Fernley High School Principal Ryan Cross and health science teacher Heather Kuntz were honored at the Nevada Association for Career and Technical Education Conference, held July 14-16 at Lake Tahoe.
Cross was named the NACTE Administrator of the Year, an award recognizing administrators who expand and strengthen career and technical education opportunities for students.
Kuntz, who is also an affiliate faculty member at Western Nevada College, was honored as the 2026 New Teacher of the Year. Since starting at Fernley in 2020, Kuntz has built innovative health science programs that include emergency medical technician and community health pathways, expanded dual-credit opportunities through WNC and developed work-based learning experiences with North Lyon Fire.
Under her leadership, students have achieved a 100% pass rate on both the National Registry EMT certification exam and the Certified Community Health Worker credential, while program enrollment has grown by nearly 30%.
Kuntz, a former X-ray technologist at St. Mary’s Hospital, began teaching in 2020 after earning her master’s degree in education. She taught English for two years before moving into health science, then earned her EMT certification and instructor credentials to launch Fernley’s EMT program. She later added a dual-credit public health course in partnership with Western Nevada College.
Kuntz said she modeled the EMT program after one created by Elaine Adams, a teacher in Fallon who earned her certification during the COVID-19 pandemic to bring the course to her school.
“When I found out the health science teacher had brought an EMT program there, I said, ‘I could do that,’” she said. “I went to the administration and asked if it was something I could do, and they said absolutely. I’ve been really fortunate because the Lyon County School District has been very supportive.”
The EMT program is now entering its fourth year, and the public health program is entering its third. Both allow students to graduate with industry-recognized certifications that qualify them for immediate employment in medical or community health settings.
Kuntz said the programs also help students determine whether the medical field is right for them.
“Every year I have one kid who gets halfway through and realizes this is absolutely not what they want to do,” she said. “And that’s great — I’m glad they figured it out now and didn’t pay for an EMT course outside of high school.”
Cross nominated Kuntz for the award and wrote a letter of recommendation detailing her accomplishments, but said he does not know who nominated him.
“Honestly, I wanted to recognize her for all the hard work she did to get the EMT program off the ground,” he said.
Cross said he was especially surprised to win when he saw the list of nominees. He was one of seven statewide nominees, including principals from CTE-focused high schools and the College of Southern Nevada. Fernley High School was the only traditional high school represented.
The selection committee noted Fernley High School’s broad CTE catalog, which now includes 14 programs. Under Cross’s leadership, work-based learning participation grew from 63 to 436 students, and credential attainment reached 437 students.
His development of “Career Trees,” expanded dual-credit options and efforts to build a K-12 career pipeline were cited as examples of high-impact CTE practices.
“I didn’t set out to make CTE my thing,” Cross said. “What I did set out to do is try to make education relevant and practical, so students see why they’re here and understand the value in it.”
Cross said Kuntz’s work reflects the district’s goal of giving students practical, relevant pathways.
“She had to get additional certifications and become an EMT instructor, which is not an easy task,” he said. “She built those programs from the ground up.”
Kuntz said she did not know she had won the award, or what the award was, until she received a text from Cross while on vacation.
“I was honored, very surprised. It was totally unexpected,” she said. “And the longer I sat on it, the more I realized this was a Nevada recognition. I think that’s pretty special. Very honored.”
Silver Stage High School counselor Paige Walker was presented with the Counseling and Career Development Professional Award. Windi Altemeyer, who leads the certified nursing assistant program at Fernley, Dayton, Yerington and Silver Stage high schools, was also nominated.
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