Monique Roy

Bio

Office sought: Lewiston School Committee, Ward 2, a district that includes Montello Elementary School. Roy is unopposed. 

Occupation: assistant program manager of graduate programs in education, University of New England

Education: Master’s degree in leadership studies from the University of Southern Maine’s Lewiston-Auburn College, certificate of advance graduate study in adult education from USM

Political experience: none

Questions

1. Why do you think you’re the best candidate for this seat, and why are you running?

I’m running for Lewiston School Committee because I want to help create opportunities for success for students while they are in the classroom and after graduation. When we tell our kids they can be anything they want to be, we should mean it. I have been an educator, a coach and a parent in this district which helps me understand the issues we face. My job at the University of New England is working with teachers who are completing their master’s degrees and other certifications. I have a unique perspective on education that I feel would be valuable.

2. What do you like, and what don’t you like, about the school budget passed in the spring? ($41.75 million in Auburn, up by $1 million; $74.3 million in Lewiston, up by $5.5 million)

What I can appreciate about the budget passed last May is that we are a school district that is expanding, which is a good thing. This isn’t the case for a lot of other districts in the state, and they are struggling. Creating appropriate learning space for students, such as building a new school, is a step in the right direction. We have to invest in our students and teachers.

3. When it comes to property taxes, what kind of budget would you support this spring?

Ultimately, I would like to support a budget that balances the needs of the taxpayers without sacrificing the needs of our students and teachers.

 4. What, to you, is the biggest issue facing Lewiston or Auburn schools, and how would you like to see it addressed? 

Pinpointing one thing as “the biggest” issue will not serve as well as taking an inventory of the things we are currently doing to bolster success. What is working and what is not? Lewiston is rich with community-based organizations that help support students’ success. Are we working in tandem with those organizations or doubling efforts? What are other communities with the same demographics as Lewiston doing successfully? Are we doing those things? Are we creating opportunities for students to be successful? These are the things I would like to investigate.

 5. Do you support the merger of Lewiston and Auburn?  

I believe the question would be better framed as: ‘In your role as a school committee member, how would you support our students if a merger occurred?’ I believe my role would be to amplify, not diminish the efforts that each city has put forward thus far. I care about students in both communities, as I am sure is true for anyone considering this issue. I will work hard to make sure our kids have opportunities no matter which side of the bridge they are on. 

 

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