Megan D. Parks
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Megan D. Parks | |
|---|---|
| At-large Member of Lewiston Public School Committee, Lewiston, Maine | |
| In office January 2016 – January 2024 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1977 Lewiston, Maine |
| Political party | Unenrolled/Independent |
Megan D. Parks (née Bussière, née Saucier) (Born 1977) is a Franco-American non-partisan politician who serves as the at-large (city-wide) member of the Lewiston, Maine Lewiston Public Schools School Board of Education.[1]
Early life and education[edit]
Parks was born in Lewiston, Maine to second generation French immigrants and Native Mi'kmaq Canadians. She attended Lewiston Public Schools and graduated from Lewiston High School (Maine) in 1995. She later attended University of Southern Maine for Elementary Education; and later earned degrees in Business Administration from Kaplan University; and Psychology, Social and Behavioral Science, and Human Services/Child and Family Welfare from Purdue University as the first in her family to obtain a college degree.
Career[edit]
Parks holds multiple licenses with the State of Maine including Licensed Social Worker (LSW),[2] Licensed Substance Use Counselor (LADC),[3] and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS).[3]
She has worked in various social service capacities including as a cultural case manager, cultural broker, adult and children's targeted case manager, at-risk youth diversion program director; and as an ed tech with children with developmental delays.
Parks owns and operates a small private practice in Lewiston, Maine providing substance use and mental health therapy.[4]
In response to the pandemic, in April 2020 Parks took on the role of Director of Shelter Services operating the temporary FEMA funded homeless shelter and COVID-19 quarantine programs for Androscoggin County, Maine.[5] This inspired the work of the proposed Lewiston Auburn Transitional Resource Center which is currently being debated by the Lewiston, Maine City Council.[6] If approved, this will be the first 24 hour, low barrier homeless shelter and resource center in Lewiston.
Politics[edit]
In 2015, Parks ran for school committee at-large.[7] She won the city-wide race with 3,762 votes (52.4%) against John Butler's 3,422 votes.[8]
In 2017, Parks ran as the incumbent at-large member of the school committee. She won the city-wide race with 6,694 votes (71.9%) against Safiya Khalid's 2,619 votes.[9]
In 2019, Parks again ran as the incumbent at-large member of the school committee. She won the city-wide race with 3,960 votes (80.3%) against Owen Cardwell-Copenhefer's 1,271 votes.[10]
In 2021, Parks again ran as the incumbent at-large member of the school committee. She won the city-wide race with 4,662 votes (64.9%) against Jason Lavoie's 2,536 votes.[11]
In December 2021, Parks stepped down as Chairwoman of the school committee and was ultimately voted back in as vice-chair in January 2022.[12]
As the at-large member of the school committee Parks has advocated for changes related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; revision of the district's bullying policy,[13] improvements to special ed programming; increased pay for teachers and staff; implementation of restorative discipline practices; and responsible reductions to city taxpayers through the budgeting process.
Parks has served on several district committees including Dropout Prevention, Equity & Diversity, Cultural Competency, Policy, Proficiency Based Learning, and Redistricting; as well as the City Spirit committee,[14] the Mayoral ad-hoc poverty committee and the Lewiston Area Public Health Committee.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unenrolled/Independent | Megan Parks | 3762 | 52.4 | 0 | |
| Democratic | John Butler | 3422 | 47.6 | 0 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unenrolled/Independent | Megan Parks | 6694 | 71.9 | 0 | |
| Democratic | Safiya Khalid | 2619 | 28.1 | 0 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unenrolled/Independent | Megan Parks | 3960 | 80.3 | 0 | |
| Democratic | Owen Cardwell-Copenhefer | 1271 | 19.7 | 0 | |
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ± | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unenrolled/Independent | Megan Parks | 4662 | 64.9 | 0 | |
| Democratic | Jason Lavoie | 2536 | 35.1 | 0 | |
References[edit]
- ↑ "School Committee - Lewiston Public Schools". School Committee - Lewiston Public Schools. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ "State Board of Social Worker Licensure | Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation". maine.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Board of Alcohol & Drug Counselors | Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation". maine.gov. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ "Megan Parks, Drug & Alcohol Counselor, Lewiston, ME, 04240". Psychology Today. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ Daryn Slover (2020-06-01). "PHOTO: Giving thanks and being good neighbors". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ Andrew Rice (2022-03-19). "'Teetering on the edge': Lewiston seeks new solutions to homelessness". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ LaFlamme, Mark (2016-03-13). "Face Time: Megan Parks, new Lewiston School Committee member". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ "Megan Parks Runs for School Committee, 2015". GPUS Elections Database. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ "Megan Parks Runs for School Committee, 2017". GPUS Elections Database. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ "Megan Parks Runs for School Committee, 2019". GPUS Elections Database. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ "Megan Parks Runs for School Committee, 2021". GPUS Elections Database. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ Vanessa Paolella (2021-12-21). "Megan Parks stepping down as Lewiston School Committee chairwoman". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ Karen Kreworuka (2020-02-11). "Lewiston schools take closer look at bullying". Sun Journal. Lewiston, Maine. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
- ↑ "Meet The Council". City Spirit L/A. Retrieved 2022-03-26.
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- Politicians
- Maine Politicians
- American Politicians of French Descent
- Lewiston Maine School Committee Members
- Women in politics
- Women in politics by nationality
- Women politicians from Maine
- Lewiston High School (Maine) alumni
- Homeless Advocates
- Homelessness activists
- Substance abuse counselors
- Mental Health Advocates
- Mi'kmaq in the United States
- Mi'kmaq people
