Ford, a Democrat and former teacher who currently serves as attorney general, will be sworn in on January 4. In an interview, he emphasized his background in the classroom and his commitment to educators.

"We're going to ensure that we respect our teachers. I used to be a teacher," Ford said. "And we're going to pay them what they deserve."

Nevada currently spends about $4,000 less per student than the national average, according to state figures. Ford has said he supports increasing education funding so that per-pupil spending meets or exceeds the national average, and he wants those dollars to reach the classroom.

That gap has real consequences, said Jeremy Heckler, a teacher librarian in Clark County and president of the National Education Association of Southern Nevada.

"It's about looking around the room, and we see fewer teachers, fewer educators, but larger classes," Heckler said. "We get to a point where how many students is too many to have in a classroom."

Stephanie Valdez, a parent and education advocate, said her children have felt the impact of recent budget cuts firsthand. She wants the legislature to address mid-year cuts, which she said have been disruptive.

"The continual budget cuts, especially mid-year, have been really disruptive," Valdez said. "If not doing them multiple times a year, just doing them one time a year, that would also eliminate a few of the disruptions that we've experienced."

Valdez said she spoke with Ford during the campaign about his education priorities and came away with the impression that he favors a multifaceted funding approach.

"He told me that he wants a multifaceted approach to the funding model, so that no matter what happens, the highs and lows and dips with Nevada's future, that education can still be supported," she said.

Alexander Marks, deputy executive director of the Nevada State Education Association, said he does not want to see Ford rely on data center development to fund schools, a proposal floated by current Governor Joe Lombardo.

"Data center development might generate some economic activity and maybe a little tax revenue, but projected future growth is not sustainable for a comprehensive school funding plan," Marks said. "NSEA wants the legislature to implement the Commission on School Funding's recommendations."

Those recommendations include modernizing the sales tax system to reflect a modern Nevada economy and resetting property tax depreciation, Marks said. He added that the union is open to other sustainable sources.

On school choice, Ford has drawn a clear distinction: he supports expanding options within public schools, not diverting public funds to private institutions.

"We're also going to ensure that we increase opportunities for public school choice. And I use that word public purposefully. We will not be sending public school funds to private schools, but we will expand vocational education training. We will expand open enrollment if I have anything to do about it. We will provide more magnet schools and things of that sort," Ford said.

Heckler said he supports that approach, noting that public schools serve the majority of students and are overcrowded.

"Our public schools are where the majority of our students are, and our schools are overcrowded," Heckler said. "We don't have enough educators."

Marks said he hopes Ford will also prioritize resources such as school meals.

"School meals is going to be a huge thing that we're going to be focusing on next session," Marks said. "We want every student to walk into our schools, ready to learn, and not wondering where their next meal is coming from."

Ford has also spoken about guaranteeing school breakfast and lunch for students and improving literacy rates by placing literacy coaches in every elementary school across the state.

The legislative session begins in a few months, and all eyes will be on Ford to see whether he can translate his campaign platform into policy — and funding — that addresses the pressures facing Nevada's classrooms.