The Washoe County School District selected its newest District C boardmember on Tuesday. Board members unanimously selected Ryan Gonda after several hours of consideration.
Gonda replaces former Trustee Nick Smith, after he resigned last month.
Gonda will represent District C, which covers the North Valleys and Spanish Springs areas.
“I am overwhelmed and humbled by your trust in me,” Gonda told the Board following the announcement of his appointment. “I hope to improve the communication and trust that District C constituents have during the time I am serving.”
“We are so pleased to welcome Ryan Gonda to the Board of Trustees, and eager to move forward with the important work at hand,” said Board President Dr. Angie Taylor. “It is so important to bring a new perspective and a fresh voice to our Board, and all of us are excited to bring such a dedicated professional to the team. We look forward to working together with him as we confront the challenges facing our District.”
Ryan Gonda is an attorney who currently serves as the program attorney in the area of domestic violence at the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges. He has also served in a variety of professional and volunteer positions, including as a victim advocate in the Second Judicial District Court in Reno, and as a member of the board of directors for Safe Embrace, a local organization that provides services for survivors of domestic violence.
Gonda graduated from Reno High School and the University of Nevada, Reno before receiving his law degree from the Mississippi College School of Law in 2011. He is the father of two children who attend school in Sparks.
The Board of Trustees considered a total of seven candidates for the position, interviewing each before narrowing the field to five: Debra Feemster, G. Scott Matson, Susan Mayes-Smith, Dariah Scott, and Ryan Gonda.
Ryan Gonda will be sworn in during a ceremony at the next regularly scheduled public meeting of the Board of Trustees on Tuesday, May 24.
(Washoe County School District contributed to this report.)
