Insights from Leaders on the Portrait of a Learner

Key Insights

• Community-driven design is at the heart of Nevada’s education transformation.

• Bringing the Portrait of a Learner to life means centering joy, relevance, and student ownership in every learning experience.

Summary (TLDR)Nevada’s Portrait of a Learner is more than a vision—it’s a statewide movement powered by community voice, youth leadership, and educator innovation. This post highlights a powerful podcast conversation that brings the Portrait to life, featuring voices who are reimagining what it means for every learner to thrive.

At the Center for the Future of Learning (CFL), we are proud to play a leading role in co-designing the future of learning in Nevada by championing the Portrait of a Nevada Learner. Developed by the Nevada Department of Education in conversation with youth, educators, and community members - the Portrait provides a dynamic framework that empowers students to apply academic knowledge while building the critical life skills essential for lifelong success.

This week, we are thrilled to spotlight a powerful conversation from the Getting Smart Podcast, featuring key voices from Nevada’s education transformation efforts. In this episode, Jeanine Collins, CFL Co-Founder and Chief Impact Officer, joins Jhone Ebert, former State Superintendent of Public Instruction and current Superintendent of the Clark County School District, in a discussion with host Victoria Andrews.

Together, they reflect on the vision, creation, and implementation of the Portrait of a Learner — and how it is fundamentally reshaping education across the state. Their conversation explores the vital role of community collaboration, the shift toward competency-based learning, and the intentional steps being taken to ensure that every Nevada student is prepared to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

The episode also features inspiring firsthand accounts from Brently Garbutt, Principal of Jerome Mack Middle School, and Claire Romzek, Magnet Coordinator at Lied STEM Academy. These educators share how they are bringing the Portrait to life in their schools: reimagining learning environments, fostering student ownership, and centering joy and relevance in the educational experience.

At CFL, we are committed to amplifying the voices of educators and leaders who are driving bold, meaningful change. We invite you to listen to this inspiring conversation to hear how Nevada is building a more inclusive, future-ready learning ecosystem that honors the potential of every student.

Listen to the full podcast here  and discover how Nevada is leading the way in reimagining education for a new era.

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Links

• Building the Portrait of a Nevada Learner Digital Book

• Building a Portrait of a Nevada Learner from the Community Up

• A learner portrait: Future-Ready