meet elyse jenkins

Candidate for Lakota Local School Board
Rooted in Lakota. Ready to Lead from Day One.
Together — a Future-Ready Lakota.

Lakota Roots, Proven Leadership

For 22 years, I’ve called Lakota home. This is where I raised my family, where my son played SAY soccer and joined Scouts, attended Union Elementary, my daughter attended La Patite, where my cousins graduated from Lakota East, and my nieces graduated from Lakota West before continuing their journeys at my alma mater, North Carolina A&T State University.

I’m also a second-generation poll worker, proud to serve our community at the ballot box, and an HOA board member committed to keeping our neighborhoods safe and connected. As a local business owner in freight and logistics headquartered right here in West Chester, I understand the value of teamwork, transparency, and fiscal responsibility — qualities I’ll bring to the School Board from day one.

Lakota isn’t just where I live — it’s who I am. This community helped shape my family’s success, and I’m running to make sure every child, parent, and teacher experiences the same support and opportunity.

Experience That Delivers

With over two decades of leadership at the intersection of education, strategy, and civic engagement, I bring both real-world business experience and a heart for service.

I earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an MBA in Consumer Marketing, launching my career with global organizations like Texas Instruments — but my purpose has always been rooted in creating opportunity for others.

That calling led me to education, where I’ve:

• Led curriculum design and leadership training as Director of Curriculum & Coaching at School Board School, preparing school board leaders to govern effectively.

• Scaled multi-city education initiatives, helping school and community leaders transform outcomes together.

• Built statewide coalitions as State Lead for WWBW Ohio, empowering thousands of women to advocate for equitable education and community policy.

• Founded SELEBRIAN™ Enterprises, based in West Chester focused on logistics, education strategy, and innovation.

A Champion for Every Student

I know the power of education — and the importance of access to it. That’s why, after earning my degrees, I continued my learning locally through Butler Tech, gaining a trade license that deepened my respect for hands-on, career-ready education.

I’m committed to ensuring that every student — regardless of background, path, or zip code — has a clear and supported route to success.

That means championing:
- Early success planning starting in grades 5 and 6
- Clear college and career pathways for all students
- Equity-focused partnerships that reflect the district’s diversity
- Transparent communication and real community input at every stage

Building a Future-Ready Lakota

Lakota is growing — and our facilities must grow with us. I support the Issue 10 because it’s student-centered, community-informed, and fiscally responsible.

If passed, the plan will:

• Reduce overcrowding and keep class sizes small.

• Enhance safety and modernize aging buildings.

• Decrease costly building transitions from four to two.

• Expand spaces for community use and collaboration.

If it fails, class sizes will grow, maintenance costs will rise, and programs like full-day kindergarten could be at risk.

My approach is modernization with mindfulness — improving our schools while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. With thoughtful planning, we can make Lakota stronger without placing extra strain on families, seniors, and those on fixed incomes.