Faiza Maqsood says attending Hamilton Southeastern School Board meetings helped convince her to become a candidate. She came away feeling parents and educators were speaking but were not being heard, and she decided to get involved.

Maqsood, a candidate for the District 1 seat, joins me for the latest installment of my HSE School Board candidate podcast series.

A Fishers resident for about 20 years, Maqsood has three children who graduated from HSE Schools. We discuss how that experience shaped her views on public education and what her background in nonprofit finances, revenue management and data analysis could bring to the board.

School funding is a major part of our conversation. Maqsood supports the operating referendum, pointing to teacher retention and student programs as priorities. I ask how she would approach spending decisions if the referendum fails and how she would evaluate whether the district is using its money well.

Maqsood also discusses teacher morale and her endorsement from the Hamilton Southeastern Education Association. She says she made no commitments to receive the local teachers union’s endorsement, describing the discussion as one about shared support for educators.

She explains her decision to run without a party affiliation and why she believes listening to people with different views is an important part of serving on the board.

Our conversation also covers academic performance, parents’ concerns and educators’ professional judgment, student mental health, school safety, cell phones and artificial intelligence. Maqsood supports continued mental health services and says schools should help teachers and students learn to use AI effectively.

Thanks to Citizens State Bank for sponsoring this podcast.

Listen to the podcast using this link or the link below.