Teachers Health Trust (THT), the 42-year-old, self-funded, nonprofit health insurance plan for educators in Clark County, Nevada, installed three new members to its board of trustees, elected two new officers, and re-elected Peggy Melton as chairperson of the board.
Comprised of current and former educators as well as community representatives, the THT Board of Trustees plays a pivotal role in steering the course of the health program to ensure its continued effectiveness and responsiveness to the unique needs of teachers in Clark County. Its members have experience in education and the health care industry, bringing a keen understanding of the challenges faced by THT members and a shared passion for enhancing the well-being of the Clark County teaching community.
The first new trustee is Patrick A. Jacobson, who has a multifaceted background spanning public education, administration, and business. Currently a 7th grade special education math teacher at Clifford Lawrence, Jr. High School, he has decades of experience in instructional leadership in the Clark County School District (CCSD), has served on the Clark County Education Association (CCEA) Negotiating Team, chaired school empowerment and improvement teams, and co-authored governance and budgeting proposals.
A 20-year retired U.S. Air Force veteran and currently a teacher at West Preparatory Academy, Glenford Parks brings his commitment to service, leadership, and education to the THT Board of Trustees. A CCSD teacher for the past 13 years, his educational credentials include degrees in bio-environmental engineering, Christian studies and theology, and teaching secondary sciences. Parks also served as a member of a hospital customer service performance team, helping to enhance patient satisfaction and care delivery.
Serving as a community representative on the board of trustees, Max Carter II is a third generation Las Vegas native and has been a member of organized labor in Southern Nevada since 1982. He joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 357 in 1989 and has negotiated more than 40 contracts to secure jobs and protect workers’ rights and safety. Elected to the Nevada Assembly in 2022, he championed the largest education budget in Nevada history and expanded access to healthcare and collective bargaining rights.
With extensive experience in health policy and public benefits administration, Laura Rich was elected vice chair of THT’s Board of Trustees. A trustee since 2023, she currently is vice president of business development at Change & Innovation Agency, a Vimo® company, where she drives the development of cutting-edge platforms to help state agencies deliver health and human services more efficiently. Prior to this, she spent more than 14 years with the State of Nevada including as executive officer of the Public Employees’ Benefits Program. Her earlier roles included project management for the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange and oversight of Medicaid quality and estate recovery programs.
A trustee since 2024, Christina Hollowood was elected board secretary. As a specialized programs teacher at Sierra Vista High School, she focuses on supporting students with specific learning disabilities across elementary, middle, and high school levels. Outside the classroom, she volunteers as an outreach volunteer and family team organizer with Breakthrough T1D (formerly JDRF), an organization dedicated to finding treatments and a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. She also serves as an adult leader with Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada Troop 20 and DeMolay International Oasis Chapter.
A member of the THT Board of Trustees since 2022, Peggy E. Melton was re-elected as its chairperson. A retired educator of the Clark County School District and a licensed Realtor, she has more than 20 years of experience in public administration, adult education, real estate, and health care compliance. Melton holds a Master of Public Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Nevada State College, both earned with academic honors. Her expertise includes policy compliance, client advocacy, legal documentation, and adult instructional program development.
About Teachers Health Trust
In October 1983, the Clark County School District (CCSD) and Clark County Education Association (CCEA) collaborated to establish the Teachers Health Trust (THT) as the health plan for its educators. It is a self-funded, nonprofit health insurance plan available to all CCSD (and other partner charter schools) educators and their dependents in Clark County, Nevada. For more information visit: www.ththealth.org.
