Cano Burkhead worked as an educator since 1996, when she began as a Spanish and English teacher in Clark County. She was the dean of students and assistant principal at Eldorado High School. She was chief of staff to Richard A. Carranza, Nevada's northwest region superintendent before becoming principal of Fertitta Middle School from 2010 until 2015.[4][5] Cano Burkhead then was principal of Foothill High School from 2015 until her retirement in July 2021.
In 2008, she was honored with the Nevada Association of Student Councils' Administrator of the Year Award.[6]
Early political career
Cano Burkhead ran unsuccessfully for the Nevada Assembly in the 2002 election cycle.[4] She also served as a member of the Paradise, Nevada Town Board.[4]
Lieutenant governor of Nevada
On December 16, 2021, Governor Steve Sisolak named Cano Burkhead as the state's lieutenant governor, following the resignation of Kate Marshall in September.[7] Cano Burkhead was sworn into the position shortly after the Sisolak's announcement, and she also announced her intentions to run for a full term in the 2022 lieutenant gubernatorial election. She delivered her ceremonial remarks in English and Spanish.[8]
Cano Burkhead said that two of her main focuses as lieutenant governor were salaries for state educators and providing sufficient supplies for schools.[6]
Cano Burkhead was briefly married to Mario Sanchez, a Las Vegas business owner. She is now married to Jeffrey Burkhead and they have three daughters. They live in Henderson, Nevada.[7]
