A heart for service

As a parent of two children attending a wonderful District 25 school, partner in education through the PTA and an elementary school teacher with 15 years of experience, I would like to share my opinion and highly recommend Anisha Patel for re-election as a District 25 school board member.

Anisha and I met through our sons' school functions and soon started sharing stories and philosophies about education. Anisha is not only an amazing mom to her four children, but she has a heart for service and has served our community in countless ways. Through many conversations and observations, it is clear that Anisha puts service as a top priority and that students of all ages are her guiding force. In particular, Anisha supports special education students through voting to increase district support with more special education staff members, assistive technology, and professional development to help provide a more inclusive learning environment.

COVID has been challenging for everyone and many of the school board meetings have been divided, heated, and at times, disrespectful. Anisha has stayed respectful of everyone's opinions. She does the work in this role by meeting and listening with parents, teachers, and administrators who have differing opinions on the very important issue of getting students back in school. She uses data to guide her decisions. Through her careful exploration of options, Anisha makes thoughtful suggestions and votes to prioritize student learning while staying safe. I feel that having a school board member who reasonably uses CDC recommendations while empathizing with families and educators is a perfect combination for a leader I want making decisions for my family.

Christine Pellum

Arlington Heights