Zoe Dzineku is entering the race for an At-Large seat on the Lowell School Committee.

Dzineku told us last month she was weighing whether to run for a city-wide School Committee seat or the District 2 seat, or whether to run at all. Over the weekend, she posted a poll on her Facebook page asking friends whether she should run At-Large or “wait for another opportunity.”

Tuesday night, she made her choice public through a Facebook Live video, while also reaching out to inform InsideLowell of the decision in a text.

“I am running for School Committee At-Large because I believe every child deserves equitable access to a high quality education, regardless of their background or neighborhood,” Dzineku wrote. “As a parent and community advocate, I understand the real challenges families face and will bring that perspective to every decision. I’m committed to working collaboratively to ensure our schools are safe, inclusive, and fully equipped to help all students thrive.”

The Centralville resident is no stranger to the local political scene. In 2022, she ran for 16th Middlesex State Representative, losing a hard-fought primary against Rodney Elliott. Prior to that, she served on the Lowell Election Commission and also on the staff of State Senator Ed Kennedy of Lowell.

Following the State Rep race, she worked for the Lowell Public School Department, leaving that job in December of 2024.

Dzineku’s entry increases the At-Large field to four declared candidates. Incumbent Connie Martin is seeking re-election, with former committee member Robert Hoey and Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce President Danielle McFadden also declaring their candidacies.

Mystery still surrounds Jackie Doherty’s intentions. The long-time school committee member, who currently holds the other At-Large seat, has largely remained silent through the start of campaign season. Over the winter, Doherty told InsideLowell she was undecided and would make up her mind after budget season. Most local pundits believe this will be her last term, though Doherty has remained publicly silent on her thoughts.

Should the long-time incumbent, or any other candidates ultimately decide to join the fray, that would increase the field to a minimum of five, necessitating a preliminary election September 9th to narrow the field down to four for the November 4th General Election.

Meanwhile, not a single challenger has emerged yet for any of the four district school committee seats, which find incumbents Fred Bahou, Dave Conway, Eileen DelRossi and Dominik Lay all seeking re-election.

Candidates have until July 22 to pull paperwork and return the necessary signatures required to earn a spot on the ballot.