MN educator Marilyn Sauer made many contributions to her community

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Teacher and administrator Marilyn Mae Sauer of St. Paul,Minnesota, devoted more than three decades and tireless energy to hr profession and to her community. Photo credit: San Bernardino Sun

Many long-time educators make significant contributions to their communities. One of these is Marilyn Mae Sauer, an tireless elementary school teacher from St. Paul, Minnesota.

Marilyn was born in St. Paul on July 18, 1926. As a young woman, she earned her first Bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota in 1948. She earned a second Bachelor’s degree in 1950.

Once she earned her degrees, Marilyn launched her career as an educator at Guttersen Elementary School in St. Paul. Three years later, she moved to Tucson, where she taught third grade at Holy School in the Tucson Public School system.

In 1955, Marilyn relocated again, this time to San Bernardino, California, where she served a total of 32 more years, first as a teacher, then as an administration at both the elementary and middle school levels. In 1970, Marilyn enrolled at the University of Redlands to work towards her Master’s degree in Education.

Once she retired, Marilyn continued to serve in her profession as a part-time supervisor for student teachers and interns. She also served on the Advisory Board of the College of Education at Cal State San Bernardino (CSUSB). In addition, she served hr community as a member of the Board of the Del Rosa Neighborhood Action Group, and on the Board for the Humane Society. As if all that were not enough, Marilyn dedicated 20 years to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department Citizens’ Volunteers, and contributed volunteer hours to the San Bernardino Symphony distributing sheet music at Feldheym Library.

The retired educator was also generous with her philanthropy. She bestowed an annual scholarship to a student in the Master’s degree program in School Administration at CSUSB. She also established the Marilyn M. Sauer School Leaders of Tomorrow Fellowship Fund at the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development.

Sadly, this Chalkboard Champion passed away on July 4, 2026, just two weeks shy of her 100th birthday. She was interred at Lakewood Cemetery in Hennepin County in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Maryland teacher Mary Risteau was also an adept politician

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Elementary school teacher Mary Risteau served in both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate. Photo: National Women’s History Museum

Many excellent educators have also served their communities in political positions. One of these is Mary Risteau, an elementary school teacher who was elected to both the Maryland House of Delegates and the Maryland State Senate.

Mary was born April 24, 1890, in Towson, Maryland. As a young girl, she attended Towson High School, where she graduated in 1907. In 1912, she earned her undergraduate degree from Towson University, which at that time was known as Maryland State Normal School. She also completed an advanced course of study in mathematics at Johns Hopkins University in 1917. In 1938, Mary earned her LLB degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. In 1917, Mary Eliza launched her career as an elementary school teacher in Baltimore County.

Mary Eliza inaugurated her career in politics when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1921, just one year after the 19th Amendment granted women with the right to vote. There she represented Hartford County from 1922 through 1926, and again from 1931 through 1935, and yet again from 1951 through 1955, a total of four terms. While in the House, she successfully worked for the establishment of Maryland State Teachers College at Salisbury, and she was appointed to the State Board of Education, where she served for 16 years. She also served on the Committees on Education; Agriculture; Libraries; and Chesapeake Bay and its Tributaries.

Mary also served in the Maryland State Senate from 1935 through 1937. There she represented the 2nd District. While in the Maryland Senate, she became the Chairperson of both the Agriculture and Labor Committees, the Vice Chair of its Education Committee, and a member of the Senate Temperance Committee, the Finance Committee, and the Federal Relations Committee. In addition, she was a strong advocate for women’s rights. In fact, she was a member of both the National Order of Women Legislators and its state affiliate, the Maryland Women’s Legislation Group. Among many other organizations, she held membership in the League of Women Voters.

Sadly, Mary Eliza passed away in Jarretsville, Maryland, on July 24, 1978. She was 88 years old. In 1987, the former teacher was inducted posthumously into the Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. Additionally, the Mary E. W. Risteau Multi-services Center in Bel Air, Maryland, was named in her honor.

To read more about Chalkboard Champion Mary Eliza Risteau, click on this link to Maryland’s Women’s Heritage Center.

