Enfield Candidate Profile: Tina LeBlanc, Board Of Education

ENFIELD, CT — The 2023 municipal election season is heating up in Enfield, and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office.

Enfield Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as Election Day draws near.

Name: Tina LeBlanc

How old will you be as of Election Day? 49

Does your campaign have a website? If so, include the URL here.

https://enfieldctdemocrats.org

What city or town do you live in? Enfield

What office are you seeking? Board of Education

Party affiliation:Democrat

Education: Associates Degree in Business Administration

What is your occupation? Senior Claim Analyst

Do you have a family? If so, please tell us about them.

I have been married to my husband Steve for 26 years and we have 3 wonderful kids - Regina is 24, Cameron 22 and Collin is 20.

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No

Have you ever held a public office, whether appointive or elective?

I have served on the Board of Education for 6 terms

Now we'd like to ask a few questions about your reasons for running and your general views on politics and government. First, why are you seeking this office?

I am running for office because I want to continue to be a voice for the parents and students of Enfield. I have a deep love and respect for the town of Enfield - the families, students, and the teachers that live and work here. I hope during my term we can continue to grow as an education system that offers both a competitive and fair education, as well as recognizing the teachers and students who work hard every single day. I want ALL STUDENTS to feel safe and feel heard in Enfield public schools.

Please complete this statement: The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is \_\_\_, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing my constituents is that unfortunately our national political situation has trickled down to the local levels, not just in Enfield. We have become a very angry society as a whole. Instead of asking and trying to understand why some decisions are made and what can be done about it, they are simply painted to be a problem. That anger creates a larger issue. We need to work better as a community to include everyone in a dialogue. At the same time learn how to respect our differences and accept some responses that maybe we don’t like. I know as an elected official that not everything goes the way that I want it to, but I can respect the outcome and keep moving forward despite it not being my first choice.

What are the major differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I think we all bring our own perspective to the job. I think I am someone who is approachable and honest, even if the information I am giving someone isn’t the response they were looking for. The Republicans are lead by untrue and hurtful political ideologies; many that we have seen at the national level, and have been present for this past term at our local level, particularly at the board of education meetings. Their approach has been to undermine administration, publicize and promote untrue, hurtful, and dangerous narratives. These narratives have caused chaos at meetings, safety concerns at our school buildings, safety concerns for staff and BOE members, and has disrupted productive steps forward in supporting EPS.
The democratic slate for BOE is the exact opposite. We are invested community residents. We know and understand our schools. We are connected to students, families, and staff, and most importantly want to make decisions in the best interest of our students, not on political ideologies. Board members have the ability to challenge administration. The difference between the two parties is that the republicans believe they know more than the people who have dedicated their life to public education. They believe more of what is on the national news channels, rather than the dedicated administration who has undergone years of schooling and continued professional development. The administration works hard to serve the students of Enfield to the best of their abilities and to adhere to state standards. Our students, staff, and families deserve better, and I want the opportunity once again be their voice and help reach our goals.

What other issues do you intend to address during your campaign?

The school’s infrastructure is one issue. With previous Town Councils, money was taken from the CIP fund to make residents think this was a way to keep taxes down. Long term this has caused major issues in our school and town buildings, from leaking roofs to water pouring into windows on rainy days. Due to the lack of planning as a town we have incurred more “fees” like the sewer fees. Also our school buildings are out of space. We have psychologists using closets as their offices as an example. Another issue is the fact that our current K-2 and 3-5 sister school structure has proven to not be the best model for Enfield. One single student has the potential to face four transitions from Pre K to grade 12. Each transition year has historically shown a decline in reading and math scores. The school modernization committee was formed to help come up with solutions to these issues. The next issue is the misinformation and lack of support of the needs of our students. Yes, Enfield has been designated an Alliance district, but that is because of the years of under funding and support by the Republicans as well as changes in the socioeconomic status here in Enfield. We inherited that designation, and have worked hard to better understand our challenges and opportunties for growth. This school year we implemented instructional coaches. These are classroom teachers who have taken a new role to focus on the additional support our students need in content areas. It is proven that additional supports are more effective in the classroom rather than pulling the student out. It is important that we approach the barriers for our families and residents with empathy and care, not judgement and bias.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a BOE member for over 12 years, I have a proven track record in standing up for what I believe in and fighting for the students, families, and staff in Enfield Public Schools. I am not afraid to take a stand on hard issues, like speaking up against the closing of Nathan Hale and the armed guards. I will not let my political party dictate what is right for the school district. Additionally, my experience working on the Enfield High Pre Referendum Committee, the finance, the joint insurance and joint facilities committees, has taught me so much regarding the interworking of both the board of education and the town. This current term, I held the position of chair. I felt honored to hold this position and hoped to create a fair board meeting environment which focuses on education for all the families of Enfield. This term has been quite challenging as our meetings became a place of political agendas and a platform of misinformation and chaos. I believe that when it comes to education, we need to leave politics at the door and do what is best for the students of Enfield. The board of education, in my opinion, should not be a place for radical religious and political ideologues. The board should be a collection of 9 people from different home situations who want what is best for our school system and work together to achieve that. I continue to work hard as a board member to be a resource for families, to get district information to them, to answer questions, and be a sounding board. I feel that I can understand what the schools and families need, as my children all attended Enfield schools.

What is the best advice anyone ever gave you?

Be kind. Especially be kind to yourself. Talk to yourself like you would talk to someone you love.

Is there anything else you would like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My family has long roots in Enfield. My father was extensively involved in the Enfield community through his store, Eddie’s Sporting Goods and through many youth sports groups and adult leagues. He used to volunteer at the 4th of July celebration and be a part of the Enfield Athletic Hall of Fame. I grew up in a big family, I am the youngest of five kids, and as adults some of us continue to serve Enfield: I am on the BOE, my brother is a firefighter, one sister is a bus driver, and my daughter coaches at EHS. We love our town. I lost my mom to cancer when I was 24 years old, months before giving birth to our first child. That was a moment that defined me. My mother was kind, soft spoken and empathetic. I try to emulate both of my parents through my day to day life and community involvement. As my sister Karen says “Mom and Dad would be so proud of you.”

I recognize that having a strong and competitive public school system not only helps students and families, but the town as a whole. I also believe that empathy plays a part in the elected positions of the Board of Education. This allows us so to truly see, hear, and respect each child and meet them where they are at. This helps them grow academically and mature into the young adults we send off after graduation. I believe all students deserve to feel safe and welcome in Enfield public schools.