Millburn School Board Candidate Profile: Anna Ostrovsky

MILLBURN, NJ — Millburn residents have a big choice to make in November: who will serve on the board of education?

Millburn is among the New Jersey towns holding a school board contest as part of the 2026 general election. Seven candidates have filed to run for three open seats on the Millburn Board of Education, including Anna Ostrovsky.

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Ostrovsky, 52, recently shared some background with Patch about her qualifications and plans if elected. Learn more about her campaign here.

PATCH: What qualifications and background make you a good fit for the position?

ANNA OSTROVSKY: Born in Moscow, I came to New Jersey at age eight and grew up here, graduating from Livingston High School before heading to the University of Pennsylvania. There, I earned a B.A. in history from the College of Arts and Sciences and a B.S. in economics from the Wharton School. I later earned an MBA from Columbia Business School. In 2015, my husband and I returned to New Jersey with our family and made Short Hills our home. We have three children, ages 7, 11, and 12. Our two younger children attend Millburn Township schools, and with my seven-year-old just beginning second grade, we look forward to many more years as part of the Millburn school community.

I became more closely engaged with our school district when my youngest was preparing to enter kindergarten. Having experienced the private preschool and kindergarten attended by my older children, I was incredibly impressed by Glenwood School—particularly its warm, child-focused environment and the dedication of its teachers and staff. As I began paying closer attention to issues such as elementary class sizes, I wanted to better understand how decisions affecting our schools were made. I began attending Board of Education meetings, learning more about district policies and priorities, and becoming increasingly involved in our schools. I have volunteered every year in a variety of capacities, enjoy the community very much, and am happy to contribute my time.

Professionally, my background is in finance, risk management, and leadership. After beginning my career in investment banking, I earned an MBA and joined GE Structured Finance, where, in addition to underwriting new investments, I managed and restructured a troubled portfolio. I later joined Goldman Sachs, working at the intersection of banking and risk. I was promoted to Managing Director and spent more than a decade at the firm.

Throughout my career, I have been responsible for evaluating complex issues, balancing competing priorities, managing risk, making difficult decisions with imperfect information, and building and leading high-performing teams. I believe that organizations succeed by attracting talented, passionate people, giving them the support they need to excel, and assessing results.

I'm seeking election to the Board of Education because I want to be a strong, informed, and empowered advocate for our students and families. I want to listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and work hard to help ensure that every child in our district has the opportunity to thrive.

PATCH: What are your plans if elected?

ANNA OSTROVSKY: I had two educational experiences that, in hindsight, shaped my life (and it was not the Ivies!). The first was at The Hudson School in Hoboken, where I was a student from fourth through sixth grade, and the second was at Livingston High School, where I graduated.

In both places, it was the infectious passion of my teachers—sometimes over the top!—for their subjects that inspired me, as well as the attention they devoted to each student. They didn't simply teach the material; they made it come alive. Some were extremely exacting, while others were less so, but what they had in common was that they loved the subjects they taught, they loved teaching, and, just as importantly, they loved their students.

When I think about Millburn schools today—with our conversations about screens in the classroom, grading practices, and the many competing demands placed on teachers and students—I keep coming back to those experiences. What stayed with me wasn't a particular textbook, assignment, or grade. It was being taught by someone who was deeply passionate about what they were teaching and deeply invested in me as a student.

Those experiences shaped what I believe our schools should strive to provide for every child. As a Board of Education member, my priorities would be straightforward: smaller class sizes for our younger students; a renewed focus on our educators and the classroom experience; and a commitment to meeting each child where they are and helping them reach their full potential.

We clearly need common expectations, but you cannot standardize your way to excellence. A shared curriculum and high expectations provide the foundation; great teachers also need the professional autonomy to bring that curriculum to life for the students in front of them. I want our educators to have the support, resources, and trust they need to do what they do best: teach.

My professional experience has also shaped how I approach problem-solving and leadership. I believe in data, analytical decision-making, and responsiveness to the community we serve. Good decisions require good information, and our families deserve clear, honest communication—not only about what decisions are being made, but why. I also believe that the best decisions come from listening to the people they affect and engaging our community in the process.

Finally, I feel very fortunate to be joined in this election by my slate partners, Christian Germa and Prasoon Saurabh. We share a deep commitment to our schools and to a data-driven, open, and respectful process. While we may not always have the same perspective on every issue, we are committed to listening, asking questions, considering the facts, and working together to find good outcomes for our children and families.

PATCH: What is one thing about the Millburn school district that always makes you smile?

ANNA OSTROVSKY: Volunteering at the Glenwood Library.

When it's time for the kids to choose their books, the librarian calls it "book shopping," but I see it more as a treasure hunt. Little kids surrounded by giant shelves filled with treasures. The children talking in low voices (library rules!) and consulting with each other on strategy to find the most desired newly released graphic novel. I sometimes imagine them forming a human ladder and standing on each other's shoulders to reach the top shelf.

Finally, when the treasure is in hand, they crack open the book and gather around the person lucky enough to be able to bring it home for the week, looking at the colorful pages.

"Can I have it after you?" they ask him.

And I smile.

How lucky am I to be a fly on the wall here at the Glenwood Library, witnessing the beginning of what will hopefully become a lifelong treasure hunt.

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