Debbie Palacios

As a first-generation American born to Peruvian immigrants, Debbie Palacios learned very quickly about the power of education and the opportunities afforded to those who take advantage of it.

It’s why the Miami native took academics seriously in her youth. And why she pursued not one but two undergraduate degrees at prestigious Duke University. And why she later earned not one but two graduate degrees from UNLV’s College of Education.

To say Palacios was destined to be an educator, though, would be erroneous. After all, those two degrees from Duke were in developmental psychology and cultural studies. And while Palacios did sign a contract with the Teach for America Corps shortly before graduating from Duke, it was only a two-year pact.

So, intrigued by a career in education? Sure. Dead-set on it? Hardly.

That is, until Teach for America shipped Palacios out to Las Vegas in summer 2005 and she welcomed students to her third-grade classroom at Ira J. Earl Elementary School for the first time.

“From the moment that parents anxiously delivered their most prized possession into my hands on that August morning in 2005, I knew I had a passion not only for working with students, but also with their families,” Palacios says. 

Sure enough, that two-year commitment with Teach for America turned into a lifelong career in which Palacios’ passion spilled over to just about every facet of public education: schoolteacher, English Language Learning specialist, grant writer, project facilitator, administrator — you name the area, and Palacios has made her mark.

And she’s done it all in her adopted second home of Las Vegas, first with the Clark County School District (where she spent 16 years) and most recently as executive director of Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada.

“My Teach for America commitment was supposed to be temporary, but it quickly became a lifelong calling,” Palacios says. “I realized early on that student success doesn’t happen in isolation — it takes partnerships with parents, colleagues, and communities.

“That understanding shaped my career path beyond teaching and into broader family and community engagement.”

It also informed Palacios’ decision to continue her own education at UNLV.

Interested in strengthening her budding teaching skills, Palacios began pursuing her graduate degree in Curriculum and Instruction less than a year after arriving in Las Vegas. Then in the mid-2010s, driven by a desire to broaden her impact at the administrative level, she returned to the College of Education to gain the skills to fulfill that goal.

“Over time, I saw how leadership and policy decisions shaped what happened in schools just as much as the work inside the classroom,” Palacios says. “I wanted to be part of those conversations, to advocate for students and families on a broader scale.

“Returning to UNLV for a second degree in Educational Policy and Leadership gave me the tools to do just that.”

That second UNLV degree paved the way for Palacios to land the executive director post at Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada, which addresses the essential needs of students in underserved populations.

Among Palacios’ difference-making success stories during her four-year stint leading CIS:

• She designed and implemented program evaluation systems that used data to measure effectiveness and guide continuous improvement.
• She developed community outreach and other partnerships (including securing more than $4 million in state funds from the 2023 Nevada Legislature), as well as a $12 million federal grant through Full Service Community Schools.
• She led strategic initiatives that resulted in CIS of Southern Nevada’s expansion from 54 to more than 80 schools and managed an annual operating budget of $11.5 million.

Toss in the direct and profound influence that she had on students during her time as a Clark County School District teacher, and it’s easy to understand why Palacios was chosen as the 2025 College of Education Alumna of the Year.

More than just appreciative of the honor, Palacios is quick to thank her alma mater not only for an invaluable education but for teaching her “resilience, humility, and the importance of collective impact.”

Similar gratitude extends to one of her earliest students — one who inadvertently taught her an important lesson.

“I received a note from a student in my very first class that stays with me to this day. She had written, ‘You are the best teacher in the whole world,’ and then crossed out ‘world’ and replaced it with ‘school.’ It was such a hysterical, albeit humbling, reminder that there’s always room to grow.

“UNLV reinforced that same lesson: The learning never stops.”

When you first arrived in Las Vegas as part of the Teach for America Corps, did you ever think you’d still be here two decades later?

