Carolyn DeLecour is a professor emeritus at Alamo Colleges District. She joined the district in 1990 as a Palo Alto College faculty member, where she remained until she retired in 2017. She was one of three candidates who challenged incumbent Leslie Sachanowicz to represent District 9 this year, and is now headed to a June 13 runoff with Robert Garcia.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I am Carolyn DeLecour, a native Texan and lifelong educator. I am 77 years old and have lived in San Antonio for more than half my life in a wonderful neighborhood not far from San Antonio College. My undergraduate degree is in Secondary Education from Texas A&I University, Kingsville, and my Master’s degree is in Speech Communication from the University of Texas at Austin.
I began my teaching career at Churchill High School in San Antonio, later teaching high school speech in Houston before moving into higher education. I joined the faculty at Palo Alto College (PAC) in 1990, where I taught until I retired in 2017. So, as you can see, I have been in the classroom my entire adult life. I’m not a politician or corporate world person—I am an educator ready to bring classroom experience to the boardroom.
Please describe the relevant work experience you bring to this job and any endorsements voters should note.
I bring extensive leadership and governance experience from my career in higher education. I served as Chair of the Fine & Performing Arts/Speech Communication Department at PAC for 13+ years. I was responsible for hiring, budgeting, evaluating, unit planning, program review, college strategic planning, and student advising. I served two terms as Faculty Senate President and was a faculty Senator for 12 years.
I was the Recording Secretary of the District Council of Chairs and a member of the Chancellor’s Chair Committee. I served as a Title IX investigator and was instrumental in the planning PAC’s new Performing Arts Center. I worked with some amazing students as the Advisor of Phi Theta Kappa, the community college honor society. More recently, I earned certification as a Grief Educator, which has given me many opportunities to help others.
Endorsements: San Antonio Central Labor Council/AFL-CIO and Northeast Bexar County Democrats.
Why did you decide to seek this office and how you would approach the role?
I seek this office because I believe my decades of experience as an educator will bring an important perspective to the Board of Trustees. I know the tremendous value of community colleges because I have lived the experience. If elected I am committing to three principles: (1) student success, my top priority; (2) respect and support for faculty and staff—through trust, shared governance, and open communication; and (3) further strengthening the connections between our colleges, our community, and the employers who hire our students.
I have lived the work of education and understand the daily realities of teaching and mentoring. I understand the challenges students face. I understand how important it is for leadership to listen. For me, being a Trustee means being the best steward that I can be.
How would you solicit input and feedback from constituents?
As a longtime Professor of Speech Communication, I value open and respectful dialogue and an “open-door” approach. Every semester, I will go to each college to hold “town hall” meetings, where faculty, staff, students, administrators, and business leaders can share their perspectives directly. We are all in this together!
I plan to maintain a website and/or email address, so constituents can reach me easily and consistently. I will also communicate with employers about the skills and competencies needed by our students. As a retired faculty member who does not serve on any other boards, I have the time to listen carefully, explain decisions clearly, and consider all sides of an issue. I am open-minded, a good listener, a collaborator, and committed to fairness and kindness. As a Trustee and steward of public trust, effective communication with my constituents is a top priority and the best place to start.
Given the current focus on student outcomes and the overall growth that Alamo Colleges District is experiencing, what do you think are the biggest, or more pressing, opportunities and challenges you’ll face as a board?
Student success must remain the central focus as the Alamo Colleges District continues to grow. The greatest opportunity before the Board is strengthening the academic, advising, and support systems that help students persist, complete their goals, and move on to meaningful careers or further education. Growth also presents challenges—ensuring access, equity, and quality while maintaining the personal support that makes community colleges life-changing.
Behind every outcome measure is a student with a name, a family, and aspirations for a better future. Effective governance means creating conditions where students feel supported, faculty and staff feel respected, and learning can thrive. I seek to bring a thoughtful, experienced, and compassionate voice to the Board—one grounded in listening and collaboration. Strong colleges are built on trust, and my commitment is to steward that trust in ways that consistently advance student success and opportunity for all.
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