Three WCSD Schools Honored for Excellence in Parent Teacher Home Visits

Three WCSD Schools Honored for Excellence in Parent Teacher Home Visits

The Washoe County School District (WCSD) is proud to announce that Lemmon Valley Elementary School, Mamie Towles Elementary School, and Jerry Whitehead Elementary School have been honored with top awards for their outstanding work in the Parent Teacher Home Visits (PTHV) program.

Parent Teacher Home Visits are not about academics: they happen outside the school day. They are about building trust, creating connection, and strengthening relationships between families and schools so students feel safe, valued, and empowered to succeed.

This week, Superintendent Joe Ernst, along with several representatives from WCSD leadership handed out award plaques to help our leading schools celebrate:

Gold Award School of the Year – Lemmon Valley Elementary School

Lemmon Valley Elementary has been participating in Parent-Teacher Home Visits for more than a decade. In the 2024–25 school year, staff completed 201 visits with 156 families—177% above their goal.

Parents say the impact is life-changing.

One Lemmon Valley Elementary mom of two shared:

“Participating in home visits allows us to build relationships and communicate better so we can be there for our kids. It opens so many windows.”

Program leaders describe the atmosphere as one of “excitement, hope, and passion—and we’re not stopping now.”

Silver Award – Mamie Towles Elementary School

At Mamie Towles Elementary, Parent Teacher Home Visits are affectionately known as “Superstar Hangouts.” Teachers and families come together in relaxed, meaningful ways to strengthen bonds that go well beyond the classroom.

Families describe the visits as transformative:

“Home visits helped my son feel more comfortable with his teachers and made our school feel more like a community. Now he feels confident and able to ask for help.”

These Superstar Hangouts aren’t about assignments or grades—they’re about students knowing that their teachers care about them as whole people. That sense of connection, families say, makes a world of difference.

Bronze Award – Jerry Whitehead Elementary School

At Jerry Whitehead Elementary, 84% of staff members are trained in PTHV and the school surpassed its goal by 189%.

Parents described the visits as memorable and deeply meaningful:

“As parents, it gave us a chance to share what’s most important for our child’s growth.”

One student summed it up simply:

“The home visits made me feel more comfortable with my teachers.”

Teachers say these connections transform classrooms into safe, supportive learning spaces that make a lasting difference.

Students echoed that sense of connection. One child said:

“I was very happy when my teacher came to my house. We got to talk about my family, and I’d like another home visit.”

Others remembered simply having fun:

“I liked playing Mario Kart with my teacher.”

Staff say these moments build confidence for students, making them feel valued and empowered to learn.

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About Parent-Teacher Home Visits

The Parent-Teacher Home Visit program is rooted in trust, respect, and collaboration. By spending time together outside of school walls, families and educators strengthen their partnership, which in turn helps students feel supported, safe, and ready to learn.

This year’s Gold, Silver, and Bronze award winners demonstrate the incredible impact of PTHV across WCSD. Congratulations to Lemmon Valley, Mamie Towles, and Jerry Whitehead Elementary Schools  for leading the way in building a stronger future for students—one visit at a time.

To learn more about Parent Teacher Home Visits at WCSD CLICK HERE