My name is Anamika Bhatnagar, and I’ve lived in Croton for eighteen years. (My first name rhymes with “harmonica,” and you don’t have to worry about my last name because I’m the only “Anamika” in town.) 

Like many of our neighbors, my husband, Dennis Willette, and I were drawn to Croton by its natural beauty, its sense of community, and its strong public schools. Both our children attended CET starting in kindergarten; our daughter, Meena, is currently in 8th grade at PVC, and our son, Nik, is in 5th. Our two-year-old Siberian husky, Athena, is not in school but probably should be. 

I was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Northern Virginia. After graduating from Yale University with a B.A. in English Literature and International Studies, I moved to New York City to pursue a career in children’s publishing. During my twenty years at Scholastic, I saw firsthand the impact of getting books into the hands of kids by making them affordable and accessible. I currently run my own editorial consulting business, pursuing my passion for creating books in which young readers can see themselves reflected. 

Here in our community, I’m also an active PTA participant, a parent representative on various school district committees, a Croton Garden Club digger and planter, a Croton Free Library Book & Bake Sale volunteer, and a co-founder of Croton Folks Who Craft.