Ruchika S. Hira​: Bernards Board Of Education Candidate Profile

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — There is a contested race for the Bernards Township Board of Education election this upcoming November election with five candidates vying for the three open seats.

Ruchika S. Hira is one of five candidates running for the three, three-year seats in the election being held on Tuesday, Nov. 5. The other four candidates include: Suzanne Schafer Skalski, Stephanus "Iwan" Juwana, Lauren Beckman, and Karen Gray.

Here is a look at who Hira is and why she is running. Candidates were asked to answer the same questions and each candidate profile will be posted on Patch's site as it gets closer to the election.

Ruchika S. Hira

Describe yourself:

In a nutshell: I am 39 years of age. I was born in Queens, New York and grew up predominantly in Central Jersey (Colonia/North Edison) in a bilingual, bi-cultural home, as my parents are from India. I graduated from New York University as an NYU Honors Scholar and have a Juris Doctorate from Rutgers School of Law, where I was the marketing editor of the Rutgers Journal of Law and Public Policy. After law school, I completed a one year judicial clerkship with the Honorable JoAnne B. Spatola, J.S.C. (retired). I also have several certifications, including a certification in mediating disputes from the Harvard Negotiation Institute.

I have been married for more than 14 years. My husband is a radiologist with University Radiology and holds a faculty position in the Radiology Department at Rutgers Medical School. I have two children, a four-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter who is in 5th grade. My daughter previously attended Mount Prospect Elementary School and currently attends Oak Street Elementary School.

I am a practicing family law attorney. I am also a pro bono attorney for Manavi, a South Asian nonprofit organization that advocates for women affected by violence.

Why are you running for school board?

I believe a school board comprised of members with diverse backgrounds, education and experiences adds to the effectiveness of a school board and community as the board benefits from multiple perspectives. This is valuable when considering important educational and policy issues.

Further, my husband and I decided to move to Basking Ridge solely because of the stellar school system and like all parents, I want my children to continue to have the best education possible. With two young children who will be involved in various school sports, activities and academic endeavors as they go through their school years, I have a vested interest that our school district continues to thrive and provides our students with access to the resources that they need to succeed at all grade levels.

I believe the school board is doing a great job in creating a plan in providing our students with the necessary opportunities to reach their full potential and I am seeking to be a part of that team.

Why do you feel you are qualified for this position?

As a school board member, I believe it is important to be open-minded, responsive and receptive to the voice of parents, teachers, staff and most of all the students in our community. As an attorney who deals with families, children and conflict resolution on a day to day basis, I believe I offer a unique skill and mind set. Listening is key and over the course of my profession, I have honed in on this skill.

I have a background in Economic and Biology and most of my job entails writing and advocating, also a skill set that I believe the Board would benefit from. With that being said, I do not believe a specific set of "qualifications" are needed to thrive as a member of the school board. I think they key "qualification" is that you genuinely care and are willing to dedicate the time and energy to educate yourself to make the best decisions possible.

What are some issues you would like to address if elected?

• Safety in our schools;
• Standardized testing;
• Emotional well-being of our students and the stressors that they face.

— (If you are a candidate and would like to participate in the election profile, email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com)

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