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Deputy Superintendent Tiffany McMaster M.Ed. has been selected to serve as superintendent of schools for the Washoe County School District (WCSD). At a public meeting, the WCSD Board of Trustees heard public comment and voted unanimously to select McMaster pending contract negotiations with the district. Those negotiations will be discussed and voted upon at a future public meeting of the Board.  

Tiffany McMaster earned her bachelor’s degree in education at the University of Nevada, Reno and went on to earn two master’s degrees in teaching and education administration. After joining WCSD, she served as a middle school math teacher, assistant principal, dean of students, math assessment coordinator, and mathematics department lead from August 1998 to June 2013.  

She has gained experience at every education level during her time at WCSD: she served as principal of Westergard Elementary School in 2013, then as principal at Traner Middle School and AACT High School before becoming an area superintendent in 2022 and lead area superintendent in 2024. She was named deputy superintendent in July 2024 under the leadership of current Superintendent Joe Ernst, who announced his retirement earlier this year, effective July 7. 

“It’s a good day for the Washoe County School District, hiring a superintendent who has spent her entire professional career at this district,” said Board President Adam Mayberry. “She is somebody who will bring continuity and stability during a time that this district needs it the most.”

“Working the past two years alongside Superintendent Ernst has given me a front row seat to the work being done,” said McMaster, who will begin her new role on July 8. “I’m so excited about all we’ve accomplished, yet there is more to do. And I know we will do that together as a community as we reach new heights and look at things in new and innovative ways.”

 

Tiffany McMaster, M.Ed.

 

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is saluting 20 graduates as part of its 2026 Countdown to Graduation celebration. These students were selected by their principals, counselors, and teachers for their courage, perseverance, and dedication to achieving their goal of earning a high school diploma. 

Beginning Tuesday, May 12, and continuing each weekday through June 9, Countdown graduates will be featured in individual videos that will be posted on the district website at www.washoeschools.net/countdown. In the videos, students discuss their separate journeys that brought them to the graduation stage, the obstacles they have overcome, the high points and challenges of their academic careers, and their plans for the future.

“Our Countdown graduates serve as inspiring examples to us all,” said WCSD Board President Adam Mayberry. “They have accomplished academic and personal goals, often in the face of serious obstacles, and achieved the academic milestone of earning their high school diploma. On behalf of my fellow trustees, I congratulate this distinguished group of graduates and all of the members of the Class of 2026.”

A schedule for graduation ceremonies for all schools is available at https://www.washoeschools.net/graduation The page also includes a link to the site where the community may watch live streams of each graduation ceremony.

Strict safety measures will be observed at Lawlor Events Center for these large public gatherings. Events Center staff members enforce limits to the size and type of bag allowed inside the venue to expedite entry into the building. For further information, please visit https://www.unr.edu/lawlor/visit/bag-policy

Congratulations to our 2026 Countdown Graduates! We are proud of you!

 

Students from Florence Drake Elementary School joined city leaders, fellow students, and school staff members today in the Ride for Reading event. The caravan of bicycles and motorcycles, led by Sparks Mayor Ed Lawson, rode from Sparks City Hall to Drake Elementary School where they were greeted by several hundred cheering students prior to attending a schoolwide assembly where they learned about bike safety.

The group also delivered brand new books for each student in the school, donated by Spread the Word Northern Nevada to support literacy.

"We look forward to this event because it’s so warmly and enthusiastically received not only by students, but by our community leaders,” said Jennifer Iveson, coordinator for Safe Routes to School. “The warm spring months are a great time to remind students to get outdoors and ride their bikes while following all of the safety precautions like wearing helmets and learning traffic safety rules. We are grateful to Sparks and Washoe County leaders, WCSD School Police, Sparks Police Department, and RTC Washoe, among many others, for supporting this message for our students.”

 

Schools from the Washoe County School District (WCSD) continued a storied tradition of national honors in the annual “We the People” competition, where students make presentations to panels of scholars, attorneys, educators, public officials, and court judges to showcase their extensive knowledge of the U.S. Constitution and American government.

Incline High School’s team placed tenth in the nation, while Reno High School’s team ranked first in Division C. The teams placed first and second, respectively, in the state competition earlier this year, and Reed High School’s team placed third in Nevada.

“More than 25 percent of Incline High School's senior class is involved with We the People this year, and I am extremely proud of how my students have risen to the occasion all year and competed at an elite level,” said Milt Hyams, a social studies teacher at Incline High School who coaches the We the People team. “What makes this group of students special is their teamwork, sincerity, and passion to improve our nation while ensuring that we live up to our core principles of liberty, equality, and justice articulated in our founding documents. Our community and coaches have supported the students every step of the way and the students have responded, growing into thoughtful and engaged members of our Constitutional Democracy.”

“Civic education is alive and well in Washoe County,” said Brien Karlin, who teaches AP Human Geography, History through Film, Freshman Seminar, and coaches the Reno High School We the People team. “This program is a community effort and I am humbled by the outpouring of support by unit coaches, practice judges, and donors. I am indebted to my students for practicing grace while I work through my first year at the helm of this program. Their curiosity and drive are incredible. I’m thankful to be part of their life’s journey.”

High school teams begin preparing for these competitions early in the school year, devoting countless hours to researching American government principles and preparing their presentations for local, state, and national matches. Eighteen students represented Incline High School and 27 students competed for Reno High School this year.

The competition is intense, as students must be prepared to defend their presentations and explore the history, implications, and outcomes of complicated principles. 

Questions posed to students during the 2026 national competition included:

• What Are the Philosophical and Historical Foundations of the American Political System?
• How Did the Framers Create the Constitution?
• How Has the Constitution Been Changed to Further the Ideals Contained in the Declaration of Independence?
• What Rights Does the Bill of Rights Protect?

WCSD celebrates a decades-long tradition of achievement and excellence in local, state, and national We the People competitions. Last year, Reno High School placed fifth overall in the nation and has qualified for the national competition 13 times. Incline High School has attended the national competition 17 times and placed first in the nation in the Division C competition in 2024. In 2023, We the People teams from Reno High School and Reed High School placed first in their respective divisions during the national competition in Virginia.

Incline High School We the People team

Milt Hyams, Coach

 

Reno High School We the People team

Brien Karlin, Coach