Clark County School District Educator of the Year Awards
The Clark County School District (CCSD) recognizes the contributions all of our team members have on the success of our students. CCSD has partnered with the Public Education Foundation to recognize individuals who have demonstrated exceptional performance and commitment to student achievement. These honorees place student success at the center of their work, and focus on ensuring equity and access for all students.
We are proud to introduce our 2022 CCSD Employees of the Year!

Ryan Cordia
2022 CCSD
Principal of the Year
Mr. Cordia puts students at the forefront of every decision to ensure the campus provides a rigorous and inclusive environment for all. He ensures equitable access for all students with real-world experiences, on-the-job training, and dual enrollment course offerings.

Sheri McPartlin
2022 CCSD Central Administrator of the Year
Ms. McPartlin played a key role in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic by creating and operating the COVID-19 Hotline, implementing and facilitating testing procedures, and working with community stakeholders to provide students with tele-health services.
Selection Criteria
We invite nominations of all licensed employees in the Teacher of the Year category. Any CCSD team member can nominate candidates from their own school site for consideration.
Selection Criteria
Nominees will be asked to provide specific examples and/or data to demonstrate exceptionalism in at least one of the following areas. The CCSD Teacher of the Year:
- Puts students at the center of all work, sets high expectations for every student, and provides needed support to increase opportunities for every student.
- Demonstrates exceptional instructional leadership in their classroom, and assists their colleagues to encourage continuous instructional improvement.
- Implements solution-focused problem-solving in their classroom to meet student needs and measurably increase student achievement.
- Engages and collaborates with a variety of stakeholders–including students, families, colleagues, and community members–to build trust that encourages improved student attendance and family engagement, increased community support of school initiatives, and other efforts to support student needs and measurably increase student achievement.
Submit your nomination for Teacher of the Year here.
All support professionals who serve at the school or district level that fulfill the selection criteria can be nominated. Any CCSD team member can nominate candidates from their own school site or department for consideration.
Selection Criteria
Nominees will be asked to provide specific examples and/or data to demonstrate exceptionalism in at least one of the following areas. The CCSD Support Professional of the Year:
- Contributes to a team culture and a positive climate at their workplace to increase engagement and trust among students, families, and/or colleagues.
- Demonstrates solution-focused problem-solving in their work to increase efficiencies, find ways to better serve students, or more effectively serve the community.
- Collaborates with colleagues and other stakeholders to increase family engagement, community support of school initiatives, or other efforts to support student needs and student achievement.
Submit your nomination for Support Professional of the Year here.
All principals who serve at the school level that fulfill the selection criteria can be nominated. CCSD team members can nominate candidates from their own school site and supervisors may nominate any principals they supervise.
Selection Criteria
Nominees will be asked to provide specific examples and/or data to demonstrate exceptionalism in at least one of the following areas. The CCSD Principal of the Year:
- Builds a team culture among colleagues that encourages high expectations for students and adults, and implements practices to ensure equity in the classroom.
- Puts students at the center of all work, sets high expectations for every student, and works with staff members to provide needed support to increase opportunities for every student.
- Coaches teachers to implement exceptional instructional leadership and leads innovative practices that encourage continuous instructional improvement.
- Demonstrates exemplary leadership by implementing solution-focused problem-solving at their school to meet student needs and measurably increase student achievement.
- Engages and collaborates with a variety of stakeholders–including students, families, colleagues, and community members–to build trust that encourages improved student attendance and family engagement, increased community support of school initiatives, and other efforts to support student needs and student achievement.
Submit your nomination for Principal of the Year here.
All central administrators who serve schools through central office functions can be nominated. Nominations will be made by department directors and unit chiefs.
Selection Criteria
Nominees will be asked to provide specific examples and/or data to demonstrate exceptionalism in at least one of the following areas. The CCSD Central Administrator of the Year:
- Works to build a team culture among colleagues that encourages high expectations for students and adults, and implements practices to ensure equity in the classroom.
- Puts students at the center of all work, sets high expectations for every student, and works with staff members to provide needed support to increase opportunities for every student.
- Demonstrates exemplary leadership by implementing solution-focused problem solving to meet student needs and measurably increase student achievement.
- Engages and collaborates with a variety of stakeholders–including students, families, colleagues, and community members–to build trust that encourages improved student attendance and family engagement, increased community support of school initiatives, and other efforts to support student needs and measurably increase student achievement.
Submit your nomination for Central Administrator of the Year here.
2021 CCSD Employees of the Year

