Desis On The Ballot: Shivani Tripathi For San Carlos School District Governing Board

Shivani Tripathi is running for the San Carlos School District Governing Board. 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?

San Carlos is more than where my family lives. It’s where we’ve put down roots, raised our children, built friendships, and found a community we deeply love. I want to help ensure our schools remain places where every child feels seen, supported, challenged, and inspired to grow.

I often say I didn’t wake up one morning and decide to run for school board. This journey began years ago, in classrooms, school libraries, PTA meetings, and countless conversations with parents and teachers.

As a mother of two children in our district, I’ve experienced our schools as a parent. As a substitute teacher, I’ve seen classrooms from the inside. As a PTA leader, School Site Council member, and longtime volunteer, I’ve witnessed both the extraordinary dedication of our educators and the challenges they navigate.

And I’ve learned something important: even in a wonderful district like ours, not every child’s journey looks the same.

Some children need greater academic challenges. Some need additional support. Some simply need someone to recognize their potential in a different way.

I decided to run because I believe loving our schools also means having the courage to ask how we can make them even better.

For me, this isn’t about politics. It’s about children, people, and the future of a community I love.

What do you see as your primary role in your new office?

I believe a school board member’s first responsibility is to listen, and then lead with integrity, accountability, and compassion.

The board’s role is to establish a clear vision, set policies, responsibly oversee public resources, and hold district leadership accountable for student outcomes.

I also believe a board member should be a bridge between families, educators, district leadership, and the broader community.

Not every parent feels comfortable speaking up. Not every teacher feels heard. And not every child can advocate for themselves.

I want to help create a culture where people feel heard, decisions are transparent, and students remain at the heart of every conversation.

If elected, your top priorities will be…

My priorities center on three commitments.

Meaningful growth for every learner. Our district has strong academic outcomes, but averages don’t tell every child’s story. I want to ensure we are measuring individual growth, identifying learning gaps early, and providing both enrichment and appropriate support.

Supporting our teachers and staff. Our educators are the heart of our schools. They deserve the resources, professional development, respect, and support necessary to help every student succeed.

Responsible financial stewardship. With increasing costs and funding uncertainties, we must make thoughtful financial decisions, protect classroom programs, and plan for the district’s long-term sustainability.

My guiding philosophy is simple: Every Child Growing.

Not just some children. Not just the highest achievers. Every single child.

What are the major challenges that your constituency is facing?

San Carlos is fortunate to have excellent schools, dedicated teachers, and deeply involved families. But being a strong district doesn’t mean we should become complacent.

One challenge is ensuring that our impressive districtwide academic performance translates into meaningful progress for every learner, including students with disabilities, children who need additional academic support, and students ready for greater challenges.

Another is financial sustainability. Rising operating costs, changing enrollment, and uncertainty around school funding require thoughtful planning. We need to protect what makes our schools special while remaining responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.

We must also support the social and emotional well-being of our children and educators. Academic achievement matters tremendously, but so does belonging, confidence, and feeling safe and supported at school.

And finally, maintaining trust and communication between families, educators, and district leadership is essential. Strong schools are built through strong relationships.

What do you consider your most significant accomplishments for your city?

I don’t measure my community involvement by titles. I measure it by the relationships I’ve built, the children I’ve supported, and the moments when I could make something better.

Serving as Heather Elementary PTA President has been one of my most meaningful experiences. I’ve worked alongside wonderful parents, teachers, and volunteers to strengthen school programs and build community.

One accomplishment particularly close to my heart was taking the initiative to bring theater back to Heather Elementary. Seeing children discover their confidence, creativity, and joy on stage reminded me why these experiences matter so much.

I’ve also served on School Site Councils, volunteered in school libraries, taught Art in Action lessons, supported classroom activities, and helped create opportunities for families to connect through cultural celebrations and school events.

Beyond the classroom, I’ve served as a youth soccer assistant coach and participated in community initiatives.

None of these accomplishments happened alone. They happened because people came together.

And perhaps that’s what I’m proudest of: helping bring people together around something bigger than ourselves.

What sets you apart from your competitors in the race?

I bring a combination of perspectives that I believe is especially valuable to our school board.

I’ve experienced our schools from multiple angles: as a parent, substitute teacher, PTA president, School Site Council member, classroom volunteer, and community leader.

I’ve seen the excitement of a child learning something new, the challenges teachers face, the concerns parents bring forward, and the difficult decisions involved in school planning and budgeting.

Professionally, I bring years of leadership experience managing complex technology programs, budgets, teams, and competing priorities. Today, as President and CEO of Infinity BioSolutions, I understand the importance of strategic planning, collaboration, accountability, and making decisions with long-term consequences in mind.

But beyond my professional qualifications, I bring something deeply personal: a genuine understanding that children learn differently, grow differently, and need different kinds of support.

I don’t believe leadership is about having all the answers. It’s about asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully, and being willing to do the work.

I bring both professional leadership experience and years of hands-on service in our schools. I believe that combination makes me well prepared to serve.

What would be your one-minute pitch to voters?

I’m Shivani Tripathi, and I’m running for the San Carlos School District Governing Board because I believe every child deserves the opportunity to grow and thrive.

I’m a mother of two children in our district, a former PTA president, a substitute teacher, a School Site Council member, and a longtime classroom and community volunteer.

I’ve seen our schools from the inside, and I know how much our educators care and how deeply our families are invested.

I also bring years of professional leadership experience managing complex programs, budgets, and teams.

My priorities are simple: meaningful academic growth for every student, strong support for our teachers and staff, and responsible financial stewardship.

I’m not running because I think our schools are failing. I’m running because I believe great schools deserve thoughtful leadership that protects what works and keeps striving to do better.

Would you like to share a few details about your family and background?

I grew up in a small town in India, where education was never something we took for granted. It was a source of opportunity, independence, and hope.

I earned my engineering degree in Electronics and Telecommunications in India and later completed my MBA in Information Technology and Supply Chain Management at San Francisco State University.

My professional journey has taken me through technology, program management, entrepreneurship, and healthcare leadership.

My husband, Surendra, and I have been married since 2009, and we’re raising our two wonderful children, who attend San Carlos public schools.

We’ve called San Carlos home since 2019, and I genuinely cannot imagine a better community in which to raise our family.

Like many parents, my days are a juggling act of school drop-offs, work, volunteering, homework, extracurricular activities, and wondering what everyone is going to eat for dinner!

But I wouldn’t trade this beautiful chaos for anything.

My family keeps me grounded and constantly reminds me why this work matters.

Are there any personal anecdotes you would like to share?

One of my favorite things about volunteering in classrooms is how children have this wonderful ability to surprise you.

You can walk into a classroom with a carefully planned activity, convinced you know exactly how the lesson will unfold, and within minutes, a child will ask a question or come up with an idea that makes you see everything differently.

I’ve experienced this while teaching Art in Action lessons, helping in libraries, and working with students in classrooms.

And I’ve learned that sometimes the most important thing we can do as adults is simply give children the space to be curious, creative, and themselves.

I also often joke that somewhere between PTA meetings, school volunteering, soccer practices, and raising two children, I apparently decided I had too much free time and should run for school board!

But the truth is, every one of those experiences brought me closer to this decision.

I didn’t enter this race because I wanted a title. I entered because I care deeply about the children, educators, and families who make San Carlos so special.

If there’s one thing I hope people remember about me, it’s that I show up. I listen. I care. And when something matters, I’m willing to roll up my sleeves and do the work.