Native Hawaiian educator Lucy Puniwai Blaisdell, served as First Lady of Honolulu

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Long-time educator and Native Hawaiian Lucy Puniwai Blaisdell served as First Lady of Honolulu during the term of her husband, Neal Blaisdell, pictured with her here in 1956. Photo Credit: Honolulu Advertiser

Long-time educator and Native Hawaiian Lucy Puniwai Blaisdell served as First Lady of Honolulu during the term of her husband, Neal Blaisdell, pictured with her here in 1956. Photo Credit: Honolulu Advertiser

Many accomplished educators have also gained notoriety in the public eye. One of these was Lucy Puniwai Blaisdell, who once served as the First Lady of Honolulu while her husband was the city’s mayor.

Lucy was born on August 16, 1903, in Honolulu, Hawaii. Her mother, Helen Kahanuulani Meek, was a Native Hawaiian, and her father, Charles Thurston, was a descendent of an American Revolutionary War soldier named Robert Thurston.

After Lucy’s high school graduation from Punahou School, she continued her education first at the Territorial Normal School and then at Colorado College, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1926. That same year she married her childhood sweetheart, Neal Blaisdell, also of Native Hawaiian heritage. After their marriage, Neal accepted a position as football coach at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania and Lucy accepted her first teaching position in Rochester, New York. Over the course of that year, she enrolled at Columbia University, where she earned her Master’s degree.

In the summer of 1927, Lucy and Neal returned to their home state of Hawaii. Upon her return, she accepted a position at her alma mater, the Territorial Normal School. In 1937, she returned to Rochester, New York, where for one year she taught social studies on a teacher exchange assignment. During the many years she taught in Hawaii she taught in schools in Honolulu schools, including Washington Intermediate, Liliuokalani, Stevenson, President William McKinley High School, Kaimuki High School, and Kaimuki Intermediate. The distinguished educator concluded her 36-year career when she retired from the profession in 1963.

When Neal was elected mayor of Honolulu in 1955, Lucy became the city’s First Lady. She served in this capacity until he retired from office in 1969. During these years, Lucy steadfastly declined opportunities to make public speeches, but she did work tirelessly for his campaign. Once he was elected, she continued to decline public speaking opportunities, but happily served as his hostess at formal and casual gatherings. Even though she was still teaching, after she had put in a full day at school she would attend social and political events with her husband in the evenings.

Lucy Puniwai Blaisdell passed away on December 16, 1986, at the age of 86. She is buried alongside her husband a Oahu Cemetery in Honolulu.

 

Ann Wager: A 17th-century teacher in Colonial Williamsburg

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Ann Wager was a 17th-century school mistress who taught at Bray School located in Colonial Williamsburg, pictured above. Photo Credit: Ben Franklin’s World

In this country, an emphasis on the importance of education and recognition for the essential role of dedicated and hardworking teachers goes way back to our very beginnings. One of these early teachers was Ann Wager, a 17th-century school mistress who taught in Virginia’s Colonial Williamsburg.

Ann Wager was born in 1716. As a young girl, she was educated by her father, despite her mother’s resistance to the idea. Ann’s mother believed it was not proper for a young woman to learn or to support herself. When she came of age, Ann married William Wager of Williamsburg, and the couple lived with their children in colonial Williamsburg. After her husband’s passing in 1748, Ann was faced with the necessity of earning a living.

As a widow, Ann inaugurated her career as an educator when she accepted a position as tutor and governess to the white children of Carter Burrell of the Carter’s Grove Plantation in Williamsburg. She held this position for two years.

In 1760 Ann was hired to teach school in the Williamsburg Bray School. This move was in response to Ben Franklin’s recommendation that the town establish a school “for the instruction of Negro Children in the Principles of the Christian religion.” The Bray school was the first school established in the colony of Virginia for African American students, which was not at that time illegal. For her work as a school mistress, Bray Charities Association paid her the salary of £20 per year, plus housing. Each year, between 20 and 30 boys and girls aged three to ten years of age were enrolled in the school, where Ann taught Anglican religious doctrine, reading, spelling, grammar, writing, and general deportment. In addition, girls were taught knitting and sewing. Ann taught lessons seven days a week.

Ann taught school in Williamsburg for 14 years. Over that period of time, she taught nearly 400 students.  Even when her health began to fail, she continued to teach until her passing on Aug. 20, 1774.

To read more about this colonial Chalkboard Champion, see this article written about her in History of American Women.