After nearly 3 decades in CCSD, current graphics design teacher Mrs. Stroud has decided to retire after the 2025-2026 school year.
Stroud did not originally plan a career in education, but after working in a respite camp for children with ADHD, Stroud had found purpose in teaching art classes. “At the end of the day, [I felt like] I did some good,” Mrs. Stroud said.
When talking about her experience coming to Las Vegas Academy after 16 years of teaching, the most difficult thing she faced was figuring out the magnet system: the majors, auditions, galleries, and more special things about LVA and the Visual Arts Department. Stroud shares her unique experience of perfect student attendance reaching its 3rd streak during her first year of teaching at LVA, something she hadn’t experienced before; when telling Ms. Anderson and Ms. Mabel about this, Mabel told her “Welcome to LVA,” a moment Stroud often quotes.
Stroud said that about 50% of people going into teaching quit within five years. That emotional toll is real. “It is just draining mentally because you’re managing, talking, and trying to meet the needs of everybody. Everything you do in class you have to know beforehand and get ready and prepared for anything,” Mrs. Stroud said.
Nevada’s retirement system for teachers allows retirement after 30 years, meaning Stroud will be eligible for retirement at age 54. Her relatively young retirement age will allow her to pursue many passions.
In retirement, Stroud plans to stay active; pursuing passions like woodturning, teaching other teachers how to use Adobe, as well as doing design work for a nonprofit. Overall, plans to achieve passions and take care of herself while staying in the realm of education on her own accord.
With this, leaving the classroom has been bittersweet: “My juniors now, or even younger ones that I’m working with now, knowing I’m not going to be there to see them graduate, it’s hard.” Still, Mrs. Stroud is optimistic about her students’ futures. “I had to take a whole semester off, and I felt terrible about those students. I still know those students now, and they’re all successful and fine. It didn’t affect them. You guys are resilient,” Stroud said.
For a final note to her students, Stroud emphasized how much they meant to her: “I want them to know that if it wasn’t for them and this school, I don’t know that I would have made it to retirement.”
As far as SkillsUSA, Mr. Tovar is taking over next year as Stroud helps with the transition. With the print shop and graphic design, there still hasn’t been any decision nor any confirmation of who will be taking over, but she and Mrs. Koepp are actively looking for a great candidate.
