Washoe County School District’s Board of Trustees today unanimously approved Adam Mayberry to fill the District F seat vacated by former trustee Jacqueline Calvert. Mayberry was sworn in following the selection and will begin his tenure with the board at today’s scheduled 2 p.m. meeting.
Calvert resigned the seat in September after it was revealed she no longer resided within the district.
Mayberry cited “a lifelong calling and commitment of public service in Nevada” as his reason for serving on the board. He also highlighted both his 29 years of public service and his respect for board governance and big picture thinking.
Mayberry held a community and government relations role with the City of Sparks for 12 years and is now the public information officer for the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District. He was also a member of the Reno-Tahoe Airport Authority board for 7 years.
“This is a tough job, undoubtedly,” Mayberry said. “This is a calling. This is something I really believe I can make a difference and effect change.”
He said getting parents and school districts back to working together was important to building credibility and trust within the district. Securing additional funding to support education was also on Mayberry’s priority list for work as a trustee.
Board of Trustees President Angela Taylor asked Mayberry to discuss his hearing impairment, which he said was the result of childhood meningitis that impacted his speech and hearing. He now has a cochlear implant that allows him to hear, but said childhood experiences have helped him to better understand the needs of students with disabilities.
“I had wonderful teachers, and most importantly I had a wonderful mother. She had to fight to make sure that I went to mainstream schools…They wanted to put me in a deaf school,” Mayberry said. “I think that has given me a lot of empathy toward the children that have special needs and those that can’t speak the language.”
Mayberry also has two children attending school in the district.
Eleven people applied for the District F vacancy, and Mayberry one of four who was interviewed by trustees for the role. Other candidates selected for interviews included Elvira Diaz, Jack Heinemann and John Gwaltney, who removed his name from consideration during the meeting.
