Danielle Ford

As a former trustee on the Clark County School Board, I have firsthand experience navigating the complexities of Nevada’s largest school district. During my tenure, I advocated for transparency, student-centered policies, and the empowerment of educators. I bring a track record of community involvement, leadership, and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities within our education system. My work as an education advocate, combined with my ability to collaborate with stakeholders, makes me uniquely qualified to serve on the State Board of Education.

1. Expand early education and Pre-K programs across the state. Early education is the foundation of a strong educational system. It’s the #1 investment that will have long-term impacts, ensuring our children are better prepared for both school and life. If we want to see real change, we must start at the very beginning.
2. Reduce the number of mandates imposed on educators by the state. Nevada’s teachers are drowning in paperwork and directives, often at the expense of time spent teaching. The current system treats educators as cogs in a machine rather than the experts they are. By reducing state mandates, we can empower educators and create a more sustainable teaching environment, which will help with retention.
3. Reform standardized testing to focus on the whole child. We need a system that reflects the complexity of student growth and development, not one that penalizes educators or students based on a narrow set of metrics. Shifting toward assessments that are more holistic and community-centered will help ensure our education system serves the true needs of Nevada’s students.

I have a plethora of insight into Nevada’s education system. As a student, I attended both CCSD and religious private school. I navigated Head Start and 13 years of public school with both of my children. 15 of my nieces and nephews are currently enrolled in CCSD, and I served on the Clark County Board of Trustees from 2019-2022. The thing that sets me apart and is a valuable asset when working in groups is my ADHD. My divergent thinking allows me to see the big picture, notice things others often miss, come up with out-of-the-box ideas and solutions, and lead passionately and courageously at times like this when authentic, heart-centered leadership is crucial.

The most pressing issues are the underfunding of schools, teacher shortages, and the widening achievement gap. Nevada ranks low due to overcrowded classrooms and outdated standardized testing methods. The burden placed on educators through state mandates also contributes to teacher burnout and high turnover. A systemic overhaul, focused on equity and empowering educators, is necessary to create better learning environments and opportunities for all students.

The biggest challenges facing the Nevada State Board of Education are related to influences outside of Nevada who have a corporate agenda. The solution to this is expanding the board’s network and connecting with other state board members and influences who are not obsessed with standardized testing and corporate reform, and who can advise us in operating in a way that truly supports public schools and the communities they serve. Only with big action towards protecting Public Education, can we fix the individual issues through the state.

I believe that schools are LEARNING institutions. To me a successful student is one who is showing continued progress in their learning, whether they are below, above, or on pace with their peers. Over the past several decades schools have morphed into TESTING institutions that only place value on math and reading through the use of standardized assessments, which cost school districts millions of dollars each year to use. Our students are not standard and the only people benefiting from the use of standardized tests are the adults who profit from them.

If elected, I will advocate for a paradigm shift in which the focus is on teaching kids HOW to learn instead of WHAT to learn. I will push to recognize all subjects, arts, electives, and extra-curriculars with the same importance as is placed on math and reading, and work to ensure every student has access to education and opportunities that allow them to succeed in their areas of interest and passion.

School safety needs a comprehensive approach, combining physical safety measures with mental health support. We should ensure schools have appropriate security protocols but also focus on creating environments where students feel supported and connected to their peers and teachers. Increasing access to mental health resources, training staff in conflict resolution and de-escalation, and fostering a culture of open communication can help prevent violence before it starts. Additionally, we must address the root causes of violence, such as bullying and social isolation.

Universal pre-k is a top priority, not just to prepare children for kindergarten but also to support families. My kids attended Head Start and it was a life saver for me. We need to expand Head Start, ensure all elementary schools have a full-day program, and explore innovative solutions such as childcare programs at highschools.

I spearheaded the changes CCSD made to the sex education curriculum in 2019. In my first month on the school board I requested an item to get in compliance with NRS and then oversaw the forming of both the Sex Ed Member Recommending Committee and the Sex Ed Advisory Committee. I helped a few members get appointed who were able to bring forward and approve the medically-accurate and inclusive curriculum the school district currently uses. Additionally, twice during discussions on CCSD’s legislative bills, I proposed and fought for CCSD to carry a bill to change the opt-in sex ed policy to opt-out, but was voted down both times. If an opt-out bill is brought forward in the 2025 legislative session, I intend to educate parents on it and gather community support to ensure it passes.

I have built relationships and alliances with nearly all of the advocacy groups in Clark County and Nevada. I’m a believer in letting the experts and those on the front lines have seats at the tables where decisions are made. While I am an avid learner, I am more of a big-picture thinker, and one of my strengths is finding the people who have the answers and then bringing everyone’s ideas and solutions together to create something new. So while I will always support equity and civil rights, my default mode is to let the people with the lived experiences lead.