Meet David
Biography
A lifelong Texan, David Janda grew up in a working class home in South Houston. Son of a longshoreman and store assistant, Janda was taught the value of hard work and the importance of serving one's community. He became the first person in his family to graduate from college, acquiring a Bachelor's Degree from The University of Texas at Austin. That same year he acquired a Business Foundations Certification from the Red McCombs School of Business.
In 2003, Janda received his law degree from The University of Texas School of Law. As a law student, he served on the Texas International Law Journal and was an intern for Justice Tim Taft of the First Court of Appeals in Houston. Later, he served as intern for the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
A resident of La Porte since 2004, David Janda has been actively involved in his community. In August of 2008, Janda was appointed to the La Porte Planning and Zoning Commission and the La Porte Area Water Authority, the latter of which he served as President.
During his term as planning commissioner, Janda 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, Janda 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, Janda 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, Janda 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, Janda continues to advocate for public transparency and property tax relief. Some of his 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, Janda 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, Janda married Lyla DeSouza in June of 2008. Together, they have one daughter, Angelica.
"Together we can ensure La Porte ISD continues to be a model of success
that others will strive to emulate.” ~ David Janda
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