Patch Candidate Profile: Divya Dorairajan For Ridgefield Board of Education

RIDGEFIELD, CT — Election Day on Nov. 4 is fast approaching, and there are a number of key races on the ballot.

Patch reached out to candidates for office to get more information on their campaigns and the issues that are facing their towns.

Candidate's Name:
Divya Dorairajan

What office are you seeking?
Board of Education

What town do you live in?
Ridgefield

Party Affiliation:
Independent

Occupation:
HR and Organizational Development Professional with 15+ years of experience in HR and organizational development, including 5+ years as a global language consultant and cross-cultural specialist.

Family:
My husband and I have been married for 18 years and have loved calling Ridgefield home for the past decade. Our freshman at Ridgefield High School keeps us busy and connected, and we’re so grateful to be part of such a warm, welcoming community

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No

Previous public office, appointive or elective:
Former appointed Board of Education Member (2022-2023), serving on Budget and Policy Committees

Current member, Commission for Accessibility (2 yr term)

Why are you seeking this office?
I'm running because I've witnessed firsthand the gap between our potential and our performance. During my previous term on the Board of Education, serving on Budget and Policy Committees, I saw how we could do so much better for our students. I'm not interested in maintaining the status quo. I'm running to bring excellence without compromise to Ridgefield schools. My background in HR and organizational development has taught me how to develop talent, measure outcomes, and deliver results. Every organization I've been part of has improved because I ask tough questions, demand transparency, and focus relentlessly on measurable success.

Our children deserve board members who bring real-world expertise in strategic planning, fiscal accountability, and talent development. They deserve someone who will fight for every student—from those needing special education support to our brightest innovators—without political games or empty promises.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is ____, and this is what I intend to do about it:
The single most pressing issue is the lack of measurable outcomes and accountability for our $119.9 million annual investment in education. Parents and taxpayers deserve to know: What are we getting for this investment? Which programs are working? Where are students falling short?

Right now, we don't have clear, public dashboards showing student outcomes, program effectiveness, or budget performance. This makes it impossible for families to make informed decisions and for the board to allocate resources strategically.

Here's what I intend to do:

Create Public Transparency: Implement a public-facing dashboard showing key metrics—academic performance, mental health support outcomes, special education progress, gifted program participation, and fiscal health. Every taxpayer should be able to see how their dollars translate to student success.

Performance-Based Budgeting: Shift from "we've always done it this way" budgeting to data-driven investment. Programs that deliver results get resources; programs that don't get redesigned or replaced. Excellence doesn't have to break the bank.

Drawing on my 15+ years in organizational development, I know that what gets measured gets improved. It's time to bring that accountability to our schools.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
Former BOE Experience: Unlike newcomers, I know exactly how the board operates. I've served on Budget and Policy Committees and understand the challenges, constraints, and opportunities. But experience alone isn't enough—we need leadership willing to question assumptions and demand accountability.

Experience without courage to question the status quo maintains mediocrity. Leadership without transparency erodes trust. And insisting that board members can only "speak as one voice" silences individual accountability and independent thinking—exactly what our community needs more of, not less. Consensus building is important, but not at the expense of asking hard questions or challenging the status quo. I don't need a learning curve—I'm ready to deliver results, ask tough questions, and champion genuine transparency on day one. Not because it's easy, but because our children deserve board members willing to challenge the comfortable consensus.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?
Beyond accountability and transparency, my focus is on five key priorities:

1. Special Education – From Compliance to Excellence
Shift from checkbox compliance to strength-based development. Establish clear career pathways, expand early intervention programs, and measure outcomes rather than paperwork. Every student has potential; our responsibility is to help develop it.

2. Gifted Education – Investing in Innovation
Increase funding beyond the current <1% to provide meaningful acceleration opportunities. Create innovation labs and partnerships with local businesses. Excellence is not a cost—it’s an investment in our future.

3. Workforce Readiness for an AI Future
Integrate AI literacy and real-world learning across all grade levels. Combine critical thinking, creativity, and technical skills to prepare students for the evolving workforce.

4. Mental Health – Prevention Over Crisis
Improve counselor-to-student ratios, promote digital wellness, and focus on prevention rather than crisis response. Early support strengthens students and reduces long-term costs.

5. Fiscal Responsibility with Strategic Partnerships
Pursue grants, partnerships, and alternative funding sources to sustain excellence without increasing the property tax burden. Every dollar should advance student outcomes.

I will also advocate for:
Expanded dual-credit opportunities
Stronger parent engagement and transparent communication
Targeted teacher support and retention initiatives

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I bring proven leadership from my prior service on the Ridgefield Board of Education (2022–2023), where I served on the Budget and Policy Committees, deepening my understanding of district finances and governance while building strong relationships with educators and the community.

With over 15 years in HR and organizational development, I’m Cornell-certified in Human Resources and hold an MBA in Personnel Management(India). I’ve led performance management and organizational change initiatives, managed complex budgets, and delivered measurable results with accountability.

My community involvement includes leadership roles with the Commission for Accessibility, Ridgefield A Better Chance, Ridgefield Rotary, Ridgefield CERT, and NCL Nutmeg Chapter. Across these roles, I’ve championed inclusion, education, and civic engagement.

What sets me apart is execution—I don’t just talk about excellence; I build it. I ask tough questions, demand transparency, and measure outcomes. I will bring that same focus and rigor to serving our students, educators, and community.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?
"The woman who follows the crowd will usually go no further than the crowd. The woman who walks alone is likely to find herself in places no one has ever been before." — Albert Einstein

I came across this quote at a time when some assumed I couldn’t get on the ballot on my own merit—and I was battling a heavy dose of impostor syndrome.

As a woman and a person of color who has spent her life finding her own way, I’ve heard “no” more times than I can count. I’ve been told what I can’t do, where I don’t belong, and why I should wait my turn.

I’m not running because a party recruited me or because the path was easy. I’m running because our children deserve board members who are willing to walk alone when necessary.

Walking alone is harder. It means no party machinery, no guaranteed voters, no institutional backing. It means proving yourself every single day—on merit, not affiliation.

But walking alone also means freedom—freedom to make decisions based on what’s right for students, not what’s politically convenient. Freedom to speak the truth without waiting for permission.

To every young person watching this election, especially those who’ve been told “no” or “wait your turn”: you are your own best champion. Don’t wait for someone to open a door or throw you a bone. Don’t follow the crowd just because it’s easier.

Believe in yourself enough to walk alone when necessary. The places you’ll go, the change you’ll create, and the impact you’ll have—all of it is waiting on the other side of fear.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I believe the best decisions come from independent thinking, not party loyalty. Education shouldn’t be a partisan issue. Every child—regardless of how their parents vote—deserves excellence.

Running as an Independent means I’m free to:

Make decisions based on what’s right for students, not what’s politically convenient

Focus on outcomes, not ideology

Speak truth, even when it’s uncomfortable

Ridgefield has the resources, the talent, and the community commitment. What we need is board leadership willing to demand excellence without compromise, measure outcomes transparently, and make tough decisions based on data—not politics.

I’ve spent my career developing talent, driving organizational excellence, and delivering measurable results. I’ve served on this board before—I know what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to change.

I’m not running to maintain the status quo. I’m running to transform it.