Westfield Board Of Education 2025: Violetta Watson

WESTFIELD, NJ — Westfield's school board election on April 15 has four candidates running for three open seats on the Board of Education.

Violetta Watson is running for one of the three, three-year seats. Opposing candidates include incumbents Mary Wickens, Robert Benacchio, and Kristen Sonnek Schmelz.

Are you running for school board in Westfield? Contact Alexis Tarrazi at alexis.tarrazi@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and submitting campaign announcements to Westfield Patch.

Violetta Watson

• Age: 43
• Town of residence: I’ve been a Westfield resident since 2017.
• Position sought: I am running to be a member of the Westfield Board of Education
• Family: Our family includes my husband, William, our two sons (ages 13 and 12), and
  our mini goldendoodle, Winnie. Our boys attend Edison Intermediate School, and previously attended McKinley Elementary and Lincoln Schools, as well as Temple Emanu-El of Westfield’s kindergarten and preschool programs.
• Education:
  • Columbia Law School, J.D. (Juris Doctor) in Law
  • Rutgers University, B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) in Political Science & Journalism
• Occupation: I am a technology attorney specializing in artificial intelligence (AI), with 20 years of complex commercial law experience. I currently serve as Commercial Counsel at Google, focusing on AI, machine learning, and technology enterprise deals.
• Previous or current elected appointed office: For the past four years, I have served as Co-Chair of the Westfield Parent-Teacher Council’s Special Education Committee. In this position, I work closely with parents and administrators to support, educate, and create community for parents of special needs kids, and to provide input to District leadership on their behalf.
• Campaign website: Facebook Page: Violetta Watson (https://facebook.com/violetta.watson)

Why are you seeking re-election to the Board of Education?

I’m running for the Board of Education to make a difference in my community. Especially in today’s political climate, it is crucial that we elect Board of Ed members who will drive thoughtful, informed, and impactful decisions that prioritize our children’s best interests. I will bring my experience, commitment, and values to the Board of Ed to ensure that we put our kids first—ahead of politics, ahead of budget constraints, and ahead of all the noise.

How do you feel about offering full-day kindergarten in Westfield?

Westfield families deserve full-day kindergarten. We are one of the few towns in New Jersey, and the only one in Union County, without a full-day kindergarten program, and we need to do better. The upcoming referendum will allow us to use state funding to significantly offset the costs of building expansions for full-day kindergarten. I support the District’s plan to offer full-day kindergarten in this fiscally-responsible way.

What would you like to see improved in the school district?

Fostering Inclusive Learning Environments: We need to do a better job of bridging the gap between the general education and special education population, to ensure that all kids are included and given consistent opportunities—across all grades, academic disciplines, and extracurricular activities. This requires equipping all teachers with tools for fostering more inclusive learning environments and programs, for example, through special needs-focused training for our gen ed teachers and through more investment in collaborative programs and support systems like co-teaching, across all aspects of school life.

Rethinking District Real Estate Assets: Regardless of the referendum’s outcome (I urge you to vote “yes”), we must continue to optimize our District’s facilities strategy. This includes creatively leveraging existing assets like the Elm Street building and Lincoln School, and aggressively pursuing grant opportunities for classroom, playground, and grounds enhancements. Should the referendum not pass, we will need a swift, robust contingency plan, where these innovative approaches will be critical.

Implementing AI Policies and Education: Given AI's rapid integration into society, our District must begin to strategically develop and implement AI policies and education. We need to ensure students not only use AI safely and responsibly, with proper citations and for specific applications, but that they also develop proficiency in AI prompting and an understanding of AI training—essential skills for their future success. My experience and expertise in AI will be invaluable in suggesting improvements that are right for Westfield and that help our District lead in providing meaningful guidance to students, staff, and parents on this emerging technology.

What other issues would you like to tackle if elected to the Board of Ed?

Policies and governance are not always the most exciting reading, but they are essential tools for protecting student rights, guiding our staff, and providing necessary checks and balances across the District. If elected, I will work to help make sure our policies and governance practices reflect Westfield values and are more than just generic guidelines. This includes prioritizing a review of our Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying policy and making sure there is special education representation and consideration across all of our policies and practices.

What sets you apart from the challenging candidates?

What sets me apart from the other candidates is the impact I can bring to the Board of Education through my unique blend of legal expertise, AI specialization, and deep involvement in our special education community. For decades, I've honed my skills in complex negotiations and policy, asking critical questions, and advocating for challenging positions. My AI and technology background is crucial for preparing our students for the future. And my experience as Co-Chair of the Special Education Committee demonstrates my commitment to inclusive and equitable education for allstudents.

Is there anything else you would like to share about yourself or your campaign?

I love our town and being involved in our community. I’m an active member of Westfield’s Temple Emanu-El and currently completing their adult b’nai mitzvah program. I’m also finally learning to play piano (a lifelong goal) alongside my younger son, at NJ Workshop for the Arts in the heart of Westfield. It would be my honor to give back to this community, by serving as a member of the Westfield Board of Education.