“Chloe Aftel is exceptionally caring and genuinely invested in our school community. She listens to our needs as families and has shown a commitment to helping students thrive. After positive experiences collaborating on school related projects with her, I know that Chloe will always put the needs of the children first.”
Yasmine, Orinda Parent
A Voice for Parents
Families move to Orinda for one reason: they want the best for their kids. But "the best" doesn't look the same for every child, and a district can't serve a range of learners by treating them as one average student. That means a board must actually engage with families instead of just informing them, keep up with the evolving science on how children learn, and evaluate new educational tools based on evidence rather than novelty. Above all, it means a board must listen and build real rapport with the community it serves. Our job is to know the children in front of us and the families behind them, and to make decisions that serve all of them.
“I’ve known Chloe for 20 years, and she has never once shied away from saying the hard thing or pushing for what’s right, even when it’s easier not to take a stand. I’ve spent enough time in local public meetings to know the difference between checking the legal box on transparency and actually practicing it, and Chloe has never settled for the box.”
Molly, Orinda Parent
My priorities
Educate the whole child
Children are not data points. Their curiosity, their friendships, their confidence, their ability to sit with a hard problem or bounce back from a bad day: these are the things that determine how they'll do in life, and they matter more than any test result. This means learning is an all-day activity and all brains learn in nuanced ways. I want to foster a district and curriculum that fully engages all of the child’s academic possibilities, not just standardized scoring.
No screen time in the early grades
The research on young children and screen time is increasingly clear: in the elementary years, kids learn best through reading real books, writing by hand, talking with teachers, and working through problems together. I support keeping student devices out of daily instruction in TK through 5th grade, with the exception of a keyboarding program to prepare students for middle school. Teachers would continue to use projectors and classroom technology to teach. This isn't anti-technology; it's about protecting the years when hands-on learning matters most.
Real engagement, not just fundraising.
Orinda families are generous. We write checks, we support the foundation, we fund the extras. But money isn't the same as involvement. I want parents in the conversation about what and how our children are taught, not just asked to pay for it. That means a board that actually invites input before decisions are made, meetings people can attend and understand, and a culture where showing up and asking questions is welcomed rather than tolerated.
Transparency
Families deserve to know how decisions are made, not just what they are. I'll push for plain-language explanations of board decisions, budgets, and policy changes, with the reasoning and the data behind them made public. I will also communicate with families through a monthly newsletter, polling and other methods that allow me to get a feel for what you, as parents, need and want, as you are the reason we are here.