The Nevada Department of Education is mourning the loss of Elaine Wynn, honoring her dedication to improving education for students in Nevada. Wynn, who served on the Nevada State Board of Education for eight years, was elected board president twice, in 2015 and 2017.
Dr. Steve Canavero, Interim Superintendent of Public Instruction, extended condolences, stating, “On behalf of the Nevada Department of Education, we are all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elaine Wynn and send our condolences to her family and close friends.” Dr. Canavero praised Wynn’s leadership, recalling, “Ms. Wynn’s leadership left an indelible mark on Nevada’s education system through decades of service.”
During his tenure as State Superintendent from 2016 to 2019, Dr. Canavero worked closely with Wynn. He shared, “I worked closely with Ms. Wynn during her tenure as the President of the State Board of Education and can attest to her purpose and pursuit of improving the lives of our youth and vibrance of our communities through education.”
Wynn began her service on the State Board in 2012, following an appointment by then-Governor Brian Sandoval. Dr. Katherine Dockweiler, President of the Nevada State Board of Education, remarked, “Elaine was a compassionate and fierce advocate for her community. She led with purpose and an unwavering commitment of serving with excellence.”
During her time on the board, Wynn was instrumental in hiring three State Superintendents and was a proponent of initiatives aimed at expanding Nevada’s educator pipeline and enhancing professional development.
Reflecting on her influence, Dale Erquiaga, former Superintendent of Public Instruction, noted, “Elaine led from the heart and every interaction was a lesson on how to serve others.” He added, “The loss to Nevada and the nation is great, but the millions of young lives she changed will someday fill that void with countless stories of success.”
Aside from her role in education, Wynn co-founded Wynn Resorts and supported the Connecting Kids initiative during the COVID-19 pandemic, which focused on improving student access to internet connectivity and devices. This initiative was led by Wynn and Jim Murren, chairman of the Nevada COVID-19 Response, Relief and Recovery Task Force.