On September 19, the East Maine School District 63 Board of Education appointed Morton Grove resident Ankit Patel to fill the Board seat left vacant by former member Krystal Zec, who stepped down in August. The appointment runs through April 2023, when the seat will be filled through local elections.

A District resident since 2014, Patel has two children – one of whom attends the District’s Melzer School. Currently Vice President of Operations for First Look Appraisals, his career in real estate appraisal and analysis spans more than 12 years. Patel holds a BS in accounting from DePaul University.

"We received applications from 15 highly-qualified candidates to fill this vacancy," noted Board President Alexandra Brook, “and it was a tough decision. In the end, we were impressed with Mr. Patel’s deep interest in supporting the District’s commitment to helping every student achieve success without boundaries. His professional background brings a financial perspective to the Board that will help us expand our skill set, and he is a thoughtful, open minded listener. We look forward to working with him.”

“I’m truly excited about joining D63’s Board of Education,” added Patel. “The District does an incredible job of putting our kids first, offering an excellent educational system, prioritizing their safety, providing them with all the tools they need, and building an exceptional team of teachers and staff around them. My hope, simply put, is to contribute to this success and make a real difference.”