Two Indian Americans running for Westfield, N.J. Board of Education

- ADVERTISEMENT -

Two Indian-Americans have registered as candidates for the Board of Education in Westfield, New Jersey.

Priti Dave and Sonal Patel are among ten Westfield residents to have declared their candidacy for three vacancies on the Board of Education. Two board members whose three-year terms are expiring on Dec. 31, 2020, and the one-year unexpired term of another member which will expire on the same date, have created the three-year vacancies in the November 3 ballot.

According to candidates’ information posted on Westfield Public School’s website, Dave and her husband, Sandeep Talati, have lived in Westfield for more than 12 years. They have two children in Westfield schools – a daughter in 8^th grade at Roosevelt and a son in 6^th grade at Edison.

Over the years, Dave has seen firsthand all that the Westfield school district has to offer, the candidate’s summary says, the highpoints being the strength of the teachers and the strong sense of community. She believes the school district should provide students as many opportunities as possible to be successful, both academically and socially.

Dave is a graduate from NYU Law School, and a practicing corporate attorney in New York City for more than 15 years.

Patel has a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Lehigh University, a Masters in Education in Educational Leadership Instruction, and is Certified by the New Jersey Department of Education to teach K-12 mathematics.

Patel has been a middle school math teacher in Edison Township for the past 17 years. As a teacher, who has interacted with thousands of students and parents over the years, Patel says she is well versed in the intricacies of public school education, curriculum, and staff development. She has two sons in Westfield High School.