Carson City School District announces 10 new principals, administrators
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 09/07/2021 - 9:24am
First-day jitters are not just for students. The Carson City School District (CCSD) was pleased to announce the appointment of 10 new principals and district administrators (alphabetically by school) for the 2021-2022 school year.
— Cheryl Richetta, principal for Bordewich Bray Elementary School
— Jon “Shelby” Tuttle, vice principal for Bordewich Bray Elementary School
— Rodney Wade, dean of students for Carson High School
— Lois Linehan, dean of students for Eagle Valley Middle School
— Kari Pryor, vice principal for Fremont Elementary School
— Cheryl Macy, director of Equity in Curriculum and Instruction
— Tanya Scott, Ph.D., assistant director of Equity and English Learner Programming
— Michelle Cleveland, coordinator of MTSS and Project AWARE
— Brittany Witter, coordinator for Humanities Curriculum and Assessment
— Christine Perkins, special projects coordinator for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care
In their positions, these administrators will be part of an educational system focused on developing the skill and talents for all students through rigorous learning experiences, supportive relationships and relevant real-life applications. They will be visible instructional leaders throughout the district and propel student achievement in the areas of curriculum, instruction, assessment, accountability and staff supervision.
"We welcome all these qualified individuals in their new roles,” said Mr. Richard Stokes, CCSD superintendent. “Being an administrator in a public school district is no easy task these days. Stepping up to be a leader will provide valuable and dynamic support to the teams at their respective schools. I look forward to working alongside some of Carson City’s finest educators as they become familiar with their new assignments.”
Prior to her appointment as the new Principal of Bordewich Bray Elementary School, Mrs. Richetta previously served as vice principal at Fremont Elementary since 2017. Prior to that she served the district as the lead literacy specialist where she oversaw the district’s rollout of the Read By Grade 3 Initiative.
She also simultaneously served as the summer school administrator for six elementary schools and as the ELA implementation specialist at Mark Twain Elementary. In addition, Richetta served as an administrative intern under Principal Ruthlee Caloiaro at Mark Twain, and her teaching experience includes sixth and seventh grade math at Carson Middle and kindergarten, first, third and fifth grade at Mark Twain. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Arizona State University (1997), a Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) endorsement from Southern Utah University (2014) and a master’s in Educational Administration from Grand Canyon University (2015).
Mr. Tuttle, the new vice principal at Bordewich Bray Elementary has served within the Carson City School district since 2002. Most recently, he was the dean of students for Carson High School (2019-2021). He was also previously the vice principal (2014-2019) and administrative intern – acting vice principal (2013-2014) at Mark Twain Elementary School.
Prior to those leadership roles, he was a Science teacher and coach (football and softball) at Carson High (2010-2013). He was an administrative intern as dean of students (2008-2009), a MAP coordinator, Science teacher and coach (basketball) at Eagle Valley Middle School. He was also a substitute teacher for the school district (2002-2006). Tuttle earned a bachelor’s in Secondary Education from the University of Nevada (2005) and later earned a master’s in Education from the University of Phoenix (2009). He also earned a ELAD (English Language Acquisition and Development) endorsement from Southern Utah University (2012). His career prior to being an educator was in sales and marketing. He has been heavily involved in youth sports and coaching since moving to Carson City in 1991. All three of his children are graduates of Carson High School, and his grandson attends elementary in the Carson City School District.
Prior to his appointment as the new dean of students for Carson High School, Mr. Wade was a secondary Math teacher in Washoe County School District (2019-2021). He hails from Texas where he served as an information system business specialist (2018-2019), a student information system specialist and data integration specialist (2016-2018) for Corpus Christi Independent School District in Corpus Christi, Texas. He was assistant principal for Taft Independent School District in Taft, Texas (2012-2016); a secondary Mathematics instructor/coach for Gregory Portland Independent School District in Portland, Texas (2008-2012) and a Mathematics/Seminar instructor for Mathis Independent School District in Mathis, Texas (2006-2008).
He also was in insurance sale for Mutual of Omaha in Corpus Christi (2005-2006), was a Computer Science and Media Productions instructor for Pasadena Independent School District in Houston (2002-2005); a web developer for Hines Interest in Houston (2000-2001), a computer consultant and applications developer for Red Pepper Technologies in Abilene and Houston, Texas (1998-2000) and an applications developer for United Space Alliance in Houston (1999-2000). Wade earned a bachelor’s in Computer Science from McMurry University in Abilene, Texas and a master’s in Secondary Education from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Mrs. Linehan, the new dean of students for Eagle Valley Middle School was previously an 8th grade Special Education teacher (2014-2019). She recently served as the TOSA (Teacher on Special Assignment) dean of students for EVMS (2019-2020) and then taught 8th grade Special Education for a year before earning the dean position. She is ELAD endorsed and holds endorsements as a Special Education generalist, elementary education k-8 and school administrator. She earned a bachelor’s in Special Education, a master’s in Learning and Technology and a master’s in Educational Leadership from Western Governors University (2013, 2017 and 2020 respectively).
Her husband is a Marine Veteran and they have three boys attending schools within the Carson City School District. Her oldest was recently featured on Fox News and later in the Nevada Appeal for playing “taps” with their flag at half-staff outside their Carson City home to honor the men and women representing the U.S. Army, the Marine Corps and the Navy in Kabul who died.
Before to her appointment as the new vice principal at Fremont Elementary School, Kari Pryor served as Professional Learning and Family Engagement coordinator for the Carson City School District (2017-2021). She has been a nationally recognized training associate for Thinking Collaborative (Cognitive Coaching) for more than 10 years and she holds an endorsement for ELAD.
