Reactions to JARA’S selection

Jesus Jara’s selection was praised Wednesday by many who have worked with him, including Barbara Jenkins, his current boss in Orlando, Florida.

“We are incredibly proud that the

Clark County School District Board of Trustees selected our own deputy superintendent, Dr. Jesus Jara, to be their new superintendent,” Jenkins posted on Twitter. “His talent, consistently demonstrated in (Orange County Public Schools), will be of tremendous benefit to all the children of Las Vegas.”

Jara was described by colleagues as a “true educational leader” who is rarely ruffled.

“I have nothing but great things to say about him,” Orange County School Board chair Bill Sublette told the Review-journal last week.

Chiefs for Change CEO Mike Magee said Jara is a visionary who would help Clark County close achievement gaps.

“As a Future Chief, he has had the opportunity to learn from the country’s boldest, most innovative education leaders, and he will continue to collaborate with them as he transitions into his new role as superintendent,” he said in a statement. Jara does have his critics.

The teachers union in Monroe County wrote a letter to the Clark County Education Association expressing concerns over Jara’s handling of the school district’s financial crisis, which included furlough days for staff. The letter said Jara couldn’t effectively manage the small district there and wouldn’t be able to manage district the size of Clark County.

In a tweet over the weekend, Jara said he was “disappointed” by the letter and defended his work to stabilize the district’s budget.

Meghin Delaney