James Phoenix, former chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, was unanimously appointed to the Washoe County school board on Tuesday afternoon.
The board recently narrowed down their search for the vacant District C seat to four candidates, where Phoenix ranked number 1 in trustees ranking system.
Phoenix, who goes by JJ, recently stepped down as the chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe in March 2024.
He also lives on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Indian Reservation which is also part of District C.
Phoenix said he has experience having served as the chairman of the Board of Education for the Pyramid Lake junior and senior high school. He currently serves as the co-chair of the Veterans Committee for the National Congress of American Indians.
Phoenix said his interest is to ensure equality for all students and families within the district where their children can receive the best education our district has to offer.
He was an officer with the Reno Police Department for 25 years, he also served as lieutenant colonel for the Nevada Army National Guard for nearly 30 years.
After being selected during Tuesday’s meeting, Phoenix was sworn in and took the oath of office and finished on the meeting with the rest of the board.
Phoenix’s term will run until January 2027.
You can watch Tuesday’s full special meeting below:
