Beebe seeking re-election as BESE’s D-3 representative

BREAUX BRIDGE — Louisiana Board of Secondary Education District 3 representative Lottie Beebe will seek re-election this fall. She is completing her first four-year term on the board.

Beebe, 61, is a native of Breaux Bridge and serves as superintendent of public schools for the St. Martin Parish School Board. She also has been in human resources, a principal and assistant principal in St. Martin and Landry parishes, according to a statement released by her campaign.

She earned her doctorate in educational leadership in 2013 from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and her master’s and bachelor’s in education from Louisiana State University in 1991 and 1984, respectively. Beebe is a 1971 graduate of Melville High School, the statement said.

“Inspired by the dedication of parents, educators and citizens who desire a great education for all children, I am seeking re-election to BESE,” she said in the prepared statement. “With more than 30 years of experience within the education profession, I am eager to continue to be a voice of reason on the state board.”

Past board positions include supervisor and director of human resources at the St. Martin Parish School Board, principal of Cecilia Primary School and assistant principal of Cecilia High School. She was elected to the St. Landry School Board in 1990.

If re-elected, Beebe said she would fight against “unfair policies favoring for-profit charter schools.”

“Current state education policy favors for-profit, out-of-state corporations that take our tax dollars and fail to address our most at-risk population,” she said according to her statement. “I support the rights of local elected officials (school boards) to grant charters, but oppose the current state policy that allows BESE to grant charters to (for-profit) charter operators that are rejected by local school district.”

While on the board, Beebe has been a “strong opponent” of Common Core, according to the statement.

“I believe all students should be afforded quality educational experiences. I was one of the first elected officials to raise concerns regarding the Common Core agenda and the developmentally inappropriate Common Core state standards,” according to the statement. “I support rigorous standards that are developed and reviewed by Louisiana’s educational experts, our educators.”

“I will maintain my advocacy for responsible education policies so we can move forward in a global, competitive economy,” the statement said.

District 3 includes Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary, Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes and parts of St. Landry, Point Coupee and Iberville parishes.

Qualifying is Sept. 8-10. Election day is Oct. 24.