The Nevada Department of Education, in partnership with the Nevada Future of Learning Network, hosted The NOW of Learning Summit on Thursday in Carson City. The event gathered approximately 200 educators, students, community leaders, and policymakers to discuss strategies for enhancing Nevada’s education system to make it more relevant and engaging for learners.
“Nevada is leading the way in reshaping the future of education through personalized, competency-based learning,” said Jhone Ebert, Superintendent of Public Instruction. “The NOW of Learning Summit provided an opportunity to hear from members of our community and our many valuable partners as we work to become the most learner-centric state in the nation.”
Jeanine Collins, chief innovation officer at ed.Xtraordinary, emphasized community involvement: “This work will only progress if it is developed, tested, and shaped by our community. The Portrait of a Nevada Learner is not a directive being handed to learners and educators – it’s a roadmap that is being created alongside them.”
Panel discussions addressed topics such as the need for durable skills to strengthen Nevada’s workforce and initiatives from the Governor’s Office and legislative commissions. Timothy Knowles, president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, delivered a keynote on integrating academic knowledge with durable skills into assessment and accountability. He described the future of education as requiring “a new architecture that moves rigorous, engaged, and experiential learning from the margins to the mainstream.”
Discussions also focused on issues like chronic absenteeism, skills gaps, and updated approaches to teaching and learning. “What if we could create a culture of confidence in our students? What if they came out of high school knowing what they want to do next because they were coached and exposed to new opportunities?” Perdue said during one panel discussion.
Attendees explored themes from the Portrait of a Nevada Learner—empowering, connecting, impacting, and thriving—to further educational goals in Nevada. The Nevada Department of Education has been collaborating with educators, businesses, and communities since launching the Nevada Future of Learning Network in October 2023.
