Clark County (Nevada) School Superintendent Jesus Jara plans to step down later this month after six years leading the nation’s fifth largest school district.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that the Clark County school board is scheduled to consider his resignation next week. They also will decide whether to appoint Deputy Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell as the district’s new top leader.”
Jara, who was appointed superintendent in 2018, has faced criticism over the years on topics such as student achievement, his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and distance learning, contentious teacher contract negotiations and erroneous statements presented to state legislators.
In a resignation letter, he wrote that his departure will become effective at 11:59 p.m. Feb. 21.
Nevada Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager, who called for Jara’s resignation in November, said: “It comes as a great relief that Dr. Jara has finally recognized that parents, teachers, students, and community leaders no longer have confidence in him or his ability to get CCSD back on track.”
Past attempts to end contract
Jara’s contract was slated to continue through June 2026. The school board voted 4-3 in October 2022 on a contract extension and boosted his salary to $395,000 a year.
Before coming to Clark County, Jara was deputy superintendent of Orange County Public Schools in Orlando, Florida.
