Three new members join Milwaukee Board of School Directors; new president and vice president chosen

Director Missy Zombor was elected Board president and Director Marva Herndon was elected vice president at the Tuesday, April 25, organizational meeting of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors. It also was the first meeting for the school district’s recently elected Board members. 

“We’re entering a challenging but hopeful time for MPS,” Zombor said after her election. Herndon previously served as Board president. 

Tuesday’s meeting also was the first for the new Board members elected April 1:  

• Director Christopher Fons, representing District 5 on the city’s east side.  

• Director Mimi Reza, from District 6 on the south side of Milwaukee.  

• Director Kate Vannoy, representing District 7 on Milwaukee’s southwest side. 

In addition, one Board member won re-election on April 1: Director James Ferguson, representing District 4, on the west side. 

Fons takes over the seat formerly held by Jilly Gokalgandhi, who served as the Board’s vice president; Reza takes the place of Marcela “Xela” Garcia; and Vannoy now holds the seat previously held by Henry Leonard. 

The April 17 Board meeting was the last for Gokalgandhi, Garcia, and Leonard, who did not seek re-election and retired from the Board of School Directors. All three were elected to the board in 2021. 

The district is grateful to the former Board members for their service and welcomes the new directors to the Board.