David L. Janda, Jr. for La Porte ISD

David Janda currently serves as La Porte I.S.D. School Board Trustee. www.davidjanda.com
Pol. Adv. Pd for by the David Lee Janda Jr. Campaign

Issues
• Promote and encourage innovative educational practices that are beneficial to students
• Improve communication between residents and the School District
• Serve to meet the needs of students, parents, faculty, and the community
• Maintain fiscal responsibility through effective and efficient use of taxpayer funds
• Support the effective use of technology needed for a 21st c

entury workforce
• Encourage the creation of educational partnerships between local businesses and the School District
• Support the educational collaboration between local cities and the School District

Accomplishments
*Successfully advocated for the broadcasting of school board meetings to the public
*Successfully advocated for a city property tax freeze for persons 65 and over and the disabled
*Successfully voted for a resolution allowing property reappraisals for owners impacted by Hurricane Harvey
*Successfully voted for district budgets which have increased school funding while lowering the tax rate in the last 5 years
*Successfully voted for the hiring of a new, award-winning superintendent
*Successfully voted for competitive salaries for teachers, paraprofessionals, and other school district employees
*Successfully passed an alumni recognition program, which has honored a dozen individuals over three years, including former district employees Martha Love and Sonja Angelo, restaurant entrepreneurs Russell Ybarra and Jesse Garcia, College Football Hall of Famer Gene Washington, and Olympian Kerron Clement. Professional Memberships / Community / Honors
La Porte I.S.D. School Board Trustee since 2012
Vice President (2016-2019)
President (2020 - )
Texas Association of School Boards Leadership Class (2019)
Campus Teacher of the Year (2019)
Bulldog Award Recipient (2019)
La Porte Area Water Authority Board of Director (2008-2014)
Vice President (2010 – 2011)
President (2011 - 2014)
La Porte-Bayshore Chamber of Commerce Member since 2012
Around La Porte Newsletter, Feature Writer since 2011
La Porte Planning and Zoning Commissioner (2008-2011)
La Porte-Bay Area Heritage Society member since 2007
La Porte Community Civic Club member since 2010
Member of the La Porte Citizen’s Police Academy Alumni Association
State Bar of Texas

Biography
A lifelong Texan, I grew up in a working class home in South Houston. Son of a longshoreman and store assistant, I was taught the value of hard work and the importance of serving one's community. I became the first person in my family to graduate from college, acquiring a Bachelor's Degree from The University of Texas at Austin. That same year I acquired a Business Foundations Certification from the Red McCombs School of Business. In 2003, I received my law degree from The University of Texas School of Law. As a law student, I served on the Texas International Law Journal and was an intern for Justice Tim Taft of the First Court of Appeals in Houston. Later, I served as intern for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office. A resident of La Porte since 2004, I have been actively involved in my community. In August of 2008, I was appointed to the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission and the La Porte Area Water Authority, the latter of which I served as President. During my term as planning commissioner, I worked towards improving the city’s zoning ordinances for both residents and businesses and protecting the property values of city residents. As President of the La Porte Area Water Authority, I worked towards improving the efficiency of the governmental entity, resulting in cost savings to the taxpayers of La Porte, Morgan’s Point, and Shoreacres. In 2011, I successfully advocated for the broadcasting of La Porte City Council meetings, which resulted for the first time audio recordings of meetings being made available to the public on the city website without the need for an open records request. In 2014, I teamed up with Steve Coycault of the Silver Haired Legislature to successfully advocate for a property tax freeze for persons 65 and over and the disabled. Elected to the La Porte ISD School Board in 2012, I continue to advocate for public transparency and property tax relief. Some of my accomplishments include successfully advocating for the publication of video recordings of board meetings and voting for property reappraisals for those owners impacted by Hurricane Harvey. In addition, after months of research, I worked with Deputy Superintendent Dr. Linda Wadleigh to successfully pass an alumni recognition program for La Porte ISD. The three year-old program has honored a dozen successful individuals, including former district employees Martha Love and Sonja Angelo, restaurant entrepreneurs Russell Ybarra and Jesse Garcia, College Football Hall of Fame inductee Gene Washington, and Olympian Kerron Clement. An educator and a licensed attorney, I married Lyla DeSouza in June of 2008. Together, we have one daughter, Angelica.