She was an adjunct professor for Sierra Nevada College in Reno (2015-2017) where she planned for and facilitated Elementary Math methods and Elementary Language Arts methods courses to pre-service educators. Pryor was an Implementation Specialist for Carson Middle School (2016-2017) and Eagle Valley Middle School (2010-2016) where she supported and promoted initiatives associated with the Race to the Top grant.
She was a Regional Professional Development Trainer for the Northwest Regional Training Program (2009-2010) and the Western Nevada Regional Training Program (2005-2009). She served as the Staff Development Trainer for the Professional Development for Douglas County School District (2003-2005) and was an Elementary Education Teacher for Douglas County School District (1997-2003) and for Maui County School District in Lanai City, Hawaii (1995-1997). She earned a bachelor’s in Elementary Education from St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minn. and a master’s in Teaching from Grand Canyon University.
Cheryl Macy, the new director of Equity in Curriculum and Instruction, has been with the Carson City School District for more than 23 years. Most recently, she was an English teacher at Carson High School (2017-2021), but she has also served as vice principal at Seeliger Elementary (2016-2017), dean of students at Carson High School (2014-2016), implementation specialist at Carson High (2013-2014), dean (teacher on special assignment) at Eagle Valley Middle School (2012-2013) and advance placement English teacher at Carson High (1998-2012). She also worked as a medical imaging clerk for Carson-Tahoe Hospital (1989-1999).
She has been the Language Arts Department chair (2019-2021), Social Emotional Learning committee member (2017-2021), Senior Project chair (2003-2006 and 2008-2013) at Carson High. Macy earned a bachelor’s in English and her teaching certification from the University of Nevada, Reno. She also earned a master’s of Education in Administration from Grand Canyon University.
In her new role, Tanya Scott, Ph.D., will support Mrs. Macy as the new assistant director of Equity and English Learner Programming. Dr. Scott has served as the implementation specialist for the English Learner Program since 2018 and helped administer instruction and assessment for students enrolled in grant funded Pre-K programs (2016-2018). She was an independent contractor focused on professional development and college coursework for teachers, earning them college credit and a Nevada ELAD Endorsement, to adapt curriculum for English Language Learners (2011-2016).
She was an English Second Language Specialist for the Carson City School District (2005-2011) and continues as an Adjunct Faculty Teacher in the Education Department of Sierra Nevada College in Incline Village (2009-present). She taught multiple subjects to student with a wide range of needs including second language learners in grades six, fourth and kindergarten for Douglas County School District (2001-2004). She also was an adjunct faculty for ESL and an adult ESL instructor (2000-2001) for Palomar Community College and Ramona Unified School District in San Marcos and Ramona, Calif. respectfully.
Dr. Scott earned a bachelor’s in Theater from the University of California, Los Angeles, a master’s in Education for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the United States International University in San Diego and a doctorate in Literacy Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Before she was appointed as the coordinator for Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and Project AWARE, Mrs. Cleveland served as vice principal at Bordewich Bray Elementary School (2017-2021). Prior to that, she served as assistant principal at Donner Springs and Moss Elementary Schools in Reno and Sparks (2012-2017).
She was also assistant principal at Double Diamond and Lemmon Valley Elementary (2006-2012). Her teaching experience includes sixth grade at Donner Springs Elementary, dean of students, reading specialist and grades 2-6 at Smithridge Elementary and English Second Language (ESL) teacher/head of department and grades 6-8 at Eagle Valley Middle (1993-2006).
Cleveland earned a bachelor’s in Psychology from California State University, Chico, Calif. (1991), multiple subject teaching credential from National University in Anaheim, Calif. (1992), a master’s in Education: Curriculum and Instruction from Lesley University in Reno (1998) and a master’s in Education: Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix (2004).
Brittany Witter, coordinator for Humanities Curriculum and Assessment, is a product of the Carson City School District. She attended Seeliger, Eagle Valley Middle School and graduated from Carson High School. She joked with an 8th grade Social Studies teacher to “save her a spot” in the department at EVMS because she was planning on coming back to teach.
She did indeed come back. She student-taught (2014) and later taught Social Studies for seven years (2015-2021) at EVMS. She was the most recent Social Studies Department Chair and New Hire Mentor there as well. Witter also taught 9th grade Algebra at Carson High and US History for Adult Education (2014-2015). Witter earned a bachelor’s in Secondary Education in Social Studies from the University of Nevada, Reno (2014), GATE and ELAD endorsements from Southern Utah University (2016-2020) and a master’s in Learning and Technology from Western Governors University (2018). Witter also heads the volleyball programs at Carson High school and has been coaching in the District for 8 years.
Christine Perkins, the new special projects coordinator for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care, joins the Carson City School District from Washoe County where she was part of the administrative team to open Kendyl Depoali Middle School and then served as the assistant principal there (2009-2021). She also was dean of students, 7th and 8th grade English teacher, Department lead, and student government advisor at O’Brien Middle School in Reno (2003-2009).
She completed her student teaching and served as a long-term substitute at Swope Middle School (2002-2003). She earned a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in English from UNR in 2002 and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership Administration and Supervision from the University of Phoenix in 2008, she completed her GATE certification in 2021. Perkins grew up in Lake Tahoe and is a Nevada resident for more than 30 years. She is excited to continue her professional journey in the Carson City School district and be a part of the community where she lives and her children attend school.
