As part of that campaign, WGU Nevada Chancellor Spencer Stewart surprised a valuable teacher in northern Nevada, Lane Zarubi. With Washoe County School District Superintendent Traci Davis, Robert Mitchell Elementary School Principal Teri Vaughan, and the school teachers and staff they surprised Lane with her $5,000 scholarship check.

“I am currently a full-time teacher, but I wanted to take my education to the next level,” said Lane. “From a financial standpoint, a scholarship allows me to be committed to both graduate school and my current teaching position, rather than adding a second job to cover the cost of school. I realize that school is very expensive, however, as an educator myself, I believe it is worth it.”

Lane is pursuing a master of science degree in educational leadership and before joining the Washoe County School District, Lane was a teacher in Namibia, Africa.

WGU Nevada offers Lane the opportunity to pursue her teaching degree while already working. Teaching had been a passion of hers for many years and each day in the classroom, it is confirmed that she chose the correct field of work. She wants to be able to work with students, teachers, and families every day and would like to be a better mentor for others.

Nevada also has the nation’s largest class sizes, according to the 2018 National Education Association report. More teachers can help with those larger class sizes, and students like Lane who pursued a higher degree, are filling those spots and educating our state’s youth.

Lane’s scholarship was awarded during a ceremony which also touched on the opportunities that exist in the teaching profession and the importance of addressing the teacher shortage in Nevada. For more information about the teaching degrees available from WGU, visit the Teachers College online: https://www.wgu.edu/online-teaching-degrees.html