Tag Archives: Teacher Politicians

Social Studies teacher Matt Commons also serves in the Indiana State House of Reps

Posted on by
Reply

Social Studies and Government teacher Matt Commons also serves his community in the Indiana State House of Representatives. Photo credit: WFYI Indianapolis

Many outstanding educators have also served their communities in political office. One of these is Matt Commons, a secondary school teacher who also serves in the Indiana State House of Representatives.

Matt was born in Bedford, Indiana. After his high school graduation, he enlisted in the United States Army. There he served five years, from 2009 to 2014, as an Infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division. He completed two tours of duty in Afghanistan, and received a Purple Heart for injuries he sustained in combat during his second tour there. He sustained his injuries when he stepped on an improvised explosive device (IED) and lost his right leg.

Once he earned his honorable discharge, Matt earned his Bachelor’s degree in Social Studies Education from Purdue University in 2018. He earned his Master’s degree in History from Liberty University. He later earned a Master’s degree in Education Leadership and Administration from Indiana State University.

Matt inaugurated his career as an educator at his high school alma mater, Seeger Memorial High School in West Lebanon, Indiana, where he has taught Social Studies and Government since 2018. He also served as an Assistant Coach for the varsity football team.

In 2024, Matt was elected on the Republican ticket to represent his state’s 13th District. The District includes all of Benton and Warren counties, and portions of Fountain, Jasper, Montgomery, Newton, Tippecanoe, and White counties. He was sworn into office in 2024, and will serve until 2026. He is currently running for re-election. In the State House, Matt serves on the House Local Government Committee; the Natural Resources Committee; and the Veterans Affairs and Public Safety Committee. He declares he is also greatly interested in issues that relate to education.

 

Teacher Julia McCabe elected to the Maine House of Reps

Posted on by
Reply

High school teacher Julia McCabe has been elected to serve in the Maine House of Representatives.  Photo credit: Maine House of Representatives

Many professional educators have also been elected to serve their communities in political office. One of these is Julia McCabe, a secondary public school teacher who also serves in the Maine House of Representatives.

Julia earned her Bachelor’s degree from Bates College in Lewiston in 2012. She earned her Master’s degree in Government from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2020.

After earning her degrees, Julia inaugurated her career as a teacher at the high school level in her home city of Lewiston. She has taught in public schools in there for the past 12 years. She also volunteers as a youth sports coach.

In 2024, Julia was elected on the Democratic ticket to represent District 93 in the Maine State House of Representatives. She was sworn in to office on Dec. 3, 2024, and her term will conclude on Dec. 1, 2026. In the Maine House, she serves as a member of the Health and Human Services Committee and on the Leaves of Absence Committee. In addition, Julia has served her community as a member of the Recycling and Waste Management Committee for the City of Lewiston.

In the short time that Julia has already served in the Maine House, she has supported a number of bills intended to improve conditions for young people and teachers in her state. One of these bills promotes the widespread voter registration of high school students; another decreases the retirement contributions required for teachers and state employees; and a third is an act to sustain access to children’s residential care services. She also supports increasing opportunities for vocational education for young people, free tuition for Maine’s community college students, and the expansion of work force training programs for adult learners.

 

 

Maryland teacher Victorine Adams was also a politician, community activist, and philanthropist

Posted on by
Reply

Baltimore public school teacher Victorine Adams was also a successful politician, community activist, and philanthropist. Photo credit: Maryland Dept. Human Services

To celebrate Black History Month, we pay homage to outstanding African American educators who work with young people in America’s schools. One of these was Victorine Adams, a public school teacher in Baltimore, Maryland.

Victorine was born on April 28, 1912, in Baltimore. As a young woman, she attended Frederick Douglass High School, graduating in 1928. She attended Coppin State Teachers University and later earned her college degree from Morgan State University in 1940. She also completed courses at the New York University School of Business Administration.

After she earned her degree, Victorine accepted a position as a teacher in the Baltimore Public Schools. Her career there spanned 14 years.

The classroom is not the only place where Victorine excelled. In 1943, the young educator was one of five women influenced by Mary McLeod Bethune to secure a charter for the Baltimore chapter of the National Council of Negro Women. Bethune was the founder of the national organization located in Washington, DC, which sought to empower African American women. In addition, Victorine founded the Colored Women’s Democratic Campaign Committee in 1946. This organization encouraged Black women to register to vote and recruited them to run for public office.

