Rajeev Parlikar announced yesterday that he will be running for School Committee in November’s election. Rajeev will run for the Ward 1 seat currently held by Bridget Ray-Canada. Bridget has already announced that she will not be running for re-election.Here’s the announcement …
I am excited to announce that I will be running for Newton School Committee from Ward 1 this November.
Newton Public Schools will be facing significant challenges in the aftermath of the pandemic. As a member of the School Committee, I will help to address those challenges and shape the direction in which we move forward. I’m confident my background and experience would contribute to the success of Newton Public Schools.
As a Newton resident since 1994; as a parent of an NPS student since 2007; as a special education parent; as a first-generation immigrant; and as a minority in our increasingly diverse city, I will contribute important perspectives that will strengthen the School Committee.
After receiving a BS and MS in Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, I have enjoyed a successful career as a strategy consultant and executive. I will draw upon my professional background to provide oversight to NPS, and to help the School Committee work with the administration to develop a vision for the future and robust plans for how to get there.
I think it is important to give back to our community and have consistently been involved in issues related to Newton Public Schools. I have served as:
- Co-Chair of the Newton Special Education Parent Advisory Committee (SEPAC) for four years, supporting Newton’s special education families and advising the School Committee on special education issues
- A member of the High School Working Group which developed a plan for returning high school students to in-person learning
- The parent representative on search committees for senior NPS administrators
- A member of the NPS Transition Taskforce, working to improve how NPS helps special education students prepare for life after high school
Through my work on school issues I have built good relationships with parents, teachers, NPS administrators, and the School Committee. I will work collaboratively, be open to diverse opinions, and make decisions that are in the best interests of our students and supported by data.
I strongly believe that all our children should have access to an education that lets them grow to their full potential, with each student getting both the opportunities and the support they need to succeed. My son started in NPS in 2007 and now is a sophomore at Newton North. Over the years, my son has benefitted from Newton’s capable and dedicated educators and support staff as well as the many resources we have available within NPS. I want to keep our schools strong for my son and for all NPS students.
In addition to his professional background and his long standing involvement and interest in the Newton schools, I think Rajeev would bring an important perspective to the School Committee.
His deep and personal interest in issues of Special Education would make him an especially important voice at the table when the School Committee is dealing with nearly every issue that comes before them.
Oooh, that’s a bit embarrassing. I wanted to include a photo of Rajeev with this post.
Who knew that Google Images isn’t infallible? My apologies to the candidate and any readers I may have confused.
I’ve replaced the photo with a real one of Rajeev.
He sounds like a good fit for the SC. His commitment to SEPAC is strong and we’d be lucky to have him continue to advocate for that as a member of the school committee.
Rajeev will make a fine School Committee member. The combination of his professional background, personal/family knowledge of and commitment to NPS system, with his calm, balanced, respectfully listening character will be an excellent fit.
So pleased to see someone of Rajeev’s background, civic and professional accomplishments, and character entering the race.
Thanks, Rajeev .. Good for all of us.
I wonder if the candidates — Rajeev (because this post is under his name) and Paul and Shawn and anyone I missed or yet comes along — are ready to start discussing what the comparative data says about the quality of NPS, relative to its opportunities, and what such analyses imply for what initiatives the School Committee ought to be pushing the Superintendent, the Teacher’s Union, and NPS’s Landlord to be doing better …
“On February 8th, 2021, The Educational Opportunity Project (EOP) at Stanford University will release new data in version 4.0 of the Stanford Education Data Archive (SEDA), a comprehensive national database of 10 years of academic performance data from 2008-2009 to 2017-2018. ”
And if not “now”, “when”? Or are citizens expected to vote on a the local equivalent of whether a Demi Moore runway walk during Haute Couture Fashion Week is meaningful …
I have known Rajeev for many years on both a personal and professional level. He has many excellent qualities that would translate into being an outstanding contributor to the school committee – able to look at a lot of data and develop insights and strategies, thoughtful about different issues and points of view, make tough choices, a problem solver, smart, caring, and kind. I hope Newton citizens join me in voting for him in the upcoming election.
I’m sure Christopher Steele would understand.
Excited that someone with Rajeev’s qualifications and experience is willing to serve Newton on the School Committee. We’re so lucky that excellent candidates are stepping up on behalf of Newton’s children. Paul Levy and Rajeev Parlikar have my full support and will do an excellent job! Who is going to step up and run in Wards 5, 7 and Ward 8?
Great to see more candidates entering the race. I hope we have credible challengers in other wards where incumbents will be running.
What I would love to see from all SC candidates are answers to some simple questions:
(1) Do you believe NPS has under-performed relative to other school districts in 2020-21?
(2) If yes, what would you have done differently?
(3) Are you committed to full-time, in-person education for the 2021-22 year?
(4) What steps are needed to make up for learning losses from 3/2020 to 8/2021?
Woo-hoo! So excited Rajeev is running! Great choice for the SC!
@Paul Levy
It’s not a race if Rajeev runs unopposed.