Sandi was born, raised, and educated in the city of Paterson. Throughout her childhood, and as an adult, Sandi has witnessed the very best politics has to offer as she watched and learned from her father, a former Passaic County Freeholder and NJ State Senator Joseph Lazzara.

In 1987 Sandi began her career in education as a part-time lunchroom monitor. Soon after she became a full-time Special Education aide and by 1998 Sandi received a Bachelors of Art Degree in Education from Montclair State University. In 2009 Sandi entered William Paterson University’s graduate school and this past May graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership/Supervision. She has served as a science coach and is currently a science teacher at Woodland Park’s Memorial Middle School.

Sandi has been involved with initiatives at the policy level as well as in the classroom. Sandi has worked in conjunction with the New Jersey Department of Education on initiatives to improve the academic performance/standards of students in Passaic County. In addition, she has worked collectively and collaboratively with school board members, the school administration, local leaders and the community at-large to enhance the success of the school district while maintaining fiscal responsibility and addressing the concerns of taxpayers.

Sandi has devoted herself to the children every day and has a clear understanding of the needs of the entire community. She lives the connection between the Trenton budget, property taxes, and the challenged school funding structure. This is her passion and she pledges to fix the problems that drive up our taxes.

Sandi is the proud mother of two sons. Anthony graduated the French Culinary Institue. He spent the last 5 years in Tuscany, Italy, teaching culinary arts and cooking. Joseph, a graduate of NYU and Pace University, is a practicing attorney in Passaic, New Jersey. Sandi resides in Little Falls.