I'm running for Arlington School Committee because every child in our community deserves an education that challenges, engages, and prepares them for their future.
I hold a Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT, an M.S. in Physics, and a degree in Pedagogy and Psychology from St. Petersburg State Polytechnic University. As a data scientist, I've worked on diverse challenges—from robotics and agriculture to misinformation analysis at Facebook.
But my most important credential is being a parent of three school-age children in Arlington. I see the daily reality of what's working and where we can improve. I attend school committee meetings, I talk with teachers, and I listen to what students are telling us about their experiences.
We live in a difficult times of wars, global instability and social divisions. We are tempted to get children involved in taking sides. However, we need to remember that these issues were not created by kids. These are grown-up issues, and it is up to grown-ups to resolve them. We, grown-ups, should be secure and not be relaying our trauma to a younger generation. A secure adult provides a "secure base" for learning and growth by treating a child as equal.
Right now, like never before, it is imperative that we are kind, listening and trusting parents and caregivers to our children.
I am a strong advocate for schools that truly serve children. Inspired by Janusz Korczak, the pioneering educator and children's rights advocate, I believe in nurturing each child’s unique path rather than imposing external expectations. His book, How to Love a Child, is a profound reminder that educators should help children achieve their own goals.
Buddhist principles of compassion guide my approach to decision-making. I strive to lead with kindness, listen deeply, and consider the wellbeing of every person affected by school policies.
Richard Feynman taught me to be wary of the term "expert." There's always more to learn, and approaching challenges with curiosity and humility leads to better outcomes than assuming we have all the answers.
As a data scientist and statistician, I value evidence and research. But I also reject the obsession with numbers for their own sake. Data should inform our decisions and help us understand reality, not reduce students to test scores. I know how to break down compounding and causal effects of any performance metric to make sense out of it. I am planning to make education statistically rigorous.
I'm a founding member of Arlington Math Parents, a group advocating for quality math education tailored to each child's needs and abilities. We're working to ensure that all students have access to challenging, engaging mathematics instruction that prepares them for success.
I'm running for school committee because I believe we can do better for our kids. Not by tearing down what's working, but by actively listening to students, providing appropriate academic challenges, and ensuring every child has pathways to success.
This isn't about politics or ideology. It's about making sure the next generation of Arlington students has the tools, knowledge, and opportunities they need to thrive.