Q&A: Does Eleanor Brown Have Your Vote for Sac County Board of Education?

is no stranger to the Sacramento-area education system. For 35 years she's worked as a part of that system in one capacity or another and for the first time she's having to do so in a much more public arena.

"It's usually a very low-profile position," Brown said.

Brown began her education career as a teacher at Encina High School before becoming assistant principal at Casa Roble High, after a principal at  and later an assistant superintendent for adult schools. As a consultant, she has worked with low-performing schools in California and other states.

Brown became an appointed board member for the Sacramento County Board of Education a year-and-a-half ago to complete the term of trustee Victoria Dane, who moved out of the county. Now she finds herself having to run a campaign for the first time against another experienced opponent, Estelle Lemieux.

The Sacramento County Office of Education board candidate believes in offering students a range of educational options and in the past has supported K-8 charter schools focused on dimishing the gap in academic achievement - a position she'll undoubtedly reaffirm.

"I am in favor of any school that can support students that are not being successful in the regular program," Brown said. "Be it a charter school, a private school, a public school - whatever it might be, I do believe strongly parents and students should have options."

Brown is appalled at the state of public education and believes regardless of budgetary woes, there should always be options for low-performing students to get the focused attention she believes they deserve. And she has a method for which she believes that issue can be addressed.

"Drop-out rates are horrific," Brown said. "Even if we are working to develop more jobs, students don't come out with the skills that allow them to fulfill those jobs."

Fair Oaks Patch: Speaking on the issue of drop-out rates and low performing students, how do you hope to address those issues?

Eleanor Brown: With the (California Standardized Testing and Reporting) we can know exactly what it is the student has and hasn't learned. It's important to provide the support that helps them gain the skill they didn't learn. We know how to bring it down to the individual student. It's not about just moving the student along, it's stopping and saying, 'You need to stop and focus on this.'

FOP: How successful do you think the board can be in addressing those issues, given the diminishing resources at its disposal?

EB: Obviously it isn't easier. How much is enough though? We can't wait till we've decided we have enough. We still have those kids sitting there. I'm not willing to say, 'Well we don't have enough money; (the students) didn't come in knowing what they should know; we don't have the same energy or excitement we did to teach them.' Structure in the classroom - we have the teachers, we have the assessments, so we need to make certain that the teacher has access to that data and is using it in determining how to help those students.

FOP: 35 years in education, the past year-and-a-half in its public office - what keeps you going?

EB: I think in the first few years you learn you never know enough. Every student can learn. Our responsibility is to help them do that. If we continue to have dropouts like we have; if we continue to have students who are angry because they know they don't have a way of competing, they'll go to other means and that has an effect on everyone in our society. I really see what a strong education can do in giving a child the belief that when we say we're preparing you to be a good citizen, we really do mean it.

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The Sacramento County Board of Education provides job training and program opportunities for more than 30,000 of the area's youth who need it most - expelled students, incarcerated students, disabled students and low-income home students. Residents will have the opportunity to vote for a selection of experienced candidates June 5.

Which Area 4 candidate will you vote for? You can also share your thoughts in the comments below.