Olympic Rower Now Leading Nevada's Student Achievement

Torrey Palmer stood on the podium twice as a world champion rower and competed at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Now she's bringing that same dedication to excellence to every classroom in Nevada as the state's new deputy superintendent for academics and student achievement.

Palmer starts her new role on March 30, where she'll serve as the chief architect of Nevada's instructional system. Her job includes aligning standards, curriculum, and assessment across the entire state.

Her journey from elite athlete to education leader started in a sixth-grade classroom in Washoe County. She taught for years before becoming the district's K-6 literacy coordinator, where she discovered her passion for helping all students succeed.

In 2010, Palmer co-founded the Core Task Project, a nationally recognized model for implementing college and career ready standards in literacy. That work became a blueprint for other states looking to improve student outcomes through better aligned standards.

She spent six years with TNTP, a national nonprofit, where she partnered with Florida's five largest school districts to improve middle school education. Back in Nevada, she worked with school leaders in Clark, Elko, Storey, and Washoe counties to refine teaching methods aligned with state standards.

The Ripple Effect

Her most recent success story shows what's possible when standards meet action. As assistant principal at Mater Academy of Northern Nevada, a K-8 charter school, English Language Arts proficiency jumped 15 percentage points between 2024 and 2025. Math proficiency rose 8 percentage points in the same period.

Those aren't just numbers. They represent hundreds of students who now read better, solve problems faster, and have more opportunities ahead of them.

Nevada Superintendent of Public Instruction Victor Wakefield praised Palmer's district-level expertise and statewide perspective. He emphasized her commitment to expanding opportunities for Nevada's learners, something her track record proves she knows how to deliver.

Palmer holds a doctorate in educational specialties from the University of Nevada, Reno. She brings both the theoretical knowledge and practical experience needed to move the needle on student achievement.

"I am thrilled to join the NDE team as we advance a bold vision for student achievement and ensure we are improving outcomes for all students," Palmer said. She promised to build on the commitment of teachers and leaders across the state to ensure every student gets rigorous, standards-aligned instruction with high-quality materials.

From the discipline of Olympic training to the precision of education reform, Palmer proves that excellence transfers across fields when paired with purpose.