Reid relative appointed to state Board of Ed

Cynthia Reid of Henderson has been appointed to the Nevada State Board of Education.

She will serve in District 4, replacing John Hawk, who resigned Jan. 21.

Hawk was re-elected to the board last year but ruled to have an ethical conflict because he and his wife are founders of a charter school in Las Vegas. He resigned rather than take the oath of office and risk a possible battle with the Ethics Commission.

Reid, 40, was described by Gov. Kenny Guinn as one of the state's leading educators. She taught English at Chaparral High in Las Vegas, is an instructor at Community College of Southern Nevada and has worked as a social worker at Child Haven in Las Vegas.

She is the wife of Rory Reid, a Clark County commissioner and son of U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

The board consists of 10 members elected by Nevada voters and oversees the operations of the state Department of Education - including mandating education requirements for elementary, middle, high and charter schools around the state.

n Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or at 687-8750.