VOTE411 Voter Guide

Elected to the School Committee in 2017 and have served as vice chair and chair. Educator for more than thirty years in Connecticut and Massachusetts. My positions have included special education teacher and team leader, literacy coach, early childhood coach, and fifteen years as an elementary school principal for the Boston Public Schools. Currently a volunteer tutor in Boston, and serve as a Special Education Surrogate Parent appointed by DESE. Degrees in education from Univ. of Connecticut, Storrs, and Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst; MBA from Boston University. My husband and I have lived in Brookline since 1985. Our two children graduated from Pierce School and Brookline High School.

I continue to prioritize the development of the social-emotional, physical, and intellectual abilities of all our students. I am committed to low student-teacher ratios, teaching to the whole child, racial justice and equity, and excellent, sustainable facilities. The school budget must reflect these priorities which is why I support the upcoming operational override. I support the Superintendent's budget which was developed with the School Committee along side the Expenditures and Revenues Study Committee, Advisory Committee, and Select Board. Our budget is limited to level services, which would mean no new programs. We have worked closely and publicly with all stakeholders including staff, families, and community to submit a fiscally responsible budget. I ask for your vote so I can continue to work for our school system, and the top ratings that it has earned.

I am an educator, parent, and Town Meeting Member with a PhD in American History from Boston College. Since 2013, I have taught World History, U.S. History, and Government at the secondary level, helping students develop critical thinking, evaluate evidence, and engage thoughtfully in civic life. I bring a data-informed, collaborative approach grounded in listening, respect for different perspectives, and a commitment to strong public schools. My husband, Greg, a fellow educator, and I have two children who attend BPS, and I have served as an elected Town Meeting Member since 2019. I am running to ensure every student is challenged, supported, and known.

Necessary investment means ensuring all students have access to consistent, high-quality academic instruction and meaningful enrichment opportunities. At the middle school level, this includes more consistent time on learning in core subjects, expanded extracurriculars, and equitable access to experiences such as theater, student publications, athletics, and STEM opportunities. Students across all eight middle schools should arrive at BHS with a shared baseline of skills and content.

At the same time, we must balance these priorities with fiscal responsibility. That requires a careful review of the recommendations put forward by ERSC to identify both efficiencies and potential revenue. As a School Committee member, I would approach each decision with due diligence—prioritizing what is educationally sound, financially responsible, and aligned with our community’s values.

Faiza Khan is a longtime Brookline resident and parent of four graduates of Brookline Public Schools. She is an experienced public-school educator and administrator with fifteen years of experience in curriculum design, evidence-based instructional implementation, and systems-level improvement. As Director of Mathematics for Medford Public Schools, she works closely with the superintendent, central-office leaders, educators, and families to develop coherent instructional pathways that support student learning, manages the departmental budget, and supports instructional improvement. She holds an Ed.D. in Leadership in Schooling, a Master's in Secondary Math Education, and an MBA, bringing both educational and financial expertise. 

A necessary investment is high-quality teaching and learning—strong curriculum, skilled educators, and targeted support for all students, including those who need greater academic challenge. These are the core drivers of success. We must also invest in the whole child through social-emotional supports and inclusive school environments where every student feels they belong.

Fiscal restraint means being disciplined: using data to evaluate what’s working, prioritizing high-impact programs, and making thoughtful, data-informed choices. Fiscal restraint shall be coupled with transparency and clear communication with the community. Long term, fiscal responsibility depends on sustainable planning—aligning staffing, programming, and resources with enrollment, student needs, and outcomes. I will work to ensure every dollar advances equity, excellence, and long-term sustainability.

I'm an elected Town Meeting Member, former Pierce/BHS parent, and mother of 4 including children with special needs. I've led many non-profit efforts and am experienced building strategic plans to correct budget deficits. I'm also an Internist/Nephrologist currently practicing part-time at the Veterans Home in Chelsea and the VA Hospital.

I've spent much of my career on the business side of healthcare using data to guide decisions and continuously improve outcomes. That’s the mindset I would bring to the School Committee: thoughtful, results-oriented, and fiscally responsible. I will ask tough questions, listen closely to our community, focus on academic excellence, and ensure every child is respected, included, supported, and challenged.

We must keep our limited dollars flowing into classrooms. There is no substitute for the human interaction between educators and learners. To help address achievement gaps, I would like high-dosage tutoring programs like Steps to Success and The Calculus Project expanded - reaching our youngest learners. At all levels, PSB must offer support to students who need it, and also access to challenge (honors, AP, etc.).

PSB is experiencing structural challenges that undermine fiscal sustainability. The Superintendent’s proposed FY27 budget requires additional funds to be balanced. I am running for a three-year position, and I intend to advocate and work in that time for additional efficiencies (that don’t compromise educational programming), structural changes (per the E&RSC report), and revenue-generation. I have deep experience with complex systems and the skills needed to do this work.