By Ayla Ozturk
Incumbent Board Clerk Walta Gamoian is one of two candidates running for the Visalia Unified School District [VUSD] Board of Education as a representative of Trustee Area 1. Gamoian is endorsed by the California Teacher’s Association, the Tulare County Republican Party, and the Visalia Police Department.
Walta Gamoian was born and raised in Selma, California. She attended California State University, Fresno, and earned a bachelor’s degree in biology. She also completed her teaching credential.
She went on to teach biology and advise the yearbook class at Selma High School for two years.
Gamoian then taught at Golden West High School for 32 years. During that time, she taught biology, chemistry, Advancement Via Individual Determination [AVID], and advised Link Crew.
She was elected to represent Trustee Area 1 in 2018 and hopes to continue her duties as a board member.
“I have dedicated my life to the children of the city for the last 38 years,” Gamoian says. “The Board hired a new superintendent who is putting [new] systems in and going to improve the quality of education in our city, and I [want to] continue to be part of that.”
If re-elected, she would like to have quarterly community forums with her constituents.
She says, “I could talk with [consituents] and go over the board business we’ve done during that quarter and what that means to their children and get some of their input.”
Gamoian wants students to know that when making decisions, they are her “number one priority” and wants to hear what they have to say.
[Photo courtesy of Gamoian]
“I love hearing from parents and community members, but I love hearing from my students most of all,” she says.
“My hope and dream is that every student graduates from Visalia and they go away to school, they [want to] come home and contribute to our community.”
-Walta Gamoian
Ayla Ozturk
Ayla Ozturk, class of 2024, is a fourth-year journalism student passionate about leading the News section. She is dedicated to informing students and amplifying their voices through Government and Politics writing.
You can reach her at ayla.oz3769@vusd.us.
Tags: 2022 elections, area 1, ayla ozturk, board elections 2022, rangers, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, visalia ca, VUSD board, vusd board elections 2022, vusd board of education, walta gamoian