Elections Are Important - 5/13/26

Elections are important. The individuals you put into the three open seats on the school board will be making decisions that will impact our students — your children — for years to come.

I’m not just a candidate; I’m also a voter. Here’s what I’m looking for in a school board trustee: Someone who will put student learning and outcomes at the center of every decision. Someone who is willing to ask tough questions, and to collaborate strategically to move things forward. Someone who understands that “staying in your lane” as a trustee means applying the principles of good governance, responsible oversight, and personal integrity to the work. Someone who the community can count on and trust. I hope that for some of you, I am that person, and I hope to earn your vote next week.

Watch the League of Women Voters Candidate Forum to hear from all the candidates here.

A Letter to the Gazette - 5/11/26

With the school board election a week away, I’m sharing my recent letter to the Gazette. You can hear from all the candidates at tomorrow’s forum.

+++++++++++++++++

To the editor:

I’ve spent the last two months meeting with Croton families to talk about our schools. As a first-term trustee on the Croton-Harmon Board of Education, this has been my ongoing work for the past three years: listening to community members, trying to connect them to solutions, and advocating for our district’s students. We’ve chatted on front porches, in cozy living rooms, and on backyard decks at sunset with hawks flying overhead. It’s pretty incredible to live in a community where you can just walk over to a neighbor’s house and be welcomed in for an honest and engaging conversation. I’ve learned so much about different families’ concerns and experiences, and I’ve come away feeling that we share many of the same aspirations and goals for our children.  

Don’t get me wrong — there’s a lot about our school board and our school district that needs improvement. I’m hearing it. I’m living it, as a parent of an 8th grader and an 11th grader. It comes down to three things: delivering strong student outcomes and meaningful experiences, transparency around decision-making, and consistent communication to the public. Our schools have experienced a good deal of change in the last decade since my eldest entered kindergarten. Evaluating how these changes are impacting learning outcomes, preparing our students for college and careers, and supporting achievement for all students is the school board’s responsibility. These have been my priorities as a trustee, and, from my conversations with many of you, I can confirm that they’re also the priorities of our community. My job, if re-elected, is to represent your values and your aspirations for our students at the board table. You can read more about the work I’ve done, and plan to do, at my website, abforboe.com. 

If you’ve seen me around town, whether it’s weeding the native plant garden at the Circle, volunteering at the Library’s Book and Bake Sale, or running a craft table for Earth Day or Juneteenth, you know that I love this community. We’re here for each other, and I want to be here for your families and the students you’ve entrusted to our schools. I hope you’ll consider voting for me for a second term as school board trustee on Tuesday, May 19, from 6 am to 9 pm, at Croton-Harmon High School. 

Sincerely,

Anamika Bhatnagar

Community Meetup - 5/9/26

I’d like our community to know there’s always a spot at the table for folks who want to talk about our schools. Please come by and let’s talk!

A Letter to the Croton Chronicle - 5/5/26

Here’s my editorial for the Croton Chronicle, explaining the work of my first term, and how I’ll continue to serve our community.

+++++++++++++++++

Community Values, Community Connections

by Anamika Bhatnagar

The Croton-Harmon Board of Education election is two weeks from today, and it has the potential to shape our schools for years to come. Five candidates are running for three open seats, and who we put in those seats matters. 

I’m asking for your vote so that I can continue to advance the changes I’ve already brought to the school board in my first term: greater accountability, consistent transparency, and meaningful community input. While there’s more to be done, I’ve demonstrated a commitment to working hard for our students and families across CET, PVC, and CHHS. 

As the parent of an 8th grader and an 11th grader, I’ve seen many changes in our schools over the last decade. Evaluating how these changes are impacting learning outcomes, preparing our students for college and careers, and supporting achievement for all students is the school board’s responsibility. This needs to become a higher priority in all three of our schools.  

As an individual school board trustee, I believe it’s my charge to represent the community and reflect its values within the educational system. I take this responsibility very seriously, as the many families I’ve met with in my first term can attest. In any community as vibrant and engaged as Croton, there will be differences of opinion and perspective. I welcome these discussions. I have never shied away from asking questions, encouraging reflection, and demanding action when necessary to support our district’s students, educators, and staff. One of my greatest challenges so far has been to change the culture of the school board and the district so that more of this work takes place in view of the public, through our meetings and committee sessions, through clear and direct communications to families, and through respectful and responsive community engagement. 

The foundational promise of public school education is access to meaningful learning opportunities for all students, an expectation of excellence and achievement for all students, and a feeling of safety and belonging for all students. I have been an advocate for these issues, and many more, in my one term on the school board. 

Our school board must help fulfill this promise by setting goals for the school district and superintendent, and ensuring follow-through and reporting; by evaluating programs, measuring outcomes, and pushing for changes and improvements; by establishing policies that support this work, and regularly reviewing and interrogating school district practices – all with transparency to the community. The school board I joined in July 2023 was not known for these things. In my three years of service, the board has moved in this direction, and I will continue to keep pushing it to center student experiences and outcomes.  

