Projects and Initiatives

Current Projects

NIAE creates impactful educational practice in a collaborative environment that maximizes the talent of innovators through financial and technical support, sharing of ideas, and exploration of new ways to approach educational challenges.

Active Projects and Initiatives

• Faculty Support – Paraprofessional Pathways Project (Hewlett Foundation) (PPP ) and others
• Policy Issues in Nevada Education – Series Collaboration with the Center for Research, Evaluation, and Assessment (CREA )
• STEM Co-Lab Grant – Collaboration with Desert Research Institute (DRI ) and Center for Mathematics, Science, and Engineering (CMSEE )
• NIAE Micro-Credentials – In collaboration with the CCSD Professional Learning Education Department, NIAE offers opportunities for Clark County School District (CCSD) employees to build capacity through high-quality professional learning that cultivates motivation, promotes engagement, and supports professional growth and salary advancement. [CCSD PLE ]

Past Projects

The Teacher Preparation Program: The Academy for Leadership and Licensure Innovations for Nevada (ALL-IN)

ALL-IN is an intensive Alternative Pathway to Licensure program (APL) for graduate students focusing on expanding and enhancing high-quality teacher preparation programs. ALL-IN’s dynamic model centers on a continuous improvement philosophy with program adaptations based on research-driven best practices and direct stakeholder input.

Inaugural Cohort – The initial 11-member cohort began their eight-week, bell-to-bell practicum teaching assignments at Paradise Elementary in the fall of 2021. Mentor teachers provided individualized coaching and monthly targeted professional development in response to student requests.

See the Project Outcomes

• Supporting Students
  • Tuition support and living stipend
  • Guided urban residency with embedded mentoring
  • Individualized advising and support
  • Personalized professional development
  • Summer school opportunities
• Fostering Mentors
  • Mentor teacher training and support
  • Mentor opportunities for course enrollment
• Improving Approaches
  • Research-based program adaptations
  • Advisory and stakeholder feedback
• Student Outcomes
  • Enhancing mentor teacher knowledge and skills in working with diverse students
  • Increasing diversity of teacher workforce and supporting teacher retention
  • Improving PK-12 student performance
• Teacher Preparation
  • Building teacher competency and confidence in the early stages of their careers
  • Improving instructional content and practice in teacher preparation programs
• Community Collaboration
  • Implementing shared decision-making throughout the program

Update: The program ended in July 2023, graduating eight students with a Master’s in Education. The students are completing their Nevada licensing requirements. Five participants are returning to teach at local CCSD schools for their second year. Three expect to start their first year teaching at local CCSD schools in the fall.

Many thanks to Paradise Elementary principal, Mrs. AnneMarie Stover, and all the dedicated mentor teachers who participated in the APL program for their continuous support of UNLV’s teacher preparation programs.