Title: Former Principal Reinstated by Las Vegas School District Amid Controversy Over Student’s Death
The Las Vegas school district has reinstated a former principal to a more senior administrative role following her sudden retirement due to negative reactions linked to a violent incident that claimed the life of a 17-year-old student.
Darlin Delgado was appointed as an associate superintendent of the Clark County School District in July, less than two years after the tragic beating and subsequent death of special needs student Jonathan Lewis Jr. Delgado held the position of principal at Rancho High School during the November 2023 attack, which involved a group of teenagers assaulting Lewis in a nearby alley.
The confrontation began over a dispute regarding stolen headphones, quickly escalating to violence. Approximately 20 witnesses observed the incident, with many recording and sharing it online. Lewis suffered severe injuries and died days later from blunt force trauma.
Delgado faced significant scrutiny during an investigation into how school staff handled allegations made by Lewis before the assault. She announced her retirement in January 2024, claiming a desire to dedicate more time to her family.
However, her departure was short-lived; within six months, she accepted a directorship position at the Young Women’s Leadership Academy of Las Vegas.
The attack on Lewis, which occurred just days before his death, saw nine teenagers arrested, some of whom faced murder charges. Due to their ages, ranging from 13 to 17 at the time of the incident, their cases were processed in juvenile court, where charges were substantiated but ultimately sealed from public view.
On August 7, Lewis’ father filed a lawsuit against the school district, asserting that officials failed to heed multiple warnings about the dangers his son faced, which ultimately led to the tragedy. He claimed that Lewis had notified the Clark County School District (CCSD) about prior issues with his aggressors but that the district did not pursue an investigation.
The grieving father emphasized his belief that school personnel were aware of the hostile behavior exhibited by the group that attacked his son.
Delgado was nominated for her new position by CCSD Superintendent Jhone Ebert during a recent board meeting. Some board members raised concerns regarding her hasty retirement prior to the nomination; however, those discussions were dismissed by Ebert.
“It’s not our role to conduct interviews or determine the questions,” asserted board attorney Teddy Parker. “Our responsibility is to assess whether this resume and contract are approvable.”
Delgado ultimately received board approval to reclaim her role within the district. Officials have since declined requests for interviews from Ebert, Delgado, and her superior, Deputy Superintendent Jesse Welch.
In a statement from the district, Delgado was described as a "visionary, bilingual instructional leader" who effectively guided the Rancho High School community through the difficult incident involving the loss of a student.
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