I will continue to advocate for stronger board oversight of district operations through policy development, particularly policies related to student privacy, data collection, and the use and licensing of technology. I’ve also taken the lead on establishing governance best practices, including formalizing a superintendent review cycle that allows for direct input from all trustees, not just board officers; onboarding and mentoring new trustees so they can be more effective contributors in their first year; and improving community relations through the creation of “Meet the BOE” listening sessions. These informal meetups give folks an avenue to speak in person with school board trustees and receive direct feedback. 

I’ve also pushed the administrative team to bring back district committees so community members can collaborate with district staff on the key issues facing our schools. This year, as board vice president, I’ve been able to shape public meetings to better reflect the concerns of the board and the larger community. By showing the public the consideration, care, and preparation that go into every decision, the school board and district have an opportunity to regain our community’s trust and confidence. There’s still a tremendous amount of work to be done, and I’m committed to carrying it forward if I’m re-elected to a second term. 

If you’ve read this far, you know I have a lot to say about education. You can find more on my website, abforboe.com. As a trustee, I remain committed to reflecting our community’s values and aspirations for our students at the school board table. I hope you’ll give me the opportunity to continue to serve by voting for me on May 19. 

To All the Teachers: Thank You - 5/4/26

Mrs. Swindell, Mrs. Vogel, Mrs. Dixon (pictured), Mrs. Black, Ms. Pangbourne, Mrs. Creed, Mrs. White, Mrs. Crews, Mrs. Gosnell, Mrs. Beckett, Mr. Nemetz, Mrs. Schick, Ms. Jarvis, Miss Fawcett. These are my homeroom teachers from preschool through 12th grade and I remember and adored them all. To all the teachers, and especially to the wonderful and dedicated teachers of the Croton Teachers Association: Thank you. Today, and every day.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week!

Community Meetups - 5/3/26

There’s a seat waiting for you at Baked by Susan this morning! I’m here until noon for coffee and conversation about our schools. Please stop by for a chat!

Sunday 5/3, 10 am - 12 pm, Baked by Susan 

Coffee and Conversation

Community Meetups - 5/2/26

It’s another Hang by the Hudson, weather permitting. Please come out and say hello, and let’s talk about our schools. You can also find me this weekend at:

Saturday 5/2, 1 pm - 3 pm, Vassallo Park

Croton Earth Day

I'll be visiting booths and welcome company and conversation, as well as conservation!

Sunday 5/3, 10 am - 12 pm, Baked by Susan 

Coffee and Conversation

Candidate Forum on Technology in Schools - 4/24/26

Thank you to the Croton Community Collective for welcoming this year’s BOE candidates to participate in a forum on technology in our schools. Watch the video here.

The organizers did an exceptional job of creating space for collegial discussion, and I appreciated being able to speak directly to families about the role of 1:1 devices in K-2 learning and beyond, educational technology, the school cell-phone ban, AI, and more. We have an opportunity as a community — and that term includes our families, administrators, and educators — to come together to recenter this conversation on what’s best for students. We all know it matters. Let’s do it.

Technology and the Gamification of Learning - 4/19/26

I spoke to nearly 20 parents at Croton Landing yesterday about student achievement, belonging, and college and career readiness. Our concerns aren’t unique to Croton — they are national, even global — and they can’t be reduced to a single issue. Speaking for myself, I’d like to see Croton lead on this front, and this opinion piece from the NY Times helps articulate why: Opinion: You Can't Game Your Way to a Real Education.

Porch Visits with Parents - 4/15/26

I visited seven different families at their homes this past week to talk about our schools. Living in this close-knit community for more than twenty years, I'm grateful to have these meaningful connections with so many of you, including parents of graduates now starting families of their own. In the coming days, I'll be posting about what I'm learning, and how I'll work as a trustee to address your concerns. You can also find me this Saturday at Croton Landing from 8:30 am - 10:30 am, assuming it's not raining. I miss those early morning AYSO practices with the best view in the world!

Our Community Demands Better - 4/1/26

Thank you to everyone who met with me this weekend! Please continue to share your thoughts and keep in touch by joining my mailing list here. 

    For several hours this weekend, I connected with parents from CHHS, PVC, and CET, and the same themes keep rising to the top: communication, accountability, technology use, the opportunity for every student to be challenged and supported academically, bullying, access to extracurricular and enrichment activities. These aren’t the concerns of one parent group, or one school demographic. As a community, we are demanding better, and as a trustee I am working to deliver. Please reach out to set up a time to speak or find me at one of these upcoming events. 

Improving Communication with Families - 3/25/26

With the school board election eight weeks away, I'm meeting with community members to ensure our priorities and values are reflected at the board table and within the school district.

    We are a community that believes in the potential of our schools, supports our teachers, and wants what is best for our children. One message our community has sent very clearly is that they don't feel heard. I've spoken to a number of parents who are incredibly frustrated by lag times in responses and lack of transparency, and it keeps me up at night. (You can ask my husband.) Improving communication and collaboration has been a constant focus for me since joining the school board almost three years ago, and we are still not where we need to be.

    I remain committed to connecting with our community with respect, empathy, and an open mind. I invite you to meet with me this weekend to share your thoughts on how we can do better. Please come by for coffee and conversation at the Black Cow on Saturday 3/28 from 9 am - 11 am, and at Baked By Susan on Sunday 3/29 from 9 am - 11 am.