West Orange School Board Candidate Profile For 2025 Election: Dia Bryant

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The West Orange Board of Education race is hitting the home stretch, with four candidates competing for two open seats in 2025. The contenders are Susan Palmucci, Robert Ivker, Dia Bryant, and Noha Sadany.

Patch reached out to each candidate with the same set of questions. Dia Bryant’s replies follow below. Learn more about her campaign here, and see her social media campaign page here.

>> Are you a candidate seeking an elected office in West Orange? Send campaign updates to eric.kiefer@patch.com

PATCH: What background or professional experience qualifies you for the job?

DIA BRYANT: You will find a lot of this on my website. I generally say that I have worked from the classroom to the capital, having been a math teacher, and currently leading the national math improvement project. I have also passed significant laws regarding childcare and maternal health, access to rigorous coursework, and, most recently, led the establishment of the New York Early College Opportunity Fund, which is a $56M investment from the state of NY for early college opportunities, with $9M devoted to the establishment of new programming. I also lead fundraising efforts for nonprofits. In the past year, raising over $800K for the formation of the NY Alliance for Early College pathways. If you Google me, you will find some of the other transformative work I've done in the Northeast, both domestically and internationally.

PATCH: What is your campaign platform? What are your priorities if elected?

DIA BRYANT: As a sitting board member, we made significant changes this year, including two that I am incredibly passionate about seeing perform well. The first is the improvement of "opt-in" processes for advanced math coursework. This is a social justice issue that I will regularly discuss publicly. We improved the policy in the 2024-2025 school year and now need to monitor and ensure its efficacy in implementation.

Middle school changes this year were dramatic and must work well. As a former middle school teacher and school founder, these years are critical. The changes made were somewhat controversial; however, there is a belief that the change will be significant to children and their families. I aim to utilize my expertise, resources, and community to ensure that this is accomplished with excellence and equity.

I have two children in the system—one in high school and one in elementary. Given my talents and professional expertise, I do not want to be a complainer on the sidelines. Likewise, I am made uncomfortable by a board that, without me, would have only one or two members with children whose decisions will impact.

Communication in the district is not always excellent. There are two factors contributing to this: the familial nature of the community and incomplete communication systems. I am interested in seeing more opportunities for restorative assemblies and town halls. I would like to see these as proactive within the high school (with students) as well as with the community. This is a goal of the current board and the superintendent. I want to accelerate these efforts.

PATCH: What is one thing that always makes you smile when you think about the West Orange Public School District?

DIA BRYANT: There are so many things - seeing parent friends at the games, cheering for my daughter and son at their events, weekends with a house full of children from the schools. Still, most of all, seeing the pride and confidence that my children have when they return from a school environment that is affirming, edifying, and safe (physically and psychologically).

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.