Washoe Country School District
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Office of the Superintendent
Heath Morrison Ph.D., Superintendent
(775) 325-2060
Dr. Heath E. Morrison is the Superintendent of Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada. The Washoe County School District is the second largest school district in Nevada with 64,000 students enrolled in 94 schools.
Vangie Russell
Office of the Superintendent, Administrative Services Coordinator
P.O. Box 30425
425 East Ninth Street Reno NV, 89520-3425
Phone: (775) 348-0272
Fax: (775) 348-0304
e-mail: vrussel@washoe.k12.nv.us
Pedro Martinez
Deputy Superintendent
pmartinez@washoe.k12.nv.us
Pedro Martinez serves as the Deputy Superintendent of the Washoe County School District overseeing the district’s 102 schools. He is leading the development and implementation of the district’s strategic plan, including the implementation of a K–12 College and Career Readiness Pathway and school based score-cards and dashboards. Mr. Martinez previously served as a regional superintendent at the Chicago Public Schools (CPS). He also served as the chief financial officer for CPS for six years overseeing a $5.2 billion operating budget and a $1 billion capital budget. Under his leadership, the district increased its financial reserves, received bond rating upgrades and implemented academic initiatives that resulted in significant student achievement and graduation gains. He holds a CPA and MBA, receiving his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master’s degree in business administration from DePaul University. Mr. Martinez is a graduate of the 2009 class of The Broad Superintendents Academy.
Jane Woodburn
Chief Operating Officer
Jane Lai Woodburn, WCSD’s new Chief Operating Officer, brings much experience from two large school districts in Maryland – Montgomery County and Prince George’s County Public Schools. As a school performance director, she supervised and supported principals in their school improvement efforts. One of these schools was transformed from the lowest performing school in the district to the school which made the greatest gains and was showcased in a Harvard research article on school improvement.
As a human resources director, she headed recruitment and staffing in the district, spearheading initiatives to increase the diversity and quality of the staff and the use of technology to upgrade processes in human resources.
As the administrative assistant to the associate superintendent of student and community services, Ms. Woodburn supervised directors of special education, student services, alternative programs, and international student office and attended executive staff and Board of Education meetings. She has also served as an Itinerant Special Education Resource Teacher supporting high school special education programs; Resource Counselor in charge of high school guidance departments; human resources staffer, high school guidance counselor, and special education teacher at the high school and elementary levels. Ms. Woodburn has also worked as a reading clinician at the University of Maryland College Park and an ESOL teacher for adults in evening school.
Ms. Woodburn is a lifelong learner. At the University of Maryland College Park, she received a B.A. in special education/elementary education, M.Ed. in Teaching Reading, M.Ed. in Guidance and Counseling Services. She is currently working on her Ph.D. in Educational Policy and Leadership.
As the Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Woodburn is in charge of the central office operational service support to schools. Her priority is to ensure that principals and others receive outstanding customer service from central office to support student achievement in schools.
Scott G. Reynolds
Chief Student Support Services Officer
(775) 861-4439
After graduating in 1975 from Wausau East High School in Wausau, Wisconsin, Scott Reynolds joined the United States Air Force. He served as a USAF Security Policeman in Minot, North Dakota. Scott attended the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, where he earned a B.S. in Psychology/Sociology, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he received an M.S.Ed. in School Psychology.
Scott began his public education career as a School Psychologist for the Clark County School District in 1984. Thereafter, he served as Procedural Safeguards Specialist/Section 504 Coordinator, Administrative Assistant Superintendent, Student Support Services to the Assistant Superintendent, Student Support Services superintendent of Student Support Services Division, Regional Director of Special Education Services/Director of Special Education Related Services, and Executive Director of District-Wide Special Education Services.
Mr. Reynolds moved to Washoe County in July 2008, and has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Student Support Services Division/Special Education since then. Scott currently oversees all special education, student health, psychological, and related services for the Washoe County School District. Scott has been appointed to numerous county- and state-wide interagency boards relating to needs of special education.
Scott and his wife Kim have two sons – one attends UNR and the other attends the Davidson Academy of Nevada.
Randy Drake
Chief General Counsel
(775) 348-0300
Randy Drake has been Lead General Counsel of the Washoe County School District since January 2007. Randy was admitted to the State Bar of Nevada in 1994. He received is B.A. degree from Washington State University in 1991 and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Arizona College of Law in 1994. Prior to joining the District, Randy was a partner with the Reno law firm of Woodburn and Wedge. Randy is a member of the State Bar of Nevada, the Washoe County Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Steve Hull
Chief Community Engagement & Communications Officer
(775) 348-0381
Dr. Steve Hull is a native Nevadan. While growing up he lived in Reno and spent his summers working on his grandmother's and great uncle's ranch in a remote part of eastern Nevada. Following gradation from the University of California Santa Barbara, Steve served six years in the United States Navy. After his release from active duty Steve began a career in public education. During this time he taught at the middle and high school levels, was the principal of Procter Hug and Robert McQueen High Schools and served as the Assistant to the Superintendent of the Washoe County School District. He then served as a superintendent in Oregon and Colorado.
