January 2026 Newsletter

Students first. Advocacy second. Support always.

January 23, 2026

A Note from our New Executive Director, Selena Torres-Fossett

Hello CSAN community,

My name is Selena Torres-Fossett, and I’m honored to serve as the new Executive Director of the Charter School Association of Nevada. I was born and raised in Las Vegas, began my career as a classroom teacher, and have spent the last several years working in and alongside Nevada charter schools, most recently as the Executive Director of Young Women’s Leadership Academy. I also currently serve in the Nevada State Legislature, which continues to shape how I think about advocacy, access, and the responsibility we hold to our students and school communities.

As CSAN enters this next chapter, I’m also excited to share that Gil Lopes will be serving as CSAN’s Director of Government Affairs. Gil brings deep experience and trusted relationships to this work, and together we are focused on strengthening CSAN’s advocacy efforts while staying closely aligned with the needs of school leaders across the state.

One of my top priorities in these early months is reconnecting and listening. That’s why I’m looking forward to hosting a casual Northern Nevada happy hour on Monday, January 27. This is not a formal meeting, and membership is not required. It’s simply an opportunity to reconnect, build relationships, and have an open conversation about how CSAN can best support you moving forward.

In the coming weeks, we will also be hosting a similar gathering for Southern Nevada school leaders, along with additional opportunities to engage through task forces and small group conversations. These touchpoints will help guide CSAN’s priorities and ensure our work reflects the needs and perspectives of school leaders across the state

In this newsletter, you’ll find two brief surveys linked. One focuses on member services and support, and the other helps identify interest in participating in CSAN task forces and advisory groups.

I strongly encourage you to take a few minutes to complete both. Your feedback will directly shape CSAN’s priorities, inform our strategic planning, and guide how we show up for schools across Nevada. This is one of the most important ways to ensure CSAN’s work reflects the real needs of our school leaders and communities.

Selena Torres-Fossett

Executive Director, CSAN

Engage with CSAN Today!

CSAN Membership Survey

CSAN is in a period of growth, and your input is critical as we continue to strengthen our support for charter schools across Nevada. This survey will help us understand which membership services, professional learning, networking, and engagement opportunities are most valuable to you and your school.

Your feedback will directly inform CSAN’s priorities and guide how we invest time and resources to best serve members statewide. Please complete the survey by January 30. Thank you for helping shape the future of CSAN.

For questions, contact Executive Director Selena Torres-Fossett at selena@nvcharterassociation.org.

Take the Survey

CSAN Task Force Registration

As valued members of the Charter School Association of Nevada, your feedback is essential to ensuring CSAN remains proactive in addressing the challenges facing charter schools across the state. CSAN is launching a series of task forces to monitor key issues and provide recommendations that will inform future advocacy and organizational priorities.

Please complete this brief survey to nominate yourself or a member of your team to participate in the School Leader Council, Legislative and Policy Task Force, or Small Public Charter School Task Force.

Nominations will be reviewed to ensure broad representation across the charter sector. Please submit nominations by January 30.

For questions, contact Gil Lopez at gil@nvcharterassociation.org.

Task Force Registration

NDE Accountability Survey – Charter Voices Needed

The Nevada Department of Education is seeking feedback on how to strengthen Nevada’s education accountability system. Educators, families, and community members are invited to share their perspectives through a brief survey. Charter school voices are critical to ensuring the system reflects our students, schools, and communities.

Complete the survey by Friday January 23:

Survey Link