PARSIPPANY, NJ — With Election Day approaching, Patch is putting together a series of candidate profiles so readers can learn more about who is on their ballot.
Jaya Trivedi is a vice president at a bank who has thrown her hat in the ring to secure one of three available seats on the Parsippany Board of Education.
Patch asked candidates to share some information about themselves and asked identical questions to all candidates.
See Trivedi's responses below:
Basic Information
Questions
I am running because every child deserves the opportunity to discover their strengths, develop their potential, and be prepared for life beyond the classroom. That means giving equal importance to academic achievement, creativity, critical thinking, emotional well-being, and the practical skills students need to navigate a changing world.
I also believe that strong schools are built by listening. Parents, teachers, students, and community members bring different experiences and perspectives, and their voices deserve to be heard and considered in Board decisions.
For me, serving on the Board is about putting students first, supporting the people who help them learn, and making thoughtful, transparent decisions about how we use public resources. I want to help ensure that Parsippany's schools continue to prepare every student for future success while remaining accountable to the families and taxpayers we serve.
I believe the most important challenge is ensuring that our schools continue to deliver strong educational outcomes and prepare students for the future while remaining financially sustainable.
That requires looking beyond a single budget year. I would support thoughtful long-term planning around enrollment, staffing, transportation, facilities and technology, while continually looking for efficiencies and outside funding opportunities.
I also want us to keep asking whether our investments are producing the outcomes we want for students. That means supporting teachers and strong academics, while giving students opportunities to develop critical thinking, communication, creativity, career awareness and responsible technology and AI skills.
My approach would be simple: listen, understand the data, ask the hard questions, and act in the best interests of students and taxpayers.
I bring a combination of experiences that I believe can add a fresh perspective to the Board.
My background includes education, learning and development, technology, AI and finance. I have a Bachelor's degree in Education and an MBA in Finance, and my professional work has involved helping people and organizations build the skills they need to navigate significant changes in technology and the workplace.
I am also a parent, a longtime Parsippany resident and a community volunteer. I have been involved in PTA activities, teacher appreciation, food drives, youth programs and robotics coaching.
Beyond experience, I believe effective Board members need good judgment, curiosity and the willingness to listen to perspectives that may differ from their own. A Board member should ask difficult questions, understand the distinction between governance and administration, and make thoughtful decisions based on facts and the needs of the entire community.
Parents should be meaningful partners in their children's education and should have opportunities to understand decisions, ask questions and provide input on curriculum and school policies.
At the same time, the Board has a responsibility to consider the perspectives of parents alongside those of educators, students, administrators and the broader community, as well as available evidence and New Jersey standards and requirements.
I believe the curriculum should be age-appropriate, academically sound, evidence-based and aligned with New Jersey standards, while recognizing that every student learns differently. We also need to recognize the importance of students' mental health and overall well-being, because students learn best when they feel safe, supported and ready to learn.
Parents should be able to understand what their children are learning and why, and have appropriate avenues to raise questions or concerns. As a parent myself, I value having a voice. As a prospective Board member, I also understand that my responsibility would be to listen carefully, consider different perspectives and make thoughtful decisions that serve all students and the entire Parsippany-Troy Hills school community.
The people, who come together for our students.
I love seeing the commitment of our teachers, staff, parents and community volunteers, and seeing students find their strengths through academics, arts, music, athletics, STEM and extracurricular activities.
Parsippany is a diverse community with talented students and many people who care deeply about their future. That sense of community is what I value most.
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Election Day is Nov. 3.
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