Table of Contents
How many years have you lived in Winchester? Eight glorious years
Please describe your professional background and education. As a graduate from the London School for Economics as a Hansard Scholar and Northeastern University, I am an economist and worked in FinTech consulting for large financial institutions such as Freddie Mac and GE Capital. As an entrepreneur, I founded Luxxie Boston - featured in Forbes (twice!), The New York Times and The Boston Globe.
What Winchester town positions (appointed or elected) have you held, and for how long? I was elected last Spring as a Precinct 5 Town Meeting Member.
What are the primary issues motivating your candidacy? In addition to providing much-needed elementary school representation, I am running because I want to help our schools better address the funding, curriculum, and culture challenges they face. Specifically, I am motivated by the issues of literacy reform, a larger curriculum review, intentional use of technology (including a review of personal device policies in schools), and fostering a school culture where every voice is heard, and every child thrives.
Can you share any volunteer work or civic engagement experiences that have shaped your perspective and prepared you for this role? Through roles such as Town Meeting Member, co-chair of Parents' Inter-School Council, TMMA (Town Meeting Members Association) Board, Ambrose School Council, and as Ambrose PTO President, I've worked with families, educators, and administrators to find solutions to our community's challenges as well as opportunities for growth.
How would you like voters to contact you if they have questions or want to discuss your platform further? (Please specify your preferred method: email, phone, website, social media, or in-person meetings.)
School Committee-specific questions
Given the FY2025 budget discussions, what measures would you propose to manage the budget effectively while protecting educational quality? The School budget needs to have a balanced approach that prioritizes fiscal responsibility while maintaining the high-quality education our students deserve. If elected to the School Committee, I would advocate for the following key measures: Data-Driven Resource Allocation – We must ensure that every dollar spent directly benefits students in the classroom. By analyzing performance data, enrollment trends, and teacher-student ratios, we can allocate resources to the areas with the highest impact, such as classroom size, literacy initiatives, math curriculum review, special education services, and enrichment programs. Maximizing Grant Opportunities & Partnerships – To supplement district funding, I would support efforts to secure state and federal grants as well as opportunities to partner with some of our beloved local organizations. Transparent & Collaborative Decision-Making – Engaging town boards, teachers, parents, and community members in budget discussions ensures that financial decisions reflect our shared priorities. I would advocate for clear communication about budget challenges while seeking solutions to secure funding.
What is your stance on updating the current curriculum, particularly regarding literacy and math, and how would you implement these changes? If elected to the School Committee, my approach would be to collaborate with stakeholders to review current curricula (not limited to math and literacy) and implement changes in a methodical and collaborative way. I would bring together experts, teachers and administrators to collect data, analyze curricula, pilot programs and include opportunities for feedback from students and parents. The rollout process would focus on investments in the classroom, including a student-facing coach in each elementary school, teacher professional development and any supporting materials. Going forward, I would work with teachers and administrators to promote a culture that encourages open dialogue and a continuous feedback loop on any progress or challenges.
If Winchester had to reduce the School budget, which program would you definitely keep and which ones would you cut? (Highest and lowest priority.) In my view, the top priority for the School Committee budget, in good times and bad, is protecting classroom investments, specifically, classroom size, student-teacher ratios, direct student services, including high-quality literacy and math curricula, teacher support and professional development, and special education programs. Budget adjustments should focus on administrative efficiencies rather than cuts to instruction. Ultimately, budget decisions should be made strategically, prioritizing the core mission of education while minimizing disruptions for students and teachers.