No, it was just supposed to be a two-year commitment. However, I quickly realized this was where I was meant to be. I didn’t know much about Las Vegas beyond the Strip, but once I began teaching, I fell in love with the families, the diversity, and the resilience of the students.

Also, as a Miami native, I was much more at home in the heat than I would’ve been in a place that has a true winter. So it quickly became clear that my work, and my home, could be here.

What led you to UNLV to pursue the first of your two graduate degrees? Was it always part of your plan to return to school?

As a brand-new teacher, I knew I needed more tools to be effective. UNLV was the natural choice, not just because of proximity, but because of the College of Education’s strong reputation for preparing educators to meet the needs of Nevada’s diverse student population. 

Earning my degree through a cohort model while teaching gave me immediate, practical ways to better serve my students.

Did you have a career plan mapped out when you began your journey in the College of Education?

Not a strict plan, but I had a clear sense of purpose. As a first-generation American, I grew up knowing education was the pathway to opportunity. My parents’ sacrifices as Peruvian immigrants instilled in me a drive to make sure other students had that same chance.

At UNLV, I began to see how my passion for teaching could expand into leadership and systems-level work.

At what point did you realize you made the right decision to become a Rebel?

Very early on. I remember sitting in class after a full day of teaching and realizing that the theory we were discussing wasn’t abstract; it was applicable to my classroom the very next morning. That balance of rigor and relevance — combined with the community I found in my peers — reassured me I was exactly where I needed to be.

What academic course at UNLV did you lean on most to set you up for professional success?

Courses centered on leadership and family/community engagement had the biggest impact. They reinforced the idea that true student success requires strong partnerships. I saw this firsthand when I created an adult English class for the parents of my students, giving them the tools to better support their children.

That philosophy of empowering families remains at the heart of my work today.

You joined Communities In Schools of Southern Nevada as executive director in 2021. What first attracted you to CIS, and what was the most rewarding part of the job?

I was originally drawn to CIS because of its belief in seeing students for their promise, not their risk. CIS was a natural fit because it combined everything I believe in — equity, access, and collective impact. After years of working directly with families, I wanted to lead in a space that connected schools with community resources.

The most rewarding part of my role was seeing the joy and pride on students’ faces when barriers are removed and they begin to thrive. That philosophy deeply resonated with me, because I know from my own family’s story that when young people are given the right tools and opportunities, their potential is limitless.

Recently, I made the difficult decision to step away from my role to focus on my health and be more present with my children, who are growing up quickly. While transitions are never easy, I’m confident that new leadership will continue building on the strong foundation we’ve created together.

Leading CIS of Southern Nevada has been one of the greatest honors of my career, and I remain deeply proud of all we’ve accomplished to support students and families across the Las Vegas Valley.

What is the biggest challenge today’s educators face that didn’t exist when you started your career two decades ago? What’s the best way to combat that challenge?

The rising mental health needs of students, amplified by social media and societal pressures, are far greater now than when I began teaching. Teachers are being asked to do more than ever before, often beyond academics.

The best way to deal with this relatively new dynamic is to surround schools with strong community partnerships so that educators don’t shoulder the burden alone.

As you know, teachers are in short supply nationwide, and particularly in Southern Nevada. What are your top three tips for solving this crisis?

1. Retention first: Ensure teachers have competitive pay, manageable class sizes, and meaningful professional development.
2. Build strong pipelines: Partner with universities and alternative programs to recruit local and diverse candidates who reflect our students.
3. Elevate the profession: Reframe the narrative so teachers are respected as experts whose impact extends far beyond the classroom.

Relatedly, what is your advice to the current UNLV student who is considering a career in education but has some reservations?

I would tell them that being an education professional is challenging, yes, but also profoundly rewarding. You will be trusted with families’ most prized possessions, and you’ll have the chance to shape futures in ways few professions allow.

If you believe in possibility and collective impact, then there is no better career. And as a Rebel coming from the College of Education, you’ll be equipped not just with knowledge but with a community that will walk the journey alongside you.