Meet Tina Malhotra, Incumbent and BOE Chair: Candidate for Ridgefield Board of Education
How has your personal/professional background prepared you for this role?
I currently serve as Chair of The Ridgefield Board of Education, a position I’ve proudly held since 2022 after joining the Board in 2020.
I also serve as Area Director for the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE), ensuring Ridgefield has a strong voice in state-level leadership and advocacy.
Beyond the BOE, I’ve served Ridgefield in many capacities and continue to serve through multiple community organizations, including the Youth Commission, Ridgefield Prevention Council, SOAR Together, A Better Chance (ABC), and the Rotary Club. My leadership in these organizations reflects my deep commitment to serving this town and building bridges across our community.
On a more personal note, I’m biracial, multicultural and an immigrant. I speak four languages, and I have grown up all over the world: Singapore, India, Europe, and I went to school in England. My family is composed of many cultures.
This experience has taught me that there is not a single right voice. It’s about listening to different voices that often come with opposing views. As the Sikh saying reminds us: listening to another perspective does not mean you give it legitimacy, it means you show your humanity. And when you show your humanity, you encourage others to reveal theirs. I believe this wholeheartedly.
Additionally, I’m the proud mother of a Ridgefield graduate who is now studying Biology and Economics Hons at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Like so many Ridgefield parents, I’ve walked the journey through our schools from the first day of kindergarten to graduation.
What do you think the Board’s greatest strengths are and how will you build on them?
I’m very proud that in the past three years, we as a Board, vote together. We have stable leadership.
At the beginning of the school year, we hold a Board retreat. Each board member is invited to share their priorities for the upcoming year. We discuss the issues they want to address and discuss how we can collaborate to achieve collective Board goals. I think working together without politics allows us to do the important work of focusing on our children, community and teachers.
With the new Alternative High School/Transition Building underway, we’re also building stronger curriculum across grade levels. We’ve introduced new world language programs and academically gifted programs, and with our ongoing Master Plan Capacity Study, we are shaping Ridgefield schools for the long term.
What are your top priorities for Ridgefield when you are elected?
I believe in Ridgefield and in the power of public education to shape futures. Serving on the BOE has been an honor and responsibility I take very seriously.
My priority is ensuring that our schools continue to meet the needs of every child — academically, socially, and emotionally — today and into the future. This means investing wisely, planning with vision, and never losing sight of our students as whole people.
My focus will remain on strengthening curriculum, supporting teachers, investing in student mental health, and making responsible, forward-looking decisions for our facilities.
I also want to reach out to Ridgefield’s senior population and help them understand the value of education in our town. It has changed. It is not the same it was 20 years ago. I still get this question: while enrollment is down, why do we need to spend more money? My answer is simple: Education has changed. And we must keep up with these changes so that our children can thrive. I believe it’s important to have those conversations to help build community, partnerships and, above all, trust!
How will you balance growth and progress while preserving Ridgefield’s character?
I’m thrilled that people want to move to our town because that, in part, reflects the quality of our school system. Our schools are always on top. College-bound students get into great schools. We will continue to advocate for and help all our students thrive regardless of their future path or ambitions.
What are the key issues the Board of Education faces?
- Implementing the master plan and capacity study results
- Potential redistricting based on enrollment projections
- Expanding preschool and transitional kindergarten programs due to state guideline changes
- Budget challenges with potential 4-5% increases
- Maintaining excellence across all schools while managing growth
- Community outreach and education about how modern education has changed
What is your leadership style?
My leadership style is collaborative. My own journey has been shaped by different cultures, perspectives, and experiences. These exposures have given me resilience, empathy and the ability to work across divides. I believe in listening, even to perspectives I may not agree with.
What does Ridgefield mean to you personally?
This town is my extended family I am passionate about this town, and I love this community. My dedication to Ridgefield is real, tested, and unwavering.
What is one thing voters might be surprised to learn about you?
I volunteer at Ann’s Place, a small nonprofit that provides free counseling services to anyone who’s gone through cancer including family members and friends. And I help plan all their events.
I’m also a vegetarian because I truly love animals.
What sets you apart from your opponents?
I bring proven leadership and a record of long-standing service. As Board Chair, I’ve helped lead the Board and district through challenges and ensured our Board works cohesively.
My accomplishments include:
- Secured approval and funding for the Alternative High School/Transition Program building, now under construction.
- Expanded curriculum opportunities, including elementary world language and academically gifted programs.
- Led the board to undertake a Master Plan Capacity Study to ensure smart, forward-looking investments in Ridgefield schools.
- Strengthened board operations, ethics, and collaboration, creating a culture where all voices are valued and decisions are made cohesively.
- Represent Ridgefield at CABE as an Area Director, ensuring our town has influence in shaping state education policy.
Why should Ridgefield trust you?
From PTA to volunteering, to stepping into leadership roles, my path has always been rooted in service. I ask the hard questions, not to stir the pot, but because accountability matters and our kids deserve nothing less. And now, as someone who no longer has a child in the district, I bring a broader perspective. I see the whole picture. I am free to ask the tough questions, push for improvements, and focus entirely on what matters most: every child in Ridgefield.