Washoe County School Board Commends Superintendent Joe Ernst’s Performance

RENO, Nev. — Trustees of the Washoe County School District voted unanimously on February 10, 2025, to grant Superintendent Joe Ernst a positive performance evaluation, assessing his progress on six strategic goals established by the district.

In their review, Ernst was recognized for making “strong progress” on five of the six goals delineated in the district’s strategic plan. However, he received a grade of only “moderate progress” on the goal focused on enhancing student voice and advocacy.

“The board adopted this rating scale for the superintendent specifically because it is the same one used for the evaluation of teachers, principals, and other administrators in the Washoe County School District,” said Board of Trustees President Beth Smith during the meeting.

The evaluation process emphasized the importance of aligning administrative assessments across the school district’s leadership, ensuring a consistent approach to measuring performance and outcomes.

Trustee evaluations are not only vital for accountability but also serve as a key factor in shaping future initiatives to improve school governance and student engagement. Ernst’s positive review comes at a critical time as the district seeks to enhance collaboration between students and administrators.

In light of the mixed results in student advocacy, Smith added, “We are committed to increasing student participation in decision-making processes, and this is an area we are focusing on moving forward.”

As the school district aims to foster an inclusive environment, Ernst’s leadership will pivot towards addressing these concerns while maintaining strong academic progress in other areas. The district has seen significant achievements, including the recent success of Reno High School‘s “We the People” team, which secured first place at the Nevada State Competition at UNLV, qualifying for the national finals in April.

This performance review is anticipated to serve as a guiding framework for the upcoming academic year as the Washoe County School District continues to evaluate its goals and the performance of leadership in meeting the needs of its students.