Former teacher Joan Bray also served in the Missouri State House of Representatives and the State Senate.

Many fine educators have also served as able politicians. One of these is Joan Bray, a teacher who has served in both the Missouri State House of Representatives and the State Senate.

Joan was born on September 16, 1945, Lubbock, Texas. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from Southwestern University in 1967. She went on to receive her Master’s degree in Counseling and Human Relations from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1970. She also earned a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in 1971. After earning her degrees, Joan taught first in Colorado and then in Massachusetts.

During the years she worked as an educator, Joan also employed as a journalist. She worked first for the San Antonio Express News, and then with the St. Louis Post Dispatch. During this time she also served as the Vice President of Local 49 of the Newspaper Guild.

The former teacher was elected on the Democratic ticket to the Missouri House of Representatives. She represented the 24th District there from 1993 to 2002. In 2003, Joan was elected to the Missouri State Senate to represent the 84th District. She served there until 2010. As a senator, she served on the committees for Ways and Means, Transportation, and Appropriations. Joan left the political arena when she reached her term limits.

Joan currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband, Carl Hoagland. To read more about this Chalkboard Politician, read the Missouri Senate biography Joan Bray.