Hardworking and dedicated educator and capable politician Mary Becker of Juneau, Alaska. Photo credit: Alaska Public Media.
Often hardworking and dedicated educators also make fine politicians. This is certainly the case with Mary Becker, a distinguished teacher and politician from Juneau, Alaska.
Mary graduated from Sitka High School, and then she enrolled Albertson College of Idaho, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
After earning her degree, Mary returned to Alaska, where she taught school from 1967 to 1997, a career that spanned 30 years. For her work in the classroom, Mary garnered recognition with the MacKennon Educational Excellence and Human Award.During those years, she served as the President, Chief Negotiator, Building Rep, Political Action Chair, and Grievance Chair for the Juneau Education Association. She has also been a long-time member of the National Education Association.
In addition to her work as an educator, Mary was elected to be a member of the Juneau School Board in 1998, a post she occupied for nine years. During her those years, she served the Board diligently as President, Vice President, and Clerk. Next, the retired educator served in the Assembly for nine years, from 2010 to 2019. During her time in the Assembly, Mary served terms as the city’s Mayor and Deputy Mayor. In these positions, she served on many committees, including Finance, Committee of the Whole, Chair of the Lands Committee, and Chair of the School Facility Project Team. She was also the Liaison to the Chamber of Commerce, the Docks and Harbors Board, and the UAS Campus Council. From 2015 to 2016, the capable former teacher served as Interim Mayor of the city of Juneau.
In addition to this important work, Mary has been involved in many community improvement efforts. These include Juneau Poetry Out Loud, the Kids Voting Board of Directors, the League of Women Voters, the Olympic Torch Relay Committee, the Seward Statue Committee Co-Chair, the Social Services Advisory Board Chair, the Southeast Alaska Health Education Council, the Juneau Rotary, and the United Way of Southeast Alaska.