After returning to Reno, Steve worked as a business and education consultant. He was involved with economic development in the Greater Reno-Tahoe region as the regional workforce consultant for the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada, the Northern Nevada Development Authority and Nevadaworks. In this capacity, he worked with business leaders to address short and long term skilled workforce requirements. Most recently he served as the interim principal of the Regional Technical Institute (now AACT) and oversaw Truckee Meadow Community College High School.
Steve has been an active community leader. He served two terms as a commissioner and board chair of the Reno Housing Authority, was a board member and President of WIN Nevada, and president of the Rotary Club of Reno. In addition, after leaving active duty, Steve continued his service in the Navy Reserve as an intelligence officer. He retired as a Captain after thirty years of service.
Steve earned bachelors and masters degrees from the University of California Santa Barbara and a Ph.D. from the University of Oregon specializing in school reform and restructuring, school law and labor relations.
Steve and his wife Marian have four children. Geoff attends McQueen High
School, Greg is a senior at the University of Nevada Reno, Tim is a systems engineer and Jeanne is a Captain in the U.S. Army and recently completed a masters degree in public affairs at Princeton University.
Gary Kraemer
Chief Financial Officer
(775) 348-0314
Gary Kraemer has been the Chief Financial Officer of the District since December 2000. He is responsible for all of the financial and budget matters of WCSD, including payroll for over 7,000 employees, account payable, property control, purchasing, budgeting and debt-related matters. Gary graduated with high distinction from the University of Minnesota in 1973 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and has been a Certified Public Accountant for more than 30 years. He worked for several CPA firms over the years, including four years with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Gary also owned his own CPA firm for 8 years in the Minneapolis area, specializing in auditing and tax consulting. He moved to Reno in 1990 and spent 10 years working as Washoe County's Chief Deputy Comptroller before coming to the Washoe County School District in 2000. He has been a member of the Special Review Committee of the Government Finance Officers Association for over 12 years. As part of this group, he reviews financial statements from governmental units from throughout the nation for qualification for the GFOA's Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting.
Paul LaMarca
Chief Accountability Officer
(775) 348-0201
Paul LaMarca began with the Washoe County School District in October 2007. In his role as Assistant Superintendent, Paul has oversight for the School District's accountability and assessment programs as well as government relations. He also acts as a liaison to the Washoe County School Board.
Paul formerly was the Assistant Deputy Superintendent for the Nevada Department of Education having oversight for the offices of Assessment, Program Accountability and Curriculum, as well as Information Technology. Paul is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Nevada Reno and has taught in the Social Psychology Graduate Program since 1997. Paul earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada Reno in 1995 and is a Social Psychologist by training. He began his career in education in 1998. His areas of expertise include educational measurement, research methodology, child development, and race relations.
Tom Stauss
Chief Human Resources Officer
(775) 348-0321
Tom Stauss has been with the Washoe County School District since 1985, when he was hired as a student intern in the Human Resources Division. He has spent 20 of his 22 years with the District working in Human Resources. He has worked as an HR Analyst, HR Classified Coordinator, Acting HR Director, HR Coordinator, and now, as the Chief Human Resources Officer. His responsibilities include planning, organizing and administering the overall operations of the Human Resources Division.
He is active in the Northstar District of the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the Governor's Child Care Advisory Board. He received his Bachelor's of Arts Degree in Human Resources Development from BYU.
Kristen McNeill
Director of State & Federal Programs / K-16 Initiatives
(775) 348-0332
Kristen McNeill is a native Nevadan who moved to the Reno/Sparks area in 1996. She holds a Master of Education in Instruction and Curricular Studies from UNLV. Kristen received her administrative credential in Educational Leadership from the University of Nevada, Reno and is currently working on her dissertation in Educational Leadership. She taught grades 2 thru 6 before becoming a principal at Allen ES and then Moss ES. Kristen has also been involved with the Principals' Academy as both a student and instructor. In her current position, Kristen oversees compliance and fiscal management of all grant related projects and programs. Her responsibilities also include providing support to K-16 projects that will enhance opportunities for students to graduate career and college ready, and beyond.
Kristen enjoys spending time with her two children, Ean and Ever, who attend AACT and Van Gorder, respectively. Included in the McNeill family are several pets: Truckee, Annie, Midnight, and Sunrise.
Paula Ward
Internal Auditor
(775) 348-0308
Paula Ward started with the District in September 2009. Her department's responsibilities include auditing the District's charter schools, student activity funds, and monitoring the silent whistle program. Paula is a Certified Public Accountant with over fifteen years of experience as an auditor, supervisor, and manager. Previously, she worked at the Nevada Gaming Control Board where she supervised the collection of gaming revenues and at the Nevada Division of Internal Audits where she was the State's Manager of Internal Controls and Supervisory Executive Branch Auditor.
Paula has lived in Washoe County for over thirty years. She graduated from Reno High School and the University of Nevada, Reno. She and her husband have five children, all graduates of McQueen High School. Currently, Paula is active with the Nevada Association of Government Accountants where she serves as a board member.
