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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline MAY 24, 2024 | The Indian Eye 32

NEWSMAKERS OF THE WEEK

Selected stories about Indian diaspora from our website www.theindianeye.com

AYESHA HAZARIKA BIRAL PATEL

British Indian of Assamese origin Edison Board of Education

to join the House of Lords President receives ‘Certified’ status

yesha Hazarika becomes 1st British-Indian of Assamese Origin to be dison Township Public Schools has recently announced that Biral Patel,
appointed to the House of Lords, the upper chamber of the British Par- the Edison School Board President, was honored at the May 1, 2024,
Aliament. Taking her seat as ‘Baroness Hazarika of Coatbridge’, with a EMiddlesex County School Board Association meeting. Patel was recog-
grant of a life peerage, she brings a wealth of experience from her background nized for earning the status of a Certified Board Member (CBM), being the
as a Scottish political aide and pundit. first one to achieve this distinction in the district.
Baroness Hazarika, a former stand-up comic, donned the traditional The CBM status represents the second level of the Board Member Acad-
scarlet robes for her introduction ceremony, where she was supported by fel- emy certification program and is awarded by the New Jersey School Boards
low Labor peers Lord Dubs and Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws. Association (NJSBA). This milestone highlights Patel’s commitment to pro-
Joining her in this elevation to the House of Lords is Ruth Porter, former fessional development, leadership, and the essential governance skills needed
deputy chief of staff to Liz Truss, despite her boss’s brief tenure as Prime to carry out his assigned responsibilities effectively.
Minister.
Patel accomplished a series of tasks and the qualifying require-
Taking to her official X handle, Ayesha expresses happiness stat- ments to earn the certification, including earning at least 20
ing, “Thank you for all your lovely messages. What an incredible, cumulative Board Member Academy credits, attending at least
special day spent with family & friends. Especially my amazing four county meetings, one annual NJSBA Workshop, one NJSBA
parents who came here as Indian Muslim immigrants & worked Delegate Assembly, and one statewide or regional professional

so very hard. It is genuinely the honor of my life to join the House development program.
of Lords as a Labor peer.”
On getting awarded this distinctive certification, Patel expressed his grati-
Ayesha Hazarika, originally from Bellshill and raised in Coatbridge, now tude for the recognition and reiterated his commitment to serving the district,
adds her voice to the legislative process. She is a Scottish broadcaster, jour- acknowledging the support of his colleagues and the community, and high-
nalist and political commentator, and former political adviser to senior Labor lighting the critical importance of ongoing professional growth and collabo-
Party politicians. Hazarika was born in Bellshill, Scotland, to parents of Indian rative efforts for the success of the district. Edison Township Public Schools
Assamese Muslim descent, and was raised in Coatbridge. She was educated at congratulated Patel on this unique achievement.
Laurel Bank, an all-girls school in Glasgow, and studied law at the University
of Hull. Hazarika planned to become a solicitor before training as a journalist. Continued on next page... >>

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