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Saratoga Springs Board of Education {_getChooseLabel(this.selections.length)}

Saratoga Springs Board of Education has nine members serving three-year terms. This year there are three seats open.Voting Locations: Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Caroline Street, Division Street, Lake Avenue, Geyser Road, Dorothy Nolan and Greenfield Elementary Schools. If you are uncertain where to vote after reviewing the list, review the instructions on the district voter information page: https://www.saratogaschools.org/budget/voting-information/Voter Access: Anyone who is registered to vote in general elections and has voted within the past four years may vote in school district elections. District residents may also register at the Saratoga County Board of Elections Office in Ballston Spa from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Those who prefer to register by mail may pick up voter registration forms at post offices, public libraries, state government offices or the MacFadden Administration Building at 3 Blue Streak Boulevard in Saratoga Springs. Completed forms should be mailed to the Board of Elections. To register, residents must be United States citizens, at least 18 years old, and have resided in the school district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.Absentee Ballots: Residents who will be out of town or unable to vote in person can vote by absentee ballot. You must complete an application to receive an absentee ballot. An application form that can be printed, completed and mailed to the following: Brenda Roberts, Saratoga Springs City Schools, 3 Blue Streak Blvd., Saratoga Springs, NY, 12866.Applications may also be requested by calling the district clerk s office at 518-583-4703 or picked up at the district offices, located in the MacFadden Administration Building at 3 Blue Streak Blvd. on the high school campus. If the application requests the absentee ballot be mailed, the application must be received by the district clerk not later than 7 days before the election for which the absentee ballot is sought. Otherwise, the application may be personally delivered to the district clerk not later than the day before the election. Applications may not be submitted more than 30 days prior to the election. If you are qualified for absentee voting and issued an absentee ballot, the ballot itself must be received by the district clerk by 5 p.m. on the day of the election in order to be canvassed.Early Mail Ballots: All qualified voters of the Saratoga Springs City School District may vote as an early mail voter. There is no requirement for a reason to vote by early mail.Visit the district website for an Early Mail Ballot Application [https://www.saratogaschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Early-Mail-Ballot-Application.pdf]Completed applications can be printed, completed and mailed or dropped off to the District Clerk, Saratoga Springs City School District, 3 Blue Streak Boulevard, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866.5/10/25

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  • Candidate picture

    Ashley Fogarty
    (NOP)

  • Candidate picture

    Natalya Lakhtakia
    (NOP)

  • Candidate picture

    Leigh Wilton
    (NOP)

Biographical Information

Please list your relevant Qualifications and Experience:

Being on the Board of Education requires great personal commitment and a tremendous amount of time. What motivates you to be on the Board and how are you prepared for this intensive commitment?

What is your # 1 concern for education in your school district for the coming year?

School board members serve five constituencies: Students, parents, teachers and staff, the administration, and the community. On a scale of Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree, please respond to the following statement: They are all equally important.

Please explain your answer.

Do you have any additional comments?

Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked alongside dedicated educators as both a teacher and administrator. My experience includes teaching middle and high school, founding and operating a tutoring and advocacy business in Boston, serving as a special education team chair across all grade levels, and as Director of Student Supports for a network of Horace Mann public charter schools in and around Boston (Pre-K–8). Most recently, I was a Director of Preschool and UPK; I worked closely with local districts to operate UPK classrooms within public schools. This broad experience gives me a deep understanding of how decisions made at the board level affect students, staff, and families every day.
I’m running for the Board of Education because I believe every child deserves a safe, inclusive, high-quality education. I’ve dedicated my career to supporting students with diverse needs—spanning roles from classroom teacher to administrator. I have seen the difference public education can make in a child’s life.

I’m deeply committed to this work as an educator, Saratoga graduate, and parent of a future district student. I want to help build a school community where all children feel seen, supported, and prepared for life beyond graduation.

At a time when public education is under pressure, we need a strong board that defends its value and invests in its future. I’m ready to listen, lead, and serve with integrity and heart.
My top priority is ensuring that every student feels safe, supported, and prepared for life beyond graduation. This means fostering a school community, from the first day of Kindergarten (or hopefully UPK), where students experience belonging and have access to inclusive, high-quality learning that meets their individual needs.

Just as important is retaining the dedicated educators and staff who make that possible—by ensuring they feel valued and supported. Saratoga is a rarity and extremely fortunate to have teachers who are committed to spending their entire career in this district.

