Nevada State Board of Education Members

Felicia Ortiz, President

fortiz@doe.nv.gov
Elected District 3
01/01/21-01/01/25

Felicia Ortiz was born and raised in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She attended New Mexico Highlands University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting and a Masters in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School. Felicia moved to Nevada to pursue a career and worked in the private sector for several years before opening a small business. Felicia’s passion is to help others and give back to the community; she does this through her involvement in non-profit organizations. She currently serves as past-president of the Las Vegas Chapter of the Association of Latino Professionals for America, is a member of the Latino Network of Southern Nevada, the Latin Chamber of Commerce, and is active in organizations. She also volunteers with Habitat for Humanity and other community organizations. Felicia hopes to continue to be a role model and inspiration for the younger generation and help the community to thrive by growing her business and giving back.

Dr. Katherine Dockweiler, Vice President

katherinedockweiler@doe.nv.gov
Senate Appointment
4/1/21 to 4/30/25

Dr. Katherine A. Dockweiler is a Nationally Certified School Psychologist and policy researcher committed to the improvement of education systems. She is a practicing school psychologist and recently served on former Governor Sandoval’s Statewide School Safety Task Force. She also serves as Co-Chair of the National Association of School Psychologists Communications Committee and as the Director of Government and Professional Relations for the Nevada Association of School Psychologists. Dr. Dockweiler developed the Layers of Analysis Framework, a methodological tool for deconstructing policy text in education at the text, policy, and societal levels to determine micro- and macro- implications. As an educational leader and author, she serves as a Founder and Program Director for the Nevada National Board Professional Learning Institute; as a Founder of the school safety and student well-being model Healthy Minds, Safe Schools; and as an author of the educational textbooks for secondary and elementary levels Multi-Tiered Systems of Support: The Definitive Guide to Effective Implementation and Quality Control (Routledge, 2019, 2020). Dr. Dockweiler is also a former President of the UNLV College of Education Alumni Association and serves on the PTA Board at her children’s school.

Maggie Carlton

Governor Appointment

 

Dr. René Cantú

rcantu@doe.nv.gov
Elected District 4
01/01/21-01/01/25

Dr. René Cantú has dedicated his career to helping students of promise graduate from high school and pursue post-secondary opportunities. He is the founding Executive Director of Jobs for Nevada’s Graduates since 2014 (J4NG). Under his leadership, J4NG has concentrated on helping over 18,000 students across Nevada find pathways to opportunity through education, mentoring, training and skills attainment. Dr. Cantú has also worked in higher education as Vice President of Multicultural Affairs for Nevada State College. He received his BFA, MFA and Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. As a so-called at risk student in his youth who was tracked into a non-college path, he firmly believes that students and their parents (not administrators or arbitrary test scores) should determine how far they can go in life. Dr. Cantú resides in Summerlin North with his wife and two sons, and has lived in Nevada since 2001.

Katie Coombs

kcoombs@doe.nv.gov
Elected District 2
01/01/21-01/01/25

Katie Coombs is a resident of Reno, Nevada, working in the financial services industry for decades and passionate about the state of education in Nevada. She entered the Washoe County School District in 1977 as a student and all of her children have received (or are receiving) their education through the district. Over the years she has paired her financial knowledge with her observations as a parent to write parenting and lifestyle columns found in the Reno Gazette-Journal, This Is Reno, Bliss Babe Magazine, and Reno Moms Blog, and has hosted a radio show, Uncommon Sense with Katie Coombs, for several years. She has also lent knowledge, promotional power, and fundraising efforts to raise money for Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation, the Reno Rodeo Foundation, and other nonprofits. She is presently the owner of Total Home Experience, a home concierge service, works part time in financial services consulting, and is a past member of the Zoning Advisory Committee for Washoe County School District.

Tim Hughes

thughes@doe.nv.gov
Elected District 1
01/01/21-01/01/25

Tim Hughes is a proud third-generation Nevadan, Las Vegas native, and Clark County School District graduate. Inspired by his belief in the potential of every child, Tim has dedicated his career to education -- serving as a middle school science teacher, instructional coach, principal, and non-profit leader.