2021 CCSD Employees of the Year award winners from left to right: Support Professional of the Year Cormella Belt, Teacher of the Year Melissa Tanner, National Teacher of the Year Juliana Urtubey, Principal of the Year Lynn Walker, and Central Administrator of the Year Denise Farleigh
Frequently Asked Questions
Each award has its own nomination requirements.
Teacher of the Year – We invite nominations of all licensed employees in the Teacher of the Year category. Any CCSD team member can nominate candidates from their own school site for consideration.
Support Professional of the Year – All support professionals who serve at the school or district level that fulfill the selection criteria can be nominated. Any CCSD team member can nominate candidates from their own school site or department for consideration.
Principal of the Year – All principals who serve at the school level that fulfill the selection criteria can be nominated. Any CCSD team member can nominate candidates from their own school site and supervisors may nominate principals they supervise.
Central Administrator of the Year – All central administrators who serve schools through central office functions can be nominated. Nominations will be made by department directors and unit chiefs.
Your nomination should include your name, plus the name/title/work location of the person you are nominating. You will need to confirm that you have the approval of the staff member you are nominating and write a few sentences (no more than 1,500 characters) on the reason for the nomination, including specific examples and/or data of their exceptionalism in one of the qualification categories.
Nominations submitted before the deadline of Friday, April 8, 2022 will be provided to the school principal or department lead of the person you are nominating. Nominations will be reviewed at several levels:
- Monday, April 11, 2022 to Friday, April 22, 2022: Principals/department leads will convene a selection committee to review all nominations from their school/department for Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year.
- Friday, April 29, 2022: The principal/department lead will notify the winning nominees for all categories and request additional information.
- Monday, May 2, 2022 to Friday, May 27, 2022: Nominees complete application forms with more information.
- Tuesday, May 31, 2022 to Friday, June 10, 2022: Nominations are evaluated by a review committee made up of internal stakeholders from regions and departments, as well as community members.
- Monday, June 13, 2022 to Thursday, June 23, 2022: The committee will select awardees and present them to the region superintendent or chief to present for District-level consideration. Winning nominees are vetted through CCSD Human Resources.
- Friday, June 24, 2022 to Thursday, June 30, 2022: A central committee made up of one member from each of the region/unit committees reviews and rates region and unit-level nominations. The committee submits recommendations to the Superintendent and Executive Cabinet for final acceptance.
- August 2022: Winning awardees will receive notification from CCSD with more information about how they will be recognized at the Public Education Foundation’s Annual Gala.
Nominations submitted before the deadline of Friday, April 8, 2022 will be provided to the division or unit chief of the person you are nominating. Nominations will be reviewed at several levels:
- Monday, April 11, 2022 to Friday, April 22, 2022: A panel convened by division and unit chiefs will review nominations for Principal of the Year and Central Administrator of the Year.
- Friday, April 29, 2022: The Region Superintendent or Unit Chief will notify the winning nominees for all categories and request additional information.
- Monday, May 2, 2022 to Friday, June 10, 2022: Nominees complete application forms with more information.
- Monday, June 13 to Thursday, June 30, 2022: Winning nominees are vetted through CCSD Human Resources. A central committee reviews and rates region and unit-level nominations. The committee submits recommendations to the Superintendent and Executive Cabinet for final acceptance.
- August 2022: Winning awardees will receive notification from CCSD with more information about how they will be recognized at the Public Education Foundation’s Annual Gala.
CCSD is proud to continue to collaborate with community organizations that wish to honor the hard work of our team members, such as the Heart of Education Awards. Each award provided to CCSD team members is centered around different selection criteria. The CCSD Employee of the Year awards will be focused on recognizing our employees who demonstrated exemplary work aligned with CCSD’s strategic plan to improve student achievement. Please note that these awards are CCSD-specific and are not related to the state Teacher of the Year program.
CCSD Employee of the Year award winners will be recognized at the Public Education Foundation’s Annual Gala on Friday, September 9, 2022. Winners will also be recognized at school or department level ceremonies.