Ankur Patel, Indian American educator and longtime public-school advocate, has entered the race for a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education from District 4.
Running on a platform centred on systemic transparency and the expansion of student support services, Patel himself a product of LAUSD, seeks to bridge the gap between administrative policy and the daily realities of the classroom.
Patel’s journey is deeply intertwined with the San Fernando Valley, where he attended local public schools before earning a degree in biology from University of California Riverside and a master’s in public policy from California State University, Northridge.
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His campaign emphasizes a “student-first” philosophy, shaped by his years as a community coordinator and environmental advocate. Patel argues that the district’s massive budget often fails to reach the students who need it most, particularly those in underserved pockets of District 4.
“I am a product of this district, and I know its potential,” Patel said during a recent community outreach event. “But I also see where the system is failing to support the holistic needs of our children. We cannot expect academic excellence if we aren’t first addressing the mental health and well-being of every student.”
A primary pillar of Patel’s platform is the integration of more robust mental health resources within schools. He advocates for a lower student-to-counsellor ratio, arguing that the current workload for school staff prevents meaningful intervention for at-risk youth.
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Furthermore, Patel is calling for an “open-book” approach to the district’s finances. He intends to implement more rigorous oversight of how bond measures and state funding are allocated, ensuring that infrastructure improvements do not come at the expense of classroom resources.
Patel is also leaning heavily into his background in science and sustainability. He has proposed initiatives to greenify urban campuses, suggesting that school environments play a critical role in student performance and local climate resilience. By transforming asphalt playgrounds into shaded, sustainable learning spaces, he believes the district can lead by example in the fight against urban heat islands.
The race for District 4 comes at a pivotal time for LAUSD, as the district navigates the aftermath of pandemic-era learning loss and shifting enrolment numbers.
Patel’s entry into the race adds a grassroots perspective to a contest often dominated by well-funded political interests. Supporters describe Patel as a persistent advocate who is not afraid to challenge the status quo.
If elected, he would be one of the few board members with a direct professional background in public policy analysis, a tool he says is vital for dissecting the complexities of a multi-billion-dollar educational system.
Ahead of June 2 nonpartisan primary, Patel continues to engage with parent-teacher associations and local neighbourhood councils, betting that a message of accountability and empathy will resonate with voters.