Tim currently serves as a regional vice president at a national education non-profit that focuses on supporting schools and districts to achieve equitable outcomes for students. Through this work he has developed an in-depth understanding of important topics in education, including: recruiting and developing teachers and leaders, improving instructional practices at the school and district level, early childhood education, and supporting school improvement efforts. Tim has also worked to give back to his community by serving on various local boards and committees. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Nevada, Reno, and master’s degrees in science education and school leadership from Johns Hopkins University and Cal State East Bay.

Tamara Hudson, Clerk

somione220@gmail.com
Assembly Appointment
1/1/23-1/1/25

Tamara Hudson, National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT), is currently a Special Education elementary teacher in Clark County School District who received a bachelor's in Education from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada, and a graduate degree in Educational Leadership with an emphasis of Special Education from Nevada State College in 2008. She has fourteen years of experience in education – both general education and special education – in the Clark County School District. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army. Tamara has been a liaison for various district committees and facilitated various National Board Certification Teaching programs. She continues to advocate for education, students, teachers, and families while improving her school community through before- and after-school activities for students and parents.

Mike Walker

walkerm@doe.nv.gov
NASB Appointment
11/01/2022 to 10/31/2024

Mike Walker grew up in Reno, Nevada and graduated from Wooster High School in 1992. He earned his B.S. and M.Ed. degrees in elementary education and an Ed.S. degree in educational leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno. In his career, he has taught 3rd grade, served as a dean of students and assistant principal in Carson City, Nevada, worked for the Nevada Department of Education as the State Coordinator of the Education of Homeless Children, and currently serves as principal at Sutro Elementary School in Dayton, Nevada. Mr. Walker is active in the community, serving as the president of Food for Thought, a non-profit providing nutritious meals to children experiencing food insecurity, and participating on the board of the Jordan Woodward Memorial Scholarship. Elected to the Carson City School Board in 2016, he has served as clerk, vice president, and president.

Dr. Summer E. Stephens

stephenss@churchillcsd.com
NASS Appointment
07/01/22 - 06/30/2023

Summer engages staff, students, and the community in collaborative conversations and activities designed to promote excellence and innovation.  With a passion for personalized learning, Summer has successfully implemented systems of blended and online learning, project-based learning, and design thinking. A specific focus of her work has included bridging the gap between courses traditionally identified as core and CTE as students prepare for future-ready opportunities. She is a strong advocate for schools at the state and national level as well as the city and county level to create a great connection between school, home, and community.

Summer has been thoroughly involved in all levels of education K-20. She has experience with a statewide Learning management system adoption, development of a statewide open education resource library, and other components of strong competency-based learning. She is currently a member of the NV MIC3, Past President of the Nevada Association of School Superintendents, and sits on the Churchill Economic Development Business Council and the UWNNS Board. Summer holds a Ed.D. and Specialist Degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a M. Ed. and BA from Doane College.  

Joe Arrascada, MSW

jarrascada@nshe.nevada@edu
Board of Regents Appointment
09/01/2022 - 08/31/2023

Joe Arrascada is extremely proud of his Basque heritage and the Nevada roots of his family dating back to 1906.  Joe was born and raised in Reno by loving parents with his three siblings.  Reno is home.  It always has been and will continue to be an imperative part of his life. Joe began his education in the Washoe County School District and his higher education at Truckee Meadows Community College.  He concluded both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Joe currently serves on the Board of Regents as the representative for District 10 with the Nevada System of Higher Education.  As Regent, he was appointed to the Academic, Research and Student Affairs Committee, Audit, Compliance and Title IX Committee, the Investment Committee and the ad hoc Strategic Planning Committee.  Mr. Arrascada also proudly serves as vice chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access Committee.

Malia Poblete

Nevstuco.sboeducation@gmail.com
Student Representative Appointment
06/01/2022 - 05/31/2023

Malia Poblete is a high school junior currently attending Durango High School. She is involved with various extracurriculars such as Golf, NHS, and Video Production. She will also be entering her 6th year in Student Council. In the fall, she will serve as Junior Class President for the 2022-2023 school year. Malia has also served and will continue to serve as the student representative for Durango's school organizational team. She is honored to have this privilege to represent all students in Nevada and get a chance to make sure that student voices are continuously heard. It has always been her belief that everyone should have a voice, and it is her pleasure to speak on their behalf.