Megha Chawla is running for the San Carlos School District Board of Trustees, which oversees the K-8 public schools. In an exclusive interview with India Currents, she shares her perspective on why she is running for office.
Why did you decide to run for this office?
I’ve lived in San Carlos for 21 years, and education and working with children have always been important to me. Over the years, I’ve been involved in our community as a parent, coach, mentor, and school volunteer.
As a parent, I’ve seen firsthand how much our schools influence children’s academic growth, confidence, emotional well-being, and sense of belonging.
We have wonderful schools in San Carlos, but we also face challenges, from retaining great teachers in an increasingly expensive area to ensuring every child receives the academic challenge and support they need.
After nearly 30 years of leading technology teams, managing large budgets, and solving complex problems, I want to put that experience to work for our schools.
What do you see as your primary role in your new office?
The school board’s responsibility is to ensure every child receives a high-quality education in a safe, supportive environment while being responsible with public resources.
A board member’s role is to set direction, establish priorities, provide oversight, and hold the district accountable for results, not to manage day-to-day school operations.
I also believe board members need to be accessible and willing to listen to parents, teachers, staff, and students. People deserve to be heard, and decisions should be based on facts, careful consideration, and what’s best for our schools.
If elected, your top priorities will be…
Student Well-being: Ensure every child feels safe, supported, and included. Strengthen school-parent partnerships and improve access to academic and emotional support.
Academic Excellence: Maintain rigorous curriculum, improve instructional consistency across classrooms, and ensure students receive appropriate support or greater academic challenge based on their needs.
Supporting Teachers and Staff: Focus on retention, affordability, professional development, and manageable workloads so our schools can continue attracting and keeping great educators.
Fiscal Responsibility and Transparency: Make every dollar count. Improve visibility into district finances, spending priorities, and how investments benefit students.
Preparing for the Future: Establish thoughtful technology and AI policies that protect foundational learning and children’s development while using technology responsibly to support educators and improve district operations.
What are the major challenges that your constituency is facing?
Our biggest challenge is maintaining excellent schools amid rising costs and limited financial resources. The high cost of living makes attracting and retaining teachers and staff increasingly difficult.
We also need to better address the range of student needs. Some children require additional academic or emotional support, while others need more challenging coursework. Families should be confident that their children receive a consistent, high-quality education regardless of classroom assignment.
Student well-being, campus safety, and the impact of rapidly evolving technology are also important concerns. These are not problems that can be solved overnight, and we need to plan for them rather than wait until they become urgent.
What do you consider your most significant accomplishments for your city?
My contributions to San Carlos have largely been through community service, especially programs benefiting children and families.
I’ve served as an athletic director, coached youth track and field, volunteered in classrooms, supported arts education, and helped restart Cub Scout Pack 153 after COVID, bringing children and families back together through shared activities.
I’ve also spent approximately 15 years mentoring young people through Friends for Youth and more than 20 years supporting Asha for Education. I founded an endurance training program that helped hundreds of people take on athletic challenges while raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for education.
These are things I’ve genuinely enjoyed doing over the years, and many of the relationships and friendships I’ve built through them have stayed with me.
What sets you apart from your competitors in the race?
I bring nearly 30 years of executive leadership in technology, extensive financial and operational experience, and decades of hands-on community service.
I’ve worked at Microsoft, Oracle, and startups, leading complex initiatives, managing budgets totaling hundreds of millions of dollars, and helping large organizations improve efficiency through technology and data.
I’m comfortable working through complex problems, asking difficult questions, understanding financial tradeoffs, and making decisions that have long-term consequences.
But I also understand that schools are not corporations. Their success is measured by how well children learn, grow, and thrive. My years as a parent, coach, mentor, and school volunteer have given me that perspective.
What would be your one-minute pitch to voters?
I’m Megha Chawla, a San Carlos resident of 21 years, a parent, a longtime community volunteer, and a technology executive with nearly 30 years of leadership experience.
We have great schools in San Carlos, and I want to help keep them strong.
My priorities are retaining great teachers, ensuring every child receives an excellent education, supporting student well-being, and making responsible, transparent financial decisions.
I’ve managed large budgets and complex organizations throughout my career, and I want to bring that experience to our school board. I also know our community well, having spent years volunteering in our schools and working with local children and families.
I care deeply about our schools, and I’m ready to do the work.
Would you like to share a few details about your family and background?
I’m an immigrant, a computer science graduate, and a technology executive who has spent nearly three decades working in enterprise software, cloud computing, data, and AI.
My husband and I have called San Carlos home for 21 years. We’re raising our son, who attends Tierra Linda Middle School, along with our two dogs.
Education has played a defining role in my life. It opened doors and created opportunities that might otherwise have been out of reach, which is one reason I’ve dedicated so much time to mentoring children and supporting educational programs.
Outside work and volunteering, I’m an endurance athlete and triathlete. I enjoy running, cycling, open water swimming, and helping others discover what they’re capable of achieving.
Are there any personal anecdotes you would like to share?
One of my most rewarding experiences has been coaching kids in track and field over the years. I’ve watched children who initially struggled or lacked confidence come back year after year, getting stronger, faster, and more confident in themselves.
What I love most isn’t necessarily seeing them win races, but watching their progress and the pride on their faces when they realize how far they’ve come. Some of these kids have surprised even themselves with what they can accomplish.
That’s what I enjoy most about working with children. Watching them grow, gain confidence, and discover what they’re capable of doing.
