Teacher Anne Burnes McDonald also served in the Connecticut State House of Reps

Posted on by

Former sixth grade teacher Anne Byrnes McDonald served in the Connecticut State House of Representatives. Photo Credit: Boston.com News

Many fine classroom teachers are also distinguished politicians. One of these is Anne Byrnes McDonald, an elementary school teacher from Connecticut who also served her community in the State House of Representatives.

Anne was born in 1933 in Syracuse, New York. As a young woman, she attended Le Moyne College, a private Jesuit college located in DeWitt, New York. There she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Economics. Later she earned her Master’s degree in Education from Syracuse University.

Once she earned her degrees, Anne accepted a position teaching sixth grade, first in Syracuse and then in Ardsley, New York. In addition to teaching children in public schools, she instructed adult learners who were learning English as a second language. After she relocated with her family to Stamford, Connecticut, Anne was elected to the Stamford Board of Education, where she served from 1979 to 1986.

Anne inaugurated her career as a politician in 1990, when she was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Connecticut House of Representatives. There she represented District 145 from 1990 to 2003. In addition to representing the Cove, Glenbrook, and East Side of Stamford in the General Assembly, the former educator also served as the House Chairman of the Public Health Committee and the Finance, Revenue, and Bonding Committee.

Throughout her life, Anne volunteered for a number of local and statewide organizations. She served eight years on the City of Stamford Commission on Aging; three years on the Connecticut Advisory Board on Aging; four years on the Stamford Housing Authority; and four years on the Housing Development Fund Board. She also served four years on the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education.

In 2003, Anne was forced to resign from her position in the State House and withdraw from her philanthropic positions because of failing health. Sadly, she succumbed to cancer on Oct. 3, 2007. She was 74 years old.