What to know
At the Dec. 16 meeting, the board unanimously approved opening an application process to fill the open position.
The move followed the Dec. 9 resignation of trustee Tiffany Baumann Nelson, who was elected to the board in 2022, as previously reported by Community Impact. Nelson is currently campaigning for the Texas State Board of Education District 6 seat in the March 3 Republican primary.
Applications for Position 1 were open from Dec. 18 to Jan. 6 on the district website. Gambino will serve the remainder of the term, which ends this year, according to the district.
“This was not an easy decision,” said board President Misty Odenweller. “We had many outstanding candidates apply, which speaks volumes about the strength and commitment of our community. The board followed a thoughtful and transparent application and interview process, and we are confident and excited about Mrs. Gambino serving our district.”
According to information from the district, Gambino is a longtime CISD community member, a parent of children currently enrolled in CISD schools and a business owner with more than 20 years of involvement in the district and surrounding community.
Gambino is also the founder of The Learning Edge Consulting, and she is the founder and chairperson of the Conroe ISD Special Education Parent Advisory Council, or SEPAC. Among other district initiatives she has participated in are the CISD Cell Phone Committee and the CISD Community Collaborative, according to the district.
"She is active in campus and athletic volunteer leadership and brings a bilingual, bicultural perspective to her service in the Conroe ISD community," according to a district news release.
Community Impact has reached out to Gambino for a comment and will update the story if one is provided.
Notable quotes
"I would like to personally thank everyone who stayed tonight and everyone who applied," board member Melissa Dungan said at the meeting. "I want to thank my fellow board members for the time we put into this decision and what this means for the district."
Horton and Semmler, who were the dissenting votes, commented on the appointment process as a factor in their votes.
"I don't think the process our board used represents the qualifications or primary factors in determining which candidates moved forward," Semmler said.
What’s next
Gambino will be sworn in at the Jan. 20 meeting at the Walter P. Jett Teaching and Learning Center at 19043 David Memorial Drive in Shenandoah.
