PBS Reno Announces Education Department Expansion

Learn more about the PBS Reno Curiosity Classroom Workshop Program here

RENO, NV (JUN 22, 2026) – PBS Reno is thrilled to announce the expansion of its Education Department to the second floor of its building located at 1670 N. Virginia Street in Reno, NV.

The Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce, which represents more than 2,000 members and the interests of more than 10,000 businesses in Washoe County, joined PBS Reno on Tuesday, June 23 at 4pm to commemorate the expansion with a ribbon cutting and invite Chamber members to tour the new space.

“Our team was excited to participate in the ribbon cutting event and acknowledge the great contributions PBS Reno makes to our community and beyond,” said Ann Silver, Chamber CEO. “Whether it’s educational programming and materials for children, television mysteries, documentaries, or locally-produced shows like ARTEFFECTS and Wild Nevada, we all can learn and experience a world outside of our own by tuning in to PBS Reno.”

Until recently, the PBS Reno Education Department was located on the first floor, and PBS Reno leased the space on its second floor to an outside tenant. In January 2026, the second floor was vacated, remodeled, and repainted in preparation for the PBS Reno Education Department.

PBS Reno Education Department Expansion

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“The explosive growth of our Curiosity Classroom workshop program, which provided 6,800 workshops to 128,000 pre-K through 4^th graders in schools in nine counties has necessitated this expansion,” said Kurt Mische, PBS Reno President & CEO. “We are so proud of this work, on which our community places such a high value, because it directly impacts lives and educational outcomes for our youngest learners. All of this great work is generously supported by the region we serve.”

PBS Reno’s second floor now features a large classroom designed for PBS Reno Curiosity Classroom workshops; office suites, and multiple storage spaces that house thousands of materials – including tens of thousands of new developmentally appropriate books – utilized by the Curiosity Classroom workshop program. The expansion includes a streamlined process for facilitators to pick up and return materials to the south side of the PBS Reno building, and the use of an elevator and a ramp suitable for wheeled equipment including wheelchairs, wagons, and carts.

“We are so grateful to be in this larger space upstairs in the PBS Reno station,” said Nancy Maldonado, PBS Reno Vice President of Education. “The extra room allows us to be more organized and efficient with our materials. Now that we are settled in the new space, it’s difficult to imagine how we were able to operate in our previous location! This is the beginning of a new phase of Curiosity Classroom. We will be able to expand our services and eventually serve more students across our 75,000 square mile viewing area.”

The second floor is also home to The Jerry Smith Center for Educational Collaboration, a space for educators and facilitators to collaborate with school districts, nonprofits, and outside agencies in their mission to assist children of all backgrounds, regardless of income, advantage or ability, in their educational journeys and help each child thrive.

About PBS Reno

In fiscal year 2024-2025, PBS Reno reached 592,189 monthly viewers in northern and central Nevada and northeastern California across several platforms including three broadcast channels (PBS Reno 5.1, Reno Create 5.2, and PBS KIDS on PBS Reno 5.3), a YouTube channel, YouTube TV, online, livestreams, and digital platforms. PBS Reno provides PBS national programming and award-earning, locally-produced content, with many local segments posted weekly to PBS Reno’s YouTube channel. PBSReno.org provides engaging interactive content, including the video portal at watch.PBSReno.org that streams all locally-produced content and most PBS national content. PBS Reno serves students, teachers, parents and caregivers through immersive educational services including Curiosity Classroom workshops that bring classroom lessons to life with standards-based lessons and activities. Through the support of local corporations and foundations, as well as thousands of individual members, PBS Reno has been delivering public television and educational services to the communities it serves since September 29, 1983.

About The Chamber

Incorporated in 1919, the Reno + Sparks Chamber of Commerce is the largest business organization in northern Nevada with over 2,000 members that employ over 100,000 individuals. The Chamber is the voice for business in Washoe County by focusing on the three pillars of value: Advocacy on behalf of all businesses; Information and education for members; and Connectivity with members and consumers.

Contact us:

Membership Questions: membership@pbsreno.org
Programming Hotline: programming@pbsreno.org

Phone: 775.600.0555
Address: 1670 N. Virginia St. • Reno NV 89503