He attended Bishop Manogue High School and the University of Nevada, Reno, where he earned a B.S.
He would spend over 31 years as a teacher of American government in Sparks, ending at Edward C. Reed High School.
He became active in the Nevada State Education Association (a National Education Association affiliate; he served on the NEA board of directors), and continued his studies at UNR, where at one point he, his daughter Cairn, and future Assemblyman Jason Geddes were active together in student government in the late 1980s.
[2] He became chairman of the Assembly's standing committee on the judiciary (1997-2009), and also served as Majority Whip and Speaker Pro Tempore.
[5] Natha Anderson, herself a teacher and Nevada State Education Association leader, would later follow Bernie into the Assembly.