Lale Eskicioglu is challenging incumbent trustee John Shea to represent Zone 8 – Orléans-Cumberland. She said running for a trustee position is something she has wanted to do for some time and was waiting for an election year.
“I wanted to take (my community involvement) to the next step and do something for the education system,” she said.
An electrical engineer by trade, Ms. Eskicioglu left the high-technology industry after 15 years to pursue activities that were more creative and community oriented.
She has been very active in the Turkish community and has spent the last three years as the executive director of the Council of Turkish Canadians. Her work with the group has included being a part of last year’s charity gala that raised $15,000 for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
She has also had experience working with young people through her organization of three Turkish youth conferences.
An avid reader, Ms. Eskicioglu is the creator of ReadLiterature.com, an online book club and discussion forum, for which she has been the moderator for 10 years.
Along with being hard working, passionate and possessing a talent for building relationships, Ms. Eskicioglu said she also brings a broad, worldwide perspective to the table. This perspective is reflected in what she said her priorities would be as a member of the trustee board.
Having lived and worked in four countries (Turkey, Germany, France and Canada), Ms. Eskicioglu said she understands that immigration is a fact of life and that schools need to be able to have the resources to educate new Canadian children.
She said she places a high value on the English as a second language program and multi-cultural liaison officers.
“They are invaluable,” she said. “Without them, we would have a lot of lost kids.”
Another way to keep young people from getting lost would be more extracurricular activities.
“I would do whatever was in my power to push for more sports, arts and chess,” Ms. Eskicioglu said, adding that these activities are what help to keep children both occupied and sharp.
Ms. Eskicioglu is also a proponent of better French education. When her daughter went through the school system, she said she was disappointed that there was very little by way of French education.
After her experience in Europe and they way residents embrace local languages she said she would like to see a system that promotes bilingualism, from both English- and French-centric schools.
Throughout the month of July, Ms. Eskicioglu is inviting principals, parents, school council members and teachers to her
Orléans home for weekly Wednesday morning meet and greets.
For more information, contact Lale Eskicioglu at lale@readliterature.com.