This fall, four candidates are vying for three seats on the 9-member South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education: Trish Azeez, Liz Callahan, Kevin Diaz, and Will Meyer. Village Green is posting endorsements for candidates from current and former elected officials who hold or held townwide office or higher, as well as endorsements by local organizations. We ask that endorsers coordinate with candidates for full guidelines. Read more election coverage here.
Patricia Azeez
I’m proud to support Trish Azeez for the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education.
Having recently served on the Board, I know how much the job requires. You need to come prepared, ask thoughtful questions, and follow through—all while keeping students, families, and educators at the center of your decisions. Over the past few months, I’ve gotten to know Trish and developed a better understanding of her vision. Those conversations have given me confidence that she would bring that commitment to the work.
I’ve found Trish to be genuine, compassionate, and committed to helping all children succeed. As a parent who has advocated for her own children with very different learning needs, Trish understands the persistence it can take to get a child the support they need. She wants meaningful intervention and Special Education services for students who need support, along with opportunities for those ready for greater academic challenge. I also appreciate her focus on clear academic goals and regular reporting on student progress, so we can see whether the support we’re providing is actually helping kids learn.
Trish also brings 12 years of combined experience as an economist in Washington, D.C., and an equity research analyst on Wall Street. That background matters as our district faces difficult budget choices. Having been part of those discussions, I know how important it is to question assumptions, consider alternatives, and understand the impact on students and staff.
I value how frank she is about where we’re falling short. At recent community forums, she raised concerns from families and teachers about some paraprofessionals not showing up or leaving early, requiring teachers to fill gaps in support while teaching an entire classroom. Those gaps affect everyone in the room. She’s willing to ask hard questions when those experiences don’t match what we’re hearing from the district.
She supports the goals of integration while questioning how SOMSD’s implementation is working and how success can and should be measured. At the Hilton forum, she pushed the conversation beyond the demographic makeup of our schools to whether students are receiving equitable opportunities, teachers have the resources they need, and achievement gaps are closing. That’s the kind of oversight I want from our Board.
You don’t have to agree with a candidate on every issue to value what they would bring to the Board. I trust Trish to ask thoughtful questions, push for clear answers, and keep students’ needs at the center of her decisions.
I hope you’ll join me in supporting Trish Azeez, 4G on your ballot.
Regina Eckert
SOMSD Board of Education Member, 2023–2025
Maplewood
