Dr. KRISTEN MCNEILL bio

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Dr. Kristen McNeill is a native Nevadan who has dedicated over 20 years to public education in the Reno-Sparks area. She began her career teaching grades 2 through 6 and later served as principal at Lois Allen and Marvin Moss Elementary Schools. In 2008, Dr. McNeill became the Director of State and Federal Programs/K-16 Initiatives for the Washoe County School District (WCSD), progressing to Chief Strategies Officer in 2010 and Chief of Staff in 2012, during which she briefly served as Interim Superintendent.

In September 2015, she was appointed Deputy Superintendent, overseeing the Office of School Leadership, Office of Academics, and the Strategies Office. In July 2019, she took on the role of Interim Superintendent, effectively acting as WCSD's Chief Executive Officer. In April 2020, she was appointed Superintendent, leading the district through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Under her leadership, WCSD became one of the largest urban districts to maintain in-person instruction during the 2020-21 school year while offering distance learning options.

Dr. McNeill briefly returned to the role of Interim Superintendent in December 2023 to facilitate the transition to new district leadership after the resignation of her successor. She engaged with various stakeholders to address concerns and support a smooth leadership change, ultimately returning to retirement in July 2024.

Throughout her career, Dr. McNeill has participated in numerous committees on educational issues, advocating for students living in poverty and emphasizing early childhood education. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Hotel Administration and a Master’s in Instructional and Curricular Studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and earned her Doctor of Educational Leadership at the University of Nevada, Reno.