Meet Pia Dandiya, Indian American Educator Taught Kids In Slums, Became High-School Principal At 28
Indian-American Democrat Pia Dandiya's victory in Florida's newly redrawn 22nd Congressional District highlights her remarkable educational journey.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GoogleIndian-American Democrat Pia Dandiya has won a closely contested US House seat in Florida. She defeated Republican Casey Askar in Florida’s 22nd Congressional District, winning with 51.9 percent of the vote. As Dandiya makes a sweeping win, let’s look at her remarkable journey as an educator over the years.
Pia Dandiya began her teaching career in the slums of Delhi
Pia Dandiya is a first-generation American teacher who has dedicated her career to focusing on quality education. She had worked to strengthen communities as a policy leader and technology innovator. Pia was born and raised in Palm Beach County, Florida as her parents moved from Jaipur to Florida. Her father practiced medicine, and her mother founded a Montessori school.
After earning a Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University and a Master of Education from Boston University, she dedicated her career to education. She began her career as a teacher and taught children in Delhi slums at 18. While teaching underprivileged students, Pia realized the challenges students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds face.
She then went to the United States and worked as a middle and high school teacher. In 2014, she founded Democracy Prep Endurance High School in Harlem and became its principal at just 28. She became one of the youngest high school principals in the country. Pia led a school that had over 86 percent of students from low-income families. Every single graduate of her high school earned admission to college.
Pia Dandiya became a White House Fellow and worked for the education sector
Pia was selected as a White House Fellow and moved into policymaking. She then worked at Apple on public-sector work in education, health care, and government services. Pia focused on technology initiatives involving schools and public-sector communities. She was also appointed to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s P-20 Council, which focuses on coordination across the state’s education system. Her experience in the education sector became a pivotal part of her political life.
During her campaign, Pia revealed that her focus would remain on affordability, highlighting the rising costs of healthcare, prescription medicines, groceries, and fuel. She also said she would expand access to childcare. In 2025, Dandiya entered the race for Florida’s 21st Congressional District but later shifted to the 22nd District.
In a media interaction, Pia spoke about the one piece of advice from her parents, which drove her to make a change, and said:
“My parents taught me to leave the world better than I found it, so I became a teacher to give others the opportunity to get ahead. That’s a lesson Washington needs to learn, and it’s why I’m running for Congress.”
All about Pia Dandiya's husband and their son
Dandiya lives in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, with her husband Navneet Alag, who works in the biotechnology sector, and their son Sahib. She once told the media that her son is one reason she decided to run, as she wants to improve the next generation's future. Speaking about the same, she said:
“I am running for Congress to fight for a future worthy of my students and my son. I’m also born of a deep belief that we need a new generation of leaders in Congress – who will roll up their sleeves, legislate for the future, and get to work. In Congress, I will put the American people first by addressing the affordability crisis head-on.”
Congratulations, Pia Dandiya!
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