10/28/2025

01/15/2024

First, I want to thank everyone for putting their trust in me for the past twelve years as your school board trustee, but after careful consideration, I have decided to forego running for re-election. It is time for another individual to carry the torch and to take La Porte ISD to new heights.
During the past twelve years, I am proud of the fact that I have advocated for and witnessed a substantial increase in our use of technology, including the broadcasting of our board meetings for better transparency, and social media presence to showcase the wonderful things happening in our classrooms.
When I was on the board, there was an initial idea, when Heritage Elementary was built, that it would be home to a “hall of honor” to recognize our most successful alumni. It never got off the ground. After reviewing countless hall of honor by-laws from other districts and with the help of Dr. Linda Wadleigh, Terri Cook, Adam Holland, Chris Gilbert, and Lloyd Graham, we have one here in La Porte as well now, showcased at Bulldog Centre for the public to see, now going on seven years strong, a program that continues to be fine-tuned with each successful year and will continue on to honor our most successful alumni, staff, and citizens.
Our student accountability scores are up, and new programs are being introduced to better meet the needs of students. Teacher and staff compensations are up, and despite challenges inflicted upon us by the state, we have managed to cultivate over the last twelve years a healthy fund balance to address teacher and staff needs and student programs.
During my time as Board President, we managed to deal with the aftermath of COVID, address learning loss and mental health, deal with several board vacancies and ending with the largest public approval of a bond measure for La Porte ISD (with no tax rate increase) in more than twenty years—all while keeping our team of eight intact and focused.
After years of urging, Baker is now being looked at as well, so that its future will better meet the needs of students today. In 2022, I had the honor of being elected by my peers in the region to serve on the Legislative Advisory Council to advocate for public education, which continues to need strong warriors to advocate on the behalf of the selfless men and women who devote their lives to the education of our children.
The board I leave is well-equipped to deal with the challenges ahead, and having campaigned for at some point in time or played a part in appointing each member currently serving, this is one exceptional board that I know will do whatever it takes to take La Porte ISD to a new level.
Of all the achievements accomplished in the past twelve years, there is one that I believe is the most important, one that many of the accomplishments would not have seen fruition were it not for him, was casting the vote to hire Dr. Walter Jackson, who I believe is the greatest superintendent in La Porte ISD history and among the greatest, if not the greatest, in the state of Texas. I am so privileged to have served as Board President while Dr. Jackson was at the helm.
While one chapter closes, another opens. While I take a respite from public office in the coming months, just know, so long as I live and breathe in La Porte, I will be involved at some level, whether continuing to write for the newspaper, or if circumstances and the public allow, public service again. Thank you and God bless you all!

10/26/2023

I am seeing throughout social media of stakeholders receiving surveys soliciting opinions concerning the future direction of Baker. The fact we are having this discussion is a huge win for the taxpayers, parents, and students. I thank the Board, Dr. Jackson, and the administration for beginning the process of looking at our future needs as a district, especially when it comes to the education of our 6th graders.

07/24/2023

Thank you Raising Cane’s!

| We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt gratitude to Raising Cane's for their incredibly generous donation of 500 kids' meal coupons for our upcoming backpack giveaway! 🎒💕

With your contribution, we can ensure that each child who attends our event receives a backpack filled with essential school supplies and enjoys a delicious meal at Raising Cane's. Your kindness will bring smiles to the faces of countless young ones, and we couldn't be more grateful! 😄🙏

Raising Cane's commitment to our community and dedication to making a positive impact is truly commendable. We can't thank them enough for being such an integral part of our Back to School initiative. Together, we are making a real difference!