I’m Dr. Rene Cantu and I am a member of the Nevada State Board of Education and a lifelong champion of Nevada’s students.
As the Executive Director of JAG Nevada, I have dedicated the last ten years leading an extraordinary group of professionals in helping 20,00 of Nevada’s most at-risk students to become work ready professionals.
In 2012, I served on the Board of Trustees of the Clark County School District (CCSD) representing District E. The CCSD Board of Trustees at that time was much more functional than it has been in recent times, and my work on the board focused on helping our schools recover from the great recession spurred by the housing crisis.
As a parent, I have one current and one former student of CCSD. My older student just completed their associate degree in software programming from the College of Southern Nevada. My younger one is a sophomore at Las Vegas Academy where she is in their prestigious jazz program.
Because of my older student’s disabilities, my child had an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). But it did not come easy. Our school system did not identify my kid’s disability until late in the third grade. My wife and I had to have pay large sums of money to have a neuropsychologist appropriately diagnose my child to ensure they received the help they were entitled to receive. Our experience getting our child their accommodations ranged from difficult to tremendously difficult. If it were not for my wife’s efforts, my older student would not have found the success they have found.
My purpose is to open the doors of opportunity to all students. I found my purpose because of my experience as a low-income first-generation student that the school administration did not view as college material. I was encouraged to drop out of high school my counselor when I was struggling with my parents’ protracted divorce. I thought the school system was unfair to me. When I looked around, I realized that the school system treats many students the same way. I made it my life’s purpose to help change this reality and have done so that last thirty-four years.
I humbly ask for your vote in the Nevada primary on June 11, 2024. Visit my web page www.cantu4nevada.com to get involved or for more information. Call or email me. I would appreciate hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Dr. Rene Cantu
Member, Nevada State Board of Education
Candidate for District 3
