 Lemisio became involved in education in the 1970s, first as a parent helper at the Petone Polynesian Pre-School.Through this early work she began to organise with several other women at the school to develop and formalise the teaching of the Tokelauan language and culture.In 1987 she had gained support from teachers and community leaders to establish the first Tokelau Language Nest for Tokelauan children in Petone.