Los Angeles Unified School District Product Ankur Patel Announces Run For District 4

India-West News Desk

LOS ANGELES, CA – Educator and long-time public school advocate Ankur Patel officially announced his candidacy for the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, District 4, on February 3. Patel is a product of the district he seeks to lead and is running on a platform of local accountability and strengthening schools from the inside out.

If successful, his victory would be historic as he would become the first Asian American elected to the school board in 30 years and the first Indian American to ever serve on the body.

At his filing, Patel emphasized a campaign built on extensive lived and professional experience within the system. A 2003 graduate of the district, he earned degrees from the University of California Los Angeles and California State University, Northridge before returning to the classroom as a teacher from 2018 to 2023. His resume also includes time spent in district leadership roles, including work as a coordinator for a school board member representing the San Fernando Valley from 2015 to 2018.

During his announcement at the Los Angeles City Clerk’s Election Division, Patel outlined a vision that extends beyond standardized testing. He argues that “public education must prepare students socially and civically, moving beyond textbooks to help them understand their responsibilities in a rapidly changing world.” Addressing modern challenges such as declining enrollment and competition from private institutions, Patel advocates for “making schools more engaging and connected to student needs.”

District 4 deserves a board member who understands our schools not just from reports and meetings, but from classrooms, campuses, and communities, Patel reiterated.

His platform includes a focus on district budget accountability, financial literacy programs, expanded after-school options, and the development of clear career pathways. He believes the district must respond to modern pressures by helping students see learning as meaningful and exciting. “This isn’t about ideology,” he noted, adding that it is “about doing the work together.”

While the race for the Board of Education is nonpartisan, Patel has pledged to bridge ideological divides. He stated that his goal is to build the best public school system in the world by centering quality education and respecting the diverse choices families make for their children. The decisions made by the school board directly affect classrooms, teachers, and families in District 4, Patel said and “I am running to listen, to collaborate, and to make sure our schools work for every child.”

The primary is scheduled for June 2, 2026.