Gail Haines: Former teacher and Michigan State Rep

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GailHaines

Former teacher and member of the Michigan State House of Representatives Gail Haines

Many excellent classroom teachers have also served as competent politicians. A great example of this is Gail Haines, a public school teacher who also served in the Michigan State House of Representatives.

Gail was born in 1951 in New York State. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at the State University of New York in 1973 and her Master’s in Education at Nazareth College in 1975. She taught in the public school system for 12 years, and she also coached middle school and high school. In addition, Gail worked as a computer educator for a medical center.

Gail gained experience in the political arena as a former member of the Lake Angelus City Council, as an executive committee member for the Oakland County Republican Party, and as a precinct delegate. From 2008 to 2014, Gail was elected as a Republican to represent the 43rd District in the Michigan State House of Representatives. While in office, she served on the committees for Families, Children, and Seniors; Military and Veterans Affairs; and Homeland Security. She also served as the Assistant Majority Whip and the Chair of the Health Policy Committee.

While on the Health Policy Committee, Gail garnered the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Business & Professional Association and the Michigan Food and Beverage Association. The organizations cited Gail’s distinguished and dedicated service on behalf of small businesses, diversity issues, and concerns involving food safety.

As for education issues, the former educator worked towards restructuring public school teacher health care and benefits and the attempt to qualify her state for the federal “Race to the Top” school improvement program.

Gail’s affiliations since she left office include membership on the Advisory Board of the College of Arts and Sciences at Oakland University, membership on the Art Gallery Board of Oakland University, and serving on the Dean’s Advisory Board at the University of Michigan-Flint.

Video: The invisible work that goes into great teaching

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Here is a great four-minute video that was created by the Teaching Channel in collaboration with the National Education Association. The video is part of a video series that highlights the practice, planning, and collaboration that it takes to teach the Common Core State Standards. I found it very inspirational. You may, too. Take a look!

Colorado’s Sarah Szymanski earns coveted Milken Award

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There are many talented and dedicated educators that devote themselves to their students in every state of the United States, and today we spotlight one from Colorado: Sarah Szymanski, an elementary school teacher from Colorado Springs who has garnered a coveted 2018-2019 Milken Educator Award. Sarah teaches second grade at Soaring Eagles Elementary School. The school, described as a gifted and talented magnet school, has named both a National Blue Ribbon School and a National Title I Distinguished School.

Sarah earned her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Pennsylvania State University in 2008. She reveals that she was inspired to become an educator after watching her mother, a now-retired sixth-grade teacher, develop lasting relationships with her students. “I realized that as a teacher you can effect change on a daily basis and become a lifelong figure in the lives of your students,” she says. “I don’t think there’s a better feeling than knowing that every day, you have the opportunity to create a long-lasting difference in the life of a child.”

Sarah has a reputation for being a natural leader, with an extraordinary ability to advocate for both students and colleagues. She serves as a grade level leader, and has been a part of many of her school’s and district’s committees, including Math Collaborators, Effectiveness and Results, and the Building Leadership team. She has presented at school and district inservices on literacy models and their implementation. Many visitors to Soaring Eagles visit Sarah’s classroom to observe her classroom management, community-building, and instruction skills.

The Milken Educator Awards, which Teacher magazine has described as the “Oscars of Teaching,” has been honoring exceptional educators over three decades. Milken Educators are selected in early to mid-career for what they have achieved to date, and for the promise of what they will accomplish as they continue through their careers. In addition to the $25,000 cash prize and public recognition, the honor includes membership in the National Milken Educator Network, a group of more than 2,700 top teachers, principals, and specialists from all over the country who are dedicated to strengthening education.

Middle school teacher Julie Blaha elected Minnesota State Auditor

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Middle school teacher Julie Blaha elected Minnesota State Auditor.

Throughout our history there have been many examples of excellent classroom teachers that have gone on to successful careers in politics. One of these is Julie Blaha, a middle school math teacher from Ramsey, Minnesota, who was elected her state’s official auditor.

Julie earned her Bachelor’s degree from St. Cloud State University in 1992. She earned her Master’s degree in Education from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 2007.

Once she completed her college education, Julie accepted a position as a middle school math teacher for the Anoka-Hennepin Independent School District #11. From 1999-2010 she taught seventh grade math, and from 2014-2016 she taught sixth grade math.

As a teacher, Julie became a member of the Governor’s School Finance Task Force, she advocated for statewide anti-bullying legislation to protect LGBTQ students, and she worked with parents to increase school funding. During these years, she also served as the president of the Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota and as the Secretary-Treasurer of the Minnesota AFL-CIO.

In 2018, Julie was elected on the Democratic ticket to the office of Minnesota State Auditor. She was sworn in to office on January 7, 2019. Minnesota is one of only 24 states that elect an auditor. The position focuses on the oversight of about $20 billion spent by local governments yearly, and involves auditing, reviewing, investigating, reporting, and educating.

Today, she is affiliated with the Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless; the Minnesota chapter of the National Organization for Women; the Minnesota Safe Schools Technical Advisory Committee; the Minnesota School Finance Task Force; and the City of Ramsey Economic Development Authority.

Pennsylvania teacher, businessman, and politician William Croll

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Willliam Martin Croll

Teacher, businessman, and politician William Martin Croll of Pennsylvania

There are many examples of classroom teachers who have achieved success in other arenas, such as politics and business. William Croll, a teacher from Pennsylvania, was successful at both.

William Croll was born April 9, 1866, in Upper Macungie Township, Pennsylvania. As a young man, he attended Keystone State Normal School located in Kutztown, Pennsylvania. Keystone State, now known as Kutztown University, was established as a teacher-training college in 1864, as a result of Pennsylvania’s 1857 Normal School Act. The legislation was passed to create a set of uniform standards for educators and a pool of well-trained teachers for the state’s school system. After his attendance at Keystone, William later earned his degree from Eastman Business College in Poughkeepsie, New York.

For a time, William taught school. Then he moved to Maxatawny,Pennsylvania where he was involved in the business of general merchandising. Later he moved to Reading, Pennsylvania, and by 1897 he was engaged in the retail clothing business. After he developed an interest in banking, William became the treasurer of Berks County, Pennsylvania, where he served from 1909 to 1912. William was also a US veteran, having served as an officer in the US Navy during World War I, from 1913 to 1918.

In 1912, William jumped into the political arena when he was named a delegate to the Democratic National Convention. He served in this capacity again in 1920. He was elected to the 68th Congress on the Democratic ticket, representing the 14th District from 1923 to 1925. Once his term was completed, William returned to his merchandising business.

William Croll, accomplished teacher, businessman, and politician, passed away in Reading, Pennsylvania on October 21, 1929, at the age of 63. He is interred at Laureldale Cemetery in Laureldale, Pennsylvania.