School District Teacher Shortage Continues, New Comptroller Hired

The Churchill County School Board of Trustees hired a new comptroller and heard staffing updates during its Aug. 27 board meeting.

Trustees unanimously approved a contract for Amanda Hammond as comptroller. She will be paid $96,000 a year, with the district covering her full Public Employees’ Retirement System contribution. Hammond previously worked in governmental accounting at CC Communications before teaching art at Churchill County High School. She said “teaching was a detour” for her, and while she will miss her students, she’s glad to return to the business side of education.

Human Resources Manager Cameron Sorensen reported the district welcomed 20 new teachers, two nurses, 10 newly licensed staff, and nine new classified employees this school year. Still, the district began classes short 15 certified teachers and nine classified positions.

While the number of vacancies has declined compared to last year, Sorensen said recruitment and retention remain ongoing challenges. Superintendent Derild Parsons noted that many teachers are expected to retire in the next three years, so the district needs to hone its recruitment practices. The district continues to rely on temporary staffing, such as long-term substitutes and critical needs positions.

One tool that’s helped fast track potential teachers is the Alternative Route to Licensure (ARL) Program, offered through the Nevada Department of Education. This program allows individuals with a bachelor’s degree to work toward a teaching license while teaching under a conditional license. The University of Nevada, Reno, offers an elementary education ARL program, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, has both elementary and secondary education programs.

Through ARL, the district was able to help fill two teaching positions, with a third in the pipeline.

The district is also investing in its New Teacher Academy, launched in 2023. The program helps long-term substitutes and new teachers transition into licensed positions while offering mentorship and classroom strategies. Teacher-on-Special-Assignment Jennifer Gehant told trustees that 36 educators have gone through the academy so far, including 15 long-term subs who became licensed teachers through ARL, or business and industry pathways.

This year, Gehant is working with five long-term substitutes, three of whom are expected to earn ARL licenses, and 22 licensed teachers. She emphasized that continued funding is key to sustaining the mentorship aspect of the program, as her role is grant-funded and future funding is not yet secured.