Q&A: Does Estelle Lemieux Have Your Vote for Sac County Board of Education?

Estelle Lemieux began her career in education in 1974 with the Sacramento County Office of Education. She spent two years as a Para educator, something like a teacher's assistant, in a special education class at SCOE, working directly with autistic children. She received her teaching credential in 1974 and started teaching at Sacramento County Juvenile Hall. For more than 15 years she was afforded insights into the value of those educational programs. Now she runs for the Area 4 seat on the SCOE Board against opponent .

"I know how county programs work first-hand," Lemieux said. "I’ve seen the impact on students, and I experienced many successes. When I worked there it was tough, but we had the resources, the programs, the personnel to make these programs successful."

Advocating for education at the Capitol on behalf of California teachers, students and public education with the Education Coalition for more than 18 years, testifying before legislative committees, analyzing the impact of proposed legislation and, in particular, education funding, working with teachers, parents, administrators and the public, Lemieux believes she has gained a full perspective on education issues facing California as well as SCOE.

Fair Oaks Patch: Why are you running for the SCOE Area 4 board member seat?

Estelle Lemieux: I’m running for the position because I believe that school boards in general need highly qualified persons to step up to the plate and serve their community with the knowledge, passion and skills we possess. My father was a public servant when I grew up in Maine and if he was still alive today he would be proud of my decision to run for school board position. I am uniquely qualified because of my firsthand experience in almost every program offered to students at SCOE. My knowledge, training, and skills advancing education in SCOE are unparalleled. As an education advocate at the Capitol, I bring years of experience with budgets and policy matters. As an elected trustee, the community can count on me to be a trustee who questions and who does the homework necessary to make difficult decisions that impact our students and programs. My decision to run was based on what I can do and what I have to offer. I’ve stepped up to the plate.

FOP: What issues of concern do you believe need to be addressed within the Sacramento County education system?

EL: Reviewing the role the Sacramento Office of Education has with the 13 school districts within the county. How can SCOE support and assist other school districts and its students within the county? What are we doing with students who are falling through the cracks? Incarcerated youth, probationary youth need more resources to work with them and help them succeed. How is the county currently doing this and is it enough? SCOE offers programs that most school districts do not have, because they work with a population of students that are very unique, that is they have programs for very high-risk kids. I have concerns that we have cut programs such as the Sacramento County Boys Ranch that should have continued to operate because this was a highly successful program. Maybe this decision needs to be revisited.

FOP: How will diminishing resources impact the office of education's ability to address those issues?

Some of these issues will require additional resources and this will be difficult for the SCOE Board because the funding flows from the state to the local county board. The Board has limited say at the state level in terms of how much resources they get for their programs. However, the people in my area are very concerned about their tax dollars and how they’re spent. They want opportunity for their children, accountability and transparency. They want to see their neighborhoods safe and their children educated. They believe that providing opportunity and keeping kids in school is part of that safety issue. They deserve to have a trustee who is knowledgeable, can explain to them where their tax dollars are being spent and what programs benefit all students.

FOP: Now toward the end of your career, why come back?

This is a good way to close that loop. It's been my career; it's been my passion; my vocation all of my life. This is a way of having a different impact and offering all those goals and experiences I have in a different capacity. These are unique students; these are high-risk kids. They require different education, usually tailored to their individual learning. We have to be prepared to tailor whatever those kids are dealing with to their needs. It's a whole different arena. Like the Boys Ranch, a lot of these programs have disappeared and that's too bad.

--

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.

Like on Facebook | Follow on Twitter | Get Free Newsletter