In 1966, Victorine was elected to the Maryland House of Delegates on the Democratic ticket. She gave up her seat the following year when she was elected to the Baltimore City Council representing the 4th District. She was the first African American woman to be elected to this position. She served four terms in this role.

In 1979, as a member of the City Council, Victorine worked with the Baltimore gas and Electric Company to establish a fuel fund that was designed to help economically-disadvantaged families pay their heating bills. Later the fund was renamed the Victorine Q. Adams Fuel Fund. program became a model for similar programs in other American cities.

Over the course of her lengthy career, Victorine and her husband, William Adams, provided college scholarships to a number of African American students. She also served as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Barrett School for Girls. The couple also provided financing for many of Baltimore’s Black-owned businesses.

Victorine passed away on Jan. 8, 2006, at the age of 93. She is interred at Arbutus Memorial Park in Arbutus, Maryland. To read more about this Chalkboard Champion, view the article about her at this link to BlackPast.org.

 

 

Illinois teacher Jim Marzuki was also a State Senator, WWII veteran, and accomplished sculptor

Posted on by
Reply

Illinois teacher Jim Marzuki was also a State Senator, WWII veteran, and accomplished sculptor. He is pictured here in 1985. Photo credit: Art of Jim Marzuki

There are many outstanding educators who serve their community in the political arena. One of these is Jim Marzuki of Illinois, a high school fine arts teacher who also served in his state’s House of Representatives.

Jim was born on June 22, 1925, the son of Italian immigrants. After his graduation from West Aurora High School in 1943, he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II. He served in the military from 1943 to 1946.

Once the war was over, he returned to school on the GI Bill and earned his Bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University. He also earned two Master’s degrees, one from Governors Sate University and the other from the University of New Mexico. Once he completed his second Master’s Jim returned to Illinois, ultimately landing in Park Forest.

The former veteran inaugurated his career as an educator when he accepted a position at Rich East High School in Park Forest. He taught at the school from 1956 to 1980. There he instructed courses in Industrial Arts and Fine Arts, and he also coached football.

Jim was also an accomplished sculptor. He exhibited at art fairs in the Chicago area and was active at the Art Institute of Chicago, selling his work through their rental and sales gallery. He also created some wood carvings and paintings which showed influences of Native American and Mexican influences, as well as Picasso and abstract artists.

In addition to these accomplishments, Jim was elected to the Illinois House of Representatives on the Democratic ticket, where he served from 1983 to 1985. He has also served on the Park Forest Village Board and on the Park Forest Planning Commission.

Jim Marzuki passed away on July 9, 2000, after having suffered a massive stroke.. To learn more about this Chalkboard Champion, click on this link to The Art of Jim Marzuki.

 

Educator and politician Mary Helen Garcia of New Mexico

Posted on by

Former educator Mary Helen Garcia also served in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Photo credit: New Mexico Legislature

There are many examples of fine classroom teachers who also become successful politicians. One of these is Mary Helen Garcia, an elementary school teacher and principal from New Mexico, who also served in her state’s House of Representatives.

Mary Helen was born on July 14, 1937, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in 1960 and her Master’s degree in 1976, both from New Mexico University.

Mary Helen worked as a teacher first at Gadsden Public Schools, where she was employed from 1960 to 1961. From 1967 to 1992 she taught in Las Cruces Public Schools. She served as the Director of Instruction for Las Cruces schools from 1993 to 1999 to the present. She also served as an elementary school principal in Las Cruces from 1993 to 1999. She is now retired from the teaching profession.

In 1996, this hardworking educator was elected on the Democratic ticket to serve in her state’s House of Representatives. She represented District 34 there from 1997 to 2015. While in the House, Mary Helen was the Chairwoman for the Committee on Voters and Elections; a member of the Appropriations and Finance Committee; and a member of the Committees for Education and Business and Industry. She has also served as the Chair of the New Mexico District Democratic Party from 1997 to the present time.

In addition to her professional and political responsibilities, Mary Helen is a member of the National Education Association, the International Association of Reading, the Association of Curriculum and Instruction, the Dona Ana Arts Council, and the Pan American Round Table.

To learn more about this amazing educator, see her profile on VoteSmart.