MEET JJ
Hello, everyone.
My name is James Phoenix, but folks around here know me as JJ. I’m running to be retained as your Board of Trustee for the Washoe County School District in District C, and I’m honored to ask for your support.
I was raised right here in Reno-Sparks, Washoe County, Nevada. This community shaped me, and I’ve dedicated my life to giving back to it. I graduated from Truckee Meadows Community College with an Associate of Applied Science in Law Enforcement, earned my bachelor’s in Criminal Justice from the University of Phoenix, and completed a Master’s in Justice Management at the University of Nevada, Reno. I’m also a proud graduate of the Command and General Staff College.
My career has been all about service: 25 years as a Reno Police Officer, where I retired after protecting our neighborhoods. Before that, I served in the Marines and the Nevada Army National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. As a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, I’ve had the privilege of leading and governing as Tribal Chairman and Council member, and I chaired the School Board at Pyramid Lake Junior/Senior High School with balanced governance. These experiences taught me the power of education in building strong, resilient communities.
In January 2025, I was unanimously appointed to the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees, and I’ve hit the ground running. Now, I’m asking for your vote to continue this important work. Why me? Because I’m a true local—I grew up here, raised my own children in these schools, and I’ve seen firsthand how quality public education changes lives. My goal is simple: as a member of the governing body, support the district's efforts for students' and families' education creating brighter futures and stronger outcomes for our community. At WCSD it is about family. That’s why I’m committed to WCSD’s strategic plan, focusing on key goals like:
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A Strong Start for Every Child,
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Amplifying Student Voice,
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Ensuring Safety and Belonging,
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Driving Academic Growth and Achievement, and
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Empowering All Learners for Their Future.
To achieve this, we’ll build on our foundational pillars:
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A consistent, standards-aligned curriculum and instruction,
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Strong partnerships among families, communities, and schools,
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A commitment to elevating our educators, and
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A culture of excellence and accountability.
I’m a living example of what public education in Washoe County can achieve. From my roots here, I’ve risen to leadership roles in law enforcement, the military, and tribal governance. I want to be that role model for our students and families—showing them that with hard work and the right support, anything is possible.
So, if you’re a registered voter in Washoe County, I urge you: Get Out and Vote. And when you do, vote for "JJPHX" that's me, JJ Phoenix. Together, we can make our schools even stronger.
Thank you for your time and your trust.
Respectfully,
JJ Phoenix
P.S. Call, text, or email me at anytime. I want to hear from you!
775-444-5405
Mail correspondence or a contribution to:
Committee to Elect JJ Phoenix
2469 Pyramid Way
Reno, NV 89510
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