Former elementary school teacher and Nevada State Assemblywoman Olivia Diaz
There are many examples of excellent classroom teachers who have gone on to have careers in politics. One of these is Olivia Diaz, an elementary school teacher who also served in the Nevada State Assembly.
Olivia was born in 1978 in Las Vegas, Nevada. As a young woman, she attended inner-city schools, graduating as the salutatorian from Rancho High School. Following her high school graduation, Olivia earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She completed the requirements for her Master’s degree in Bilingual Education from Nova Southeastern University, a private university with its main campus in Davie, Florida. While still in college, Olivia did volunteer work for AmeriCorps, a federal program that offers opportunities for public service.
Once she earned her degrees, Olivia accepted a position in the Clark County School District as an English Language Learner Specialist at Ronnow Elementary School. For the next 15 years, she devoted her energy to her students as a teacher of at-risk kids.
In 2009, Olivia was elected to the Nevada State Assembly to represent District 11 on the Democratic ticket. She was elected to four consecutive terms, serving from 2010 to 2018. While in office, Olivia worked on the Committee for Education, the Committee for Commerce and Labor, the Judiciary Committee, and the Subcommittee on K-12/Higher Education. She was also a member of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators.
“As one of the first Latinas ever elected to the Nevada State Legislature, she has been a trailblazer and role model for many aspiring leaders,” expressed Speaker of the Nevada State Assembly Jason Frierson, Olivia says she is grateful for the opportunity to serve her community. “Investing in education, fighting to protect and expand health care, and working to ensure that Nevada’s economy works for everyone has been an honor and a privilege,” she says.
On December 3, 2018, Olivia resigned her position in the Assembly to run for a position on the Las Vegas City Council.
