Governor Lombardo Announces Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction

Today, Governor Joe Lombardo announced the appointment of Dr. Victor Wakefield as the Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction.

"Victor is the right leader at the right time for Nevada's public education system," stated Governor Joe Lombardo. "He received a unanimous recommendation from the State Board of Education-a testament to his qualifications, vision, and commitment to improving outcomes for all students. I look forward to working closely with him to build on the monumental reforms we have already made and ensure that every child in Nevada has access to a high-quality education."

Dr. Victor Wakefield, an educator, systems leader, and policymaker, is dedicated to expanding educational opportunities. He began as a middle school English teacher in Gary, IN. After teaching, he recruited hundreds of high-potential leaders nationwide through Teach For America (TFA). He led TFA's training for 250 early-career educators in Clark County, reaching over 15,000 students.

Over 16 years, Victor held key roles at TFA, including Executive Director of TFA-Las Vegas (2011- 2016), and National Vice President for Regions (2016), overseeing 16 regions. In 2020, he managed TFA's pandemic response, onboarding nearly 3,000 teachers, then served as Vice President for Special Projects, directing national strategy.

Wakefield served on Nevada's State Board of Education (2015-2017), was a Senior Fellow at Nevada's Kenny Guinn Center (2017-2020), and earned his Doctor of Education from Johns Hopkins in 2020. He has taught courses at Johns Hopkins and is an alumnus of Leadership Las Vegas and the Leadership Institute of Nevada.

"I enthusiastically welcome Dr. Wakefield back to Nevada. His experience as a former State Board member will help promote collaborative conversations to improve outcomes for students," stated Nevada State Board of Education President Dr. Katie Dockweiler.

"This is a generational moment for public education in Nevada with historic investments and bipartisan reforms," stated Dr. Victor Wakefield. "I am excited to return to Nevada, build on the points of progress, and help advance Governor Lombardo's vision that every Nevada student receives an education that unlocks opportunities, propels them into the workforce, and strengthens society."

Dr. Victor Wakefield will begin his appointment as Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction on October 27.

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