings in Pahrump, as well as the other NCSD communities, following the success of similar events in Tonopah. These meetings will offer parents and community members the opportunity to engage directly with district personnel, ask questions, and voice their concerns.
Facilities Take Financial Priority in Budget
As a rural district, managing finances can be challenging. The budget is stretched across a vast area, encompassing many aging buildings and outdated equipment. Dr. Gent identifies facilities as the district’s most pressing current financial issue. In 2008, economic constraints led to minimal spending on facilities, as other concerns took precedence. Now, facility needs can no longer be ignored. AC repairs or replacements, campus repairs at school sites, and other facility needs in Pahrump and Northern Nye will continue to be major priorities in future budgets.
Pahrump: An Amazing Place to Live
During our interview with Dr. Gent, he made it clear how much he cherishes Pahrump.
“I’ve lived in many places—Alaska, Washington, Virginia, Florida, Arizona, and now Nevada, plus six months in Iraq and Kuwait. Everywhere I’ve been, there are always critics. But there are also those who see the beauty and opportunity around them, regardless of their circumstances.
Pahrump stands out as an incredible place. It’s my favorite place I’ve ever lived. People often say it’s ugly, but if you raise your gaze a bit, you’ll see stunning, rugged mountains surrounding you. There’s a reason many choose to spend the final chapter of their lives here—it’s truly amazing, and the people are good.
We just need to focus on what we can control. This perspective will bring out the best in our community. NCSD has the potential to be a high-performing school district. With the right support, path, vision, and mindset, we will achieve great things.”
Dr. Joseph Gent, NCSD Superintendent
The hiring of Dr. Gent as Superintendent marks a crucial turning point for the Nye County School District. Dr. Gent’s strategic focus on enhancing instructional practices, increasing transparency, and addressing financial challenges signifies the beginning of a new era of growth and improvement.
With Dr. Gent at the helm, the district is dedicated to cultivating a culture centered on learning and collaboration. By aligning resources, implementing data-driven strategies, and prioritizing the needs of both students and staff, he aims to elevate the educational experience across Nye County.
Dr. Gent’s deep appreciation for the unique qualities of the Pahrump community highlights his commitment beyond his administrative role. He envisions a district where every student can thrive, supported by a community that values education and continuous improvement.
The coming years hold the promise of significant transformation for Nye County Schools, driven by a shared vision of excellence and a steadfast commitment to providing the best possible education for all students.
