Sierra Nevada University

TAHOE

By Kevin Schiesz

SIERRA NEVADA UNIVERSITY (SNU) was founded in 1969 by entrepreneurs who saw potential to create a beautiful, unique college that drew on its location to bolster its culture and academics. SNU is Nevada’s only private four-year university, but what makes it truly special is its location here in Incline Village, which allows the university to incorporate environmentally rich surroundings and regional characteristics into its academic programs. SNU’s physical setting is nearly unmatched in higher education.

SNU has carefully designed its focus and academic programs in a way that is most supportive of student achievement, and of its value to society and prospective employers. SNU academics are geared toward three complementary competencies, intended to prepare students for success in today’s techoriented world: Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and Creative Intelligence.

On Saturday, May 15, at 10 a.m., SNU will welcome adventure travel pioneer Richard Bangs as the invited speaker at its 51st annual Commencement ceremony. Richard Bangs has often been called the father of modern adventure travel. His goal is “travel that makes a difference, travel that positively impacts the world.” In his 30 years as a world adventurer, river explorer, web pioneer, and award-winning author, he has led first descents of 35 rivers around the globe, including the Yangtze in China and the Zambezi in Southern Africa; published more than 1000 magazine articles and 19 books; produced a score of documentaries and several CD-ROMs; and lectured at the Smithsonian, the National Geographic Society, and the Explorers Club. He produced the first internet travel site, travel CD, and virtual expeditions. He is co-founder of steller.com, and is currently its Chief Adventure Officer. It has become the world’s largest travel storytelling platform and app.

Many of SNU events and academic programs welcome members of the community, including the University’s popular Writers in the Woods series. Due to COVID-19, public events are in flux. You can stay up to date by visiting the University’s events calendar at www.sierranevada.edu/events/ for more details.

HELLO INCLINE VILLAGE AND CRYSTAL BAY!

I am your Washoe County Commissioner. I ran to ensure that local government improves community members’ lives. I grew up in Sparks and have called northern Nevada my home for most of my life. I received a bachelor’s degree in political science from Texas A&M and a graduate degree from UNR in public administration and policy. I worked in public policy and city planning for more than a decade at the cities of Sparks and Reno. I also worked in the nonprofit sector at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival and at Kids & Horses.

Since taking office earlier this year, I have been working hard to address the community’s major issues including trash, transportation, parking problems, and short-term rentals. I have been coordinating with community partners and Clean Tahoe on a trash removal program for Incline Village which will be considered by the Board of County Commissioners in April. It would be great to see engagement by the community to show that these trash services are needed.

I want to resolve transportation and parking issues in North Lake Tahoe and voted to support a planning process which includes Tahoe Transportation District’s purchase of the old elementary school and remediation dollars for removal of the school and clean up. I support a short-term rental ordinance to begin resolving ongoing issues caused by AirBnBs and VRBOs that will hopefully be adopted by the Board of County Commissioners by the time this publication is out, tested this summer, and reevaluated in November. I also voted to approve the Incline Village and Crystal Bay tax settlement in February to settle an almost two decade long protracted lawsuit.

We have a lot more work to do on community planning for traffic mitigation, workforce housing, conservation efforts, and village beautification and enhancement projects, but I can’t wait to engage with the community and hear from you. I am honored SIERRA NE to serve you and I pride myself on being accessible to the community, so please feel free to reach out on any of these issues or anything I need to address. My cell phone number is (775) 447- V UNIVER3017 and my email address is ahill@washoecounty.us. Thank you! Alexis Hill S

Mark Scozzafava, Assistant Principal at Incline High School

By Mary Danahey MARK SCOZZAFAVA’S ALMOST THREE DECADE CAREER

in education has come full circle.

As with many of us who have chosen to live here in Tahoe, Mark’s first teaching job happened “by chance,” Scozzafava said. A San Diego native, Scozzafava was staying with a friend in Incline in the early 1990s, enjoying all the recreation the area had to offer but needing a job his first winter in town. The high school, then, like now, needed substitute teachers, so he became one. Liking the work led him to getting a certificate in special education, which led him to a full-time job at O’Brien Middle School in Reno, before heading back up the mountain to teach special education at Incline high and middle schools.

His time as an educator also had Scozzafava teaching social studies, his true passion, at both Incline Middle School (1999–2008) and then at Shaw Middle School (in 2010). “It’s critical we all learn history - not necessarily the little details, but the big picture it provides. Civics prepares us for the real world,” he said.

His tenure also includes stints as a middle school dean (Shaw in 2010, Archie Clayton Pre-AP Academy in 2011-2012), as well as posts as Assistant Principal at Billinghurst Middle School (2012–2013) and at Archie Clayton (2013-2020).

When the Assistant Principal position opened up at Incline High School, Scozzafava jumped at the chance to move back up the hill. “I couldn’t wait to come back to Incline. IHS is a top ranked school, with strong academics, great athletics and vibrant Booster support” he said.

Over the decades, Scozzafava has seen a good many changes to the education profession.

Learning in a digital age has changed the dynamics for both teachers and students. “There’s more standardization in teaching now, toward the goal of

CHRIS TALBOT

accountability. At the same time, teachers lose autonomy over their classrooms,” Scozzafava said.

And especially now during the pandemic, “students have become even more responsible for their own learning,” he said. “Navigating seven periods, by yourself and remotely, requires discipline and a regimen.”

While Scozzafava is confident that our teachers have risen to the challenges of teaching during the pandemic, both he and the IHS staff realize that most students are not getting from online learning what they would out of a more traditional day in the classroom.

Moving toward possible normalcy

With the COVID-19 pandemic apparently waning, Scozzafava sees positive signs for the remainder of the school year.

“With the start of the second semester, we are moving toward possible normalcy,” Scozzafava said as most of their staff members have been vaccinated.

“And even better news is the return to sports - volleyball, tennis, golf and football,” Scozzafava said.

While the district tries to determine when schools will be able to go back to full, in-person learning, Incline High has a process to keep students connected to their studies, Scozzafava said. Currently, while classrooms are set up to safely hold only 12–13 pupils, students who feel vulnerable to not staying on course virtually are welcome to come to school every day.

“If there is space in a classroom, they may join. If there is no room, they can take part in a virtual study hall, ON campus, where they can join in on the class, online and under supervision,” he said.

Scozzafava knows things have been tough for everyone involved in the process, especially families with both parents working and that have more than one child. On campus, Scozzafava stresses flexibility and tolerance as the skills teachers use to help students during these challenging times.

After almost 30 years in education, Scozzafava still loves the profession.

He tells grizzled veterans that “you never know the potential impact you might make on somebody’s life. He is optimistic that we are seeing the light at end of tunnel and that we will be able to return to a normal in-person school schedule by next year. “I am excited to help Incline High School become one of the premier schools in the state” he said.