As the world continues to change, our schools must remain responsive and student-centered, offering clear, relevant pathways to success.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
I respectfully disagree that all five constituencies are equally important. Our students must be the top priority. Every decision we make should center their well-being, growth, and success.

As adults—whether teachers, parents, staff, administrators, or community members—we have a responsibility to set aside personal opinions and instead use data along with empathy and a deep understanding of individual student needs to guide our choices.

No two students are the same, and our policies must reflect that. Board decisions carry real impact, and we must ensure that impact always serves the best interest of all students in our district. Our students deserve us all to show up as our best selves, ready to support, guide, and champion them.
As a District, we must embrace the opportunity to work together as a community. We need to listen before judging and seek to understand different perspectives. As Atticus Finch reminds us in To Kill a Mockingbird, “You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view… until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”

Our students are watching, and we have a responsibility to model the empathy, respect, and unity we hope to see in them. Let’s be the example they look up to—by taking care of one another and leading with open minds and compassionate hearts. This work must begin in our schools. As a board member, I commit to listening, learning, and leading in a way that reflects those values.
I have dedicated my career to public education - it is what I am most passionate about. I have worked in public education for almost 2 decades, providing therapy to clients and students from birth through age 22 as a speech-language pathologist. I have served on the board for the past 6 years, and have used my time to focus on building equity in our district - for students, teachers, and staff. Education is the foundation of a strong and productive community. It is also essential to have strong public schools if we want a thriving democracy.
I want to continue to apply my personal and professional knowledge, perspective, and skills to make improvements and safeguard best practices. At a time when there is organized work being done to undermine public education and educators, when many new teachers are leaving the field during their first 5 years, and when our most marginalized students are being targeted, I want to continue to work in the field I know best and love the most to support and protect our schools.

I have served on the board for 6 years and am more than prepared for the continued commitment, thanks in no small part to my extremely supportive family, friends, and neighbors.
The undermining of public education by the federal government. This has the potential to impact schools districts everywhere so much that I cannot see anything more concerning.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
Students are the number one priority: they are the reason for the schools to exist at all. School board member must always keep students at the forefront of decision-making, framing any issue in such a way that it centers their experiences and the impact on them.
Candidate has not yet responded.
I am an Associate Professor and the current Associate Chair of Psychology at Skidmore College. As a social psychologist, I teach and conduct research on topics related to social identity and interaction, and adults’ beliefs about child development. I also teach statistics and research methods in psychological science. I earned my B.A. in Psychology from Princeton University and my Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Rutgers University. Prior to graduate school, I worked for five years in management consulting. I have also been an active volunteer, member, and Chair on committees focused on education and inclusion at Princeton, Rutgers, and within my broader academic community. My family and I been Saratoga Springs residents since 2015.
As an educator and district parent, I am passionate about building equitable, high-quality, and inclusive schools in our community, where every student feels challenged, supported, and valued. A proud product of public schools, I was raised with a deep understanding of education as a privilege, an equalizer, and a virtue in its own right. I believe a well-rounded education—one that encourages critical thinking, exploration of new ideas, and appreciation for diverse perspectives in a global and ever-changing world—should prepare students not just for careers, but also for engaged citizenship in a vibrant, democratic, and diverse society. I also believe that strong schools require strong support for teachers.
My top concern is ensuring every student has access to high-quality, inclusive education. In my first years on the Board, I’ll prioritize listening—learning from educators, students, and families to better understand each school’s needs. I’m committed to sustaining our district’s focus on equity, supporting educators’ professional judgment, and addressing key challenges like safe, reliable transportation. Strong schools depend on inclusive policies, thoughtful budgeting, and a deep commitment to students’ academic and emotional well-being.
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
All five constituencies matter, but students must remain the central focus of the Board’s work. Every decision should prioritize their learning, growth, and well-being. Teachers and staff are essential to that mission—they create the environments in which students learn and thrive. The Board must ensure educators are supported, respected, and trusted as professionals. While parents, administrators, and the broader community also play key roles, their efforts must align around what best serves students. The Board’s responsibility is to listen to all voices, engage with transparency, and make decisions that reflect our shared commitment to public education.
I am eager to work hard and collaboratively to support students, educators, and families in our home community. I promise to be an engaged, accessible board member—one who listens actively, collaborates, communicates transparently, and champions equitable policies that reflect the needs of all